Indeed. I'd rather have billions go to Elon who will turn it into awesome technology, as his companies have, than have it go to defense contractors who will turn it into another plane that can't fly.
You had me at defense contractors. Successful or not it wouldn't create a net benefit for humanity or even the subset of it our government is ostensibly serving.
GPS
Siri
The Internet
Tor
Not saying pork isn't a huge problem but saying no awesome technology comes out of defense spending is untrue.