"As I see it, questions about the vision boil down to whether we want to incorporate the solar system in our economic sphere, or not. "
[From Raoul's link]
This is an important question. It's also a scary question, because it will change our world.

more:
"... The Moon has unique significance for all space applications for a reason that to my amazement is hardly ever discussed in popular accounts of space policy. The Moon is the closest source of material that lies far up Earth's gravity well. Anything that can be made from Lunar material at costs comparable to Earth manufacture has an enormous overall cost advantage compared with objects lifted from Earth's surface. ... I am talking about the possibility of extracting elements and minerals that can be processed into fuel or massive components of space apparatus. The production of oxygen in particular, the major component (by mass) of chemical rocket fuel, is potentially an important Lunar industry."

It is quite amazing, it's as though few understand economics, though they live in America the largest capitialist country. Maybe they are like fish and don't notice the water they live in.