http://www.microcosmologist.com/blog/?p=769
nice info graphic of things we totally need and will throw heaps of cash into.
lets really think of this 2.5mill a year on a global economy is small change. seti could even be funded privately by a single CEO of any major company.
Seti Funded by Canon or Apple or Microsoft or Starbucks or even a third world country the ongoing cost is so small