[coldtea]

>When US was spending billions on Minuteman and Apollo missions, there were many problems in America, including poverty. Not sure? ask the African Americans in the south from that time. However, very little energy was spent on questioning whether spending in space was right thing to do.

Well, more energy should have been spent in that line of questioning.

But there was nationalism at play, and the race to compete with the USSR.

So, not really the best counter-example...

[HeWhoLurksLate]

   But there was nationalism at play,
    and the race to compete with the USSR.

Oh, nationalism is for sure at play here, and proving itself as a country that can get to space is definitely demonstrating that they are just as good as any other nuclear superpower.