One needn't 'throw money at the poor' though Dave. One can do it differently by using the money to fund scientific projects such as vaccines, crop fertility, water sourcing, sustainable sanitation, re-building schemes and so on.

I've often heard people say that things such as non-stick pans etc are a direct result of space technology. I expect a starving African or a woman trying to feed her children on meagre benefits in a city slum will be really chuffed to know this...
To my mind it's all a case of priorities.