Comment Hang the cost - it'll get paid for in the long run (Score 2, Insightful) 948
While govts look for cheap ways of getting to Mars let's not forget the importance of the project itself. Countries (and civilisations) for that matter need great project as a focus. Consider the Apollo project - it galvanised the world, brought many technical advances quite outside of the space program and in the long run brought masses of wealth albeit in a very indirect form. And that's nothing compared to the impact of some ancient projects (like the Pyramids - that laid the foundations - pardon the pun - for essential engineering knowledge that's still in use today). The fact is that without a huge project our civilisation will become inward looking, small minded and will ultimately wither and die. Who wants that?
