I think intelligent life is going to be very, very rare.
I'm still looking for it here.
I am a pretty big space buff. The tech, wonder, and inspiration we get back for the investment is IMO repaid many times over. Just on the survival side, that is what the forum is about, mostly, what price the many saved by EPIRBs.
How many trillion dollars have been saved over the years because we could track hurricanes. People are told days in advance so they can flee or prepare. The world knows who gets hit and can have help standing by ready to go in as soon as the winds die down.
Into WW2 many people got little or no warning. And assuming you survived the event the odds are people might not hear about it for days.
How many plane crashes and maritime disasters have been avoided because people could look to a GPS receiver that tells them where they are. If you know where you are you can fly around the mountain instead of into it. Ships can steer around reefs and shoals. Rescue after disaster is good. Avoiding the hazard is even better.
Space exploration is expensive but it gives back and the technology continues to pay dividends ever after.
I also need to point out that when I say 'we have to learn to get along' it isn't a sweet, sing Kumbaya, sort of admonition to avoid all conflict. There are bad situations and there are bad people. The proper response to a rabid dog is to shoot it. You take care to do make sure the end is swift, sure and as painless as possible. But the dog has to be put down to protect the community. No amount of loving and positive attitude will make the dog less rabid. When it is the only practical option remaining violence, without hate and malice, is justified to protect the community and prevent harm.