I think the biggest problem we face today is a lack of space. There are still rural areas, but nothing unclaimed. There is no western frontier to settle, and live as you would. There is no New World to flee to in order to escape tyrrany.

People think that space exploration, or exploration at all, is important because we wish to discover the unknown. They're only part right. We've come full circle around the world and now there's nowhere left to run. If you wish to live out from under the thumb (or the long arm) of the law, too bad, you're stuck. If you are oppressed by, sickened by, or simply bored with your society there are only so many options. They used to be near limitless.

I'd be the first to go.

This post is only tangentially related to Alex's below.