First things first.
Destroy Al Qaida and all its constituents.
Secure Iraq from the clutches of Saddam Hussein.
Enforce world peace by ensuring the world's oil supply is fairly distributed and is not held hostage by any country.
The main thing to remember is, the Earth's resources will run out one day. Some estimates are this may happen within 100 years. We must advance technologically, not as a matter of convenience, but to survive. And yes, this means the space program is important.
It will get to the point very soon, that we will have to be able to mine minerals from asteroids. This will help for awhile, but the ultimate goal is to move to another world...possibly another star system.
The only alternative would be the stepping back of civilization, to a time when oil and minerals were not needed on a massive level.
Something to think about. If we move forward, it will mean a Hurculean committment to task, technologically as well as militarily. I believe this is the only way to go, because people wouldn't stand for going back to horse and buggy days. It would be impossible to enforce unless everybody did it, and agreed to it.
Les
Les