When it came to colonizing the New World, the governments of Europe had a big role in support, but when it came down to it, it was the commercial businesses and private citizens that ensures a permanent presence. If we're going to have the same kind of success in space, we need to have the same kind of participation, but it seems many people have forgotten that. Thus, let me present three reasons I see why we cannot leave space exploration to the government:
#1 The government has other priorities. Let's face it, the government has gone waaay beyond what the founding fathers intended, and we have a huge deficit and a lot of conflict as a result. What's the government's job in space, then? I'd suggest it's pretty much the same as it is on Earth--protecting the rights and freedoms of its citizens. Step one is establishing a presence in space--a permanent, sustainable presence. Just like with colonization of the New World, that doesn't mean only government employees or government-funded exhibitions, however. It does mean being ready to support even defend its citizens who go fare beyond the Earth. (Sorry, Space is for Peace supporters--I want space to be peaceful, too, but not every nation is going to support that, and if they challenge our presence, we'll need government presence to defend us. And that can be diplomatic as well as military.) However, government role is support of space endeavors and the rights of its citizens in space--not taking on the whole manned space program itself.
#2 Governments are more swayed or stymied by public opinion. Sure, commercial companies need to have a good image, but frankly, as long as they are pleasing their customers, the rest of the world can take their business elsewhere. Governments, unless they're totalitarian and can do what they please, thank you very much, can be swayed by opinions like this one: End Space Exploration Now. And in fact, our government HAS been swayed by opinions like this, which is why the space program has had such rocky fits and starts. Unless space exploration can directly "feed the hungry children" or cut unemployment by several percentages (I don't think they'd be satisfied with anything less) or solve the deficit or whatever the political crisis du jour is, it will not get a gung-ho kind of support we got when first putting a man on the Moon. Without gung-ho support that crosses political parties, we're not going to get a long-lasting coherent government space program.
#3 Governments aren't big on innovation. Yes, I know it's one of NASAs missions to promote new technology, but as a counter, may I present a space shuttle that had to be decommissioned because they couldn't find parts, a bomber fleet in which today's pilots are literally flying their grandfathers' airplanes, a fighter program that might be canceled because Congress won't fund it... Or let's talk cost overruns because of the way the contracting system works in the government. Or maybe how a new administration can kill a program media res and replace it with his own great idea...which may or may not survive the next election.
The fact is, the government isn't interested in profit or product the way a commercial industry has to be. So when it comes to technological programs, they are looking as much at will it make jobs and promote themselves or their party as will it create a product that will get the job done--and then how to create the next one to do it cheaper, easier or more safely. I'm not trying to put down NASA or government contractors like Lockheed Martin, but they are at the mercy of the political system, which really is more conducive to road repair than rocket building.
Government has a role in space exploration. It can do some things commercial industries, especially fledgling ones, can't. However, if we want a real, sustained presence outside the atmosphere, it will take more than the government.
