Good article Al.
Reckon that's a good thing. Logically, there's no use learning so much about one planet, any planet, when the real lessons and challenges are right here on Earth. I'd rather see money directed toward understanding the true impact of what we (humans) are doing to this planet, then that understanding can be directed towards rectification actions; manufacturing, waste disposal, education...the list is huge.
If that takes billions of dollars injected into the ISS and ground based research, then so be it!
It's a shame, but the reality is that if we're all gone in 200 years, so too is the research, knowledge and understanding.
Perhaps we should shoot a probe or two around the sun to intercept the third planet in our system. You know, the little blue one with water! Land, get a rover thing happening, run some basic tests, see if there's any i-n-t-e-l-l-i-g-e-n-t life. No politics, just science - see if it can support life in the distant future? You never know, we may need it down the track!
Cheers
Mark