Yes, the shuttle was not the solution that it was advertised.

However:

It was the workhorse that took the largest pieces of the ISS into orbit.

 

No, we did not go anywhere (no deep space exploration) but we did learn how to live in space for long peiods of time which is a prerequosite to deep space travel and exploration.

 

We live with the benefits of the space program everyday even though they are not so obvious.

Example: Look at the difference in size and capability of a camcorder from 20 years ago to today. That's a result of technology that came out of the space program.

 

Discovery is the byproduct of the space program.

 

NASA knows what the right answers are. It's unfortunate that they are being dismantled to the point that they will never be allowed to pursue those solutions.

 

In the meantime instead of exporting our dollars to space we will be exporting them to foriegn governments (whose population wants to kill us) and call it financial aid.