My point was simply that SETI isn't related to the NASA funding debate, and the OP wanted to connect the two via an emotional space shuttle reference.

>Why don't we devote more to exploration?

Maybe because people are failing to communicate its benefits clearly? For instance, the OP:

war==bad + assertion of disgust --> X==good

X could be anything. ANYTHING. Why aren't we investing more in wooden shoes? Didn't you know war is bad? Even if X==good, I hope people are inoculated against these type of arguments.