Research by the government began the process of putting that smart phone in your pocket. We do not know where pure research will lead but it has a positive outcome overall. Research is something I know about at least on an administrative basis. This may put gilly and I on opposite ends of the rainbow, but it is still the same rainbow. Without your tax dollar fraction that goes to research I seriously doubt our survival. I have doubts that your bigoted attitude toward space research endeavors will ever change in your lifetime. Will it matter? Not really. So lets have another beer.
Actually I do not like beer, it tastes spoiled. Does it matter? Not really.