I have no clue how the money for space exploration is allocated, but they could possibly put that money into the things the GP (did I use that right) said. I think a better use would be to perhaps continue funding small explorations as we've done, but put the brakes on something like actually colonizing another planet, moon, satellite, etc. I agree that we have plenty to deal with here.

No government money is being spent on space settlement. NASA's budget is about $18B per year.

Some stuff is actually awesome and worthwhile (and cost effective) like the robotic exploration of the solar system, and a little supports SpaceX which uses the money to develop technology that enables cheap access to space.

But I think most of that money is a jobs program for high paying jobs congressmen want in their districts which help the economy tactically but might not be the best use of those people's effort. But, the provided jobs also support a skills base and supplier ecosystem that would allow shifting some of those people and parts suppliers into doing something more necessary to the government like defense stuff. The thinking is that if that money goes away and those people get laid off, they'll stop working in aerospace, move into finance or whatever, college kids will not study space engineering because they'll hear there are no jobs, and defense contractors will have a harder time hiring the next time a big defense program is funded.

Nothing I said implies that I "think we have to pick between solving social issues and colonizing other planets.", it's not really fair to imply that I did.

SpaceX is doing what you feel NASA should have been doing in the 80s with 3 decades between then and now, with all that comes with 3 decades.