There is a curious dichotomy at work here...not of good and evil, but the private sector and NASA.

When the United States was being settled, the government would assume all of the risks and establish forts. Soon afterwards, the private sector followed. Forts grew into cities, and the frontier moved westward.

With the knowledge that history repeats itself, the government has established a "fort" on the Final Frontier, and wishes to expand that frontier. But where, oh where, is the private sector?

Instead of following the path set forth by history, the private sector toys around with sub-orbital flights.

Space exploration is difficult...next to oceanography, it's the toughest endeavour (spelled correctly, thank you!) humankind has ever attempted.

Perhaps the ancient paradigm does not fit here...private industry should for now concentrate on getting payloads to the "fort" using the vessels (ships, Conestoga wagons, OV-series orbiters) that the government once used...anyone ever hear of "government surplus"? Once profitable, private industry will have its seed money for development of better ways to get things and people off-planet.

I see a perfect opportunity for the nascent private spaceflight enterprises to step up to the bar, and put their money where their mouths are.

Or perhaps they have calculated the risk factors, and have decided that yet another business paradigm better describes their businesses: short-term profits.