America's space program used to be the foil for all sorts of other worthy causes. In the 1960s and 1970s I hear statements such as "If we can send a man into space, why can't we cure cancer here on earth?" and "If we can send a man into space, why can't we wipe out poverty here on earth?"
Let's bring it up to date: If Paul Allen can send a man into space, why can't he pay his bills here on earth?