So ... let me get this straight ...
We need to either stop manned flight or take it away from NASA because it's a waste of resources and NASA managers couldn't run a McDonald's?
Right ...
Even with the problems that NASA has encountered (some of them their own fault because of bloated beauracracy) they have still done more in 40 years than most of us could hope to do.
You can question the need to slam a probe into a comet, but to pull it off is impressive. I know many of your comments are hyperbole, but let's give some credit to work that has been accomplished. SpaceShipOne, though impressive for a privately funded operation, still pales in comparison to what NASA has accomplished. Also remember that SS1 built upon the foundation of what NASA did.
As far as the shuttles being all things to all groups, it wasn't up to them. It was from political pressure to include all the different needs in the design of the shuttle. It was a phenomenal engineering feat in its day. Thanks for being impressed.