There is much I seriously loathe about the policy directions of the current Republican leadership.
But I agree with Newt Gingrich and Mike Pence that we should seriously support major exploration and exploitation of our solar system.
And I think we progressive should get on board with this. Because it would be a great absorber of the massive amounts of surplus and underemployed American labor that has been freed up by increasingly remorseless automation and job outsourcing. With huge technological side benefits. Providing ambitious and uplifting goals and fascinating work for millions of people, so much better than mindlessly amassing more and more stuff and buying fancier cars and keeping up with the Jones and churning real estate. Truly launching us into the future, and giving a better chance for long run human survival.
One caveat: the evidence so far indicates that space is a pretty hostile environment for human bodies. It's far more realistic to plan for robotic exploration than having human boots on Mars.