We rarely see eye to eye on things, but don't give up on the space dream just yet. Militarization is part of civilization. Almost every major exploration effort in history was accompanied by its military contingent. Sometimes for self-defense, often--unfortunately--for conquest. In the long run, it was commerce and the desire for freedom, much more than military motivations, that drove the movement of humanity*. Space will be no different.

And worse things could happen technologically than if the military, with its huge budget, suddenly decided that Air Force personnel really need to be in space in a big way.

Meanwhile, although manned space exploration beyond Earth orbit has languished, we have been and will be treated to a remarkable armada of unmanned probes that have turned up some amazing things, and will keep doing so over the next several years. It ain't Man on Mars, but it ain't chopped liver either.

Cheer up. Spend a little less time awash in depressing news and website conspiracies, and a little more time watching kids play in the park. If I didn't have my kids for perspective, who knows what kind of sour pessimist I might have wound up as?

*On the bright side, as we move out into the Solar System there will be no "natives" to suffer for our entry into new environments.