Here:

A crappy piece about the Mars mission and the space program in general:

- Aren't there better ways to spend these giant sums of money?

Well yeah, it could all go to me.

- What exactly are the benefits?

The survival of humanity.

- And are they worth the cost?

Sure, if you're rooting for the survival of humanity.

Look, here's the deal: At some point in time, the Earth will be destroyed. It can come from an asteroid that wipes out our race, from the sun going nova, from a passing mini-blackhole, from gamma radiation emitted by a dying star-- anything. Now, if our race is eliminated from this planet, than everything we have ever done will have been for nothing. Everything we've built, discovered, learned and dreamed will be as if it never existed. We have to go out there, so we're not snuffed out by remaining here. If that's not reason enough, then I don't know what to tell you.

I don't care who funds it. If it's the government, then so be it. If it's the Chinese or Europeans who lead the way and ensure the survival of humanity, then fine. The important thing is that we get the hell off this rock, explore the Universe and ensure the survival of the species and our collective history. If the weak and timid want to stay here and try to fix problems that've plagued humanity since its inception, then let them squabble until the End Time. Space exploration is not for their kind, and it will only be the children of the curious, the courageous and the bold who inherit the Universe. In other words, the best of us.