Earth orbiting satellites have already revolutionized telecommunications, weather forecasting, and military reconnaissance. Energy production, microgravity industry, tourism, and long haul freight transport are other industries which space may change beyond recognition in the next ten to twenty years. Government policy can clearly have a positive affect upon the opening of the high frontier of space in a number of ways. Thus the United States can enjoy those benefits of economic growth and political power sooner rather than later, more rather than less. First government can fund high risk, high return research and development which may be eschewed by the private sector.
Next government can facilitate the exploration of space.
It's axiomatic that before space can serve as a catalyst for economic development, it has to be thoroughly explored. Next government can serve as a kind of core market for products and services ranging from commercial launch vehicles to space solar power stations. A guaranteed, though competitive, market can help to facilitate of the technology required to open the space frontier to and widest range of human activity. Finally government can do what government does best and indeed what government was originally designed to do. Government can bring the rule of law to the high frontier of space.