Current day timidity and future space exploration

Here is an article from the UK Telegraph in which the author points out that today's society has become so risk-averse that a manned mission to Mars is, in his mind, unlikely. It is hard to argue with his logic at least with regards to government run missions. I think in the private realm that courage and boldness hasn't been stamped out, but, of course, going to Mars would be expensive outside of the capabilities of the private sector unless someone like Bill Gates decided to fund it.