Let's Play Politics

Let's Play Politics
Okay, so none of you are willing to do much to help out with my idea of getting environmental groups involved in promoting space-based energy sources. How about this: our President (and I use the term with regret) has established this damn fool goal of a Mars landing. Perhaps the candidates in the next Presidential election--who, as we know, will start coming out of the woodwork and campaigning as early as later this year--could be persuaded that a different space strategy would pay more dividends for the planet we live on.
I, at least, would like to try. In order to do so, I will need help from you technical brains in assembling a persuasive case. Let's start with the following: does anyone have a reasonable ballpark estimate of what the Mars trip will cost? And over how many years? What is the likely cost, and the likely time frame, if our government were to commit to developing space-based solar energy satellites? Could the latter be substituted for the former?
Something tells me that, if the numbers look good, John Edwards or Barack Obama or whoever else emerges in the Democratic race might be willing to listen. I have good contacts in the political world, and would be happy to be the face-to-face contact, but I will need help in getting to that point. Any takers?
--Mark