My 2 cents on this issue:
Lets assume that the United States' government is aiming to, for all intense and purpose, get rid of interplanetary launches from NASA. I do not know where I stand on this issue.
Yes, it is true that NASA's history of interplanetary launches has been great. And yes, we have learned an incredible amount about the solar system, the earth, and us, through these launches. However, all this research can only pay off so much.
I do not want to see interplanetary travel go away, but seeing as how the US is facing very bad economic times, cuts have to be made. I'm not saying the cuts should be made to support any bill that Obama proposes; that's a different issue. I believe that, until our country recovers from an economic recession, we should attempt to make cuts to all programs, including NASA, that don't improve the efficiency of the country. I'm not advocating the destruction of NASA, nor am I advocating the destruction of government, or smaller government. But anything that does not allow the US to become more efficient should be cut until our finances allow for some breathing room.
Attack me if you want. Like i've said multiple times, I do not wish to see the disappearance of NASA. I don't want to see interplanetary travel go down the hole. But unless NASA either finds alternate funding, or the US can gather enough resources to throw some at NASA, I think that interplanetary travel is a good place to make cuts.
*dives into the bomb shelter, clutching his Orbinaut license*