Mars again

I'm sitting here watching the "major coverage" of the Pheonix landing thing and recalled my Mars post and it STILL blows my mind how much money is being/has been spent on such a venture: $420 million (all of which could go down the drain should anything go wrong). What surprises me even more at this point though, is that I haven't heard any presidential candidate talk about this cost. Umm do people realise its taxes that pays for this? While there is pollution, crime, poverty, unemployment, and war, should the American sense of adventure and willingness to showcase technological advances take precedence? Seriously, this is beyond me. Maybe I dont have my priorities right....