Some people seem to think so. Have a look at the Back to the Moon page for some interesting discussions. Personally, I don't think so. There are just too many other economic issues that seem to require attention, and I don't think I have heard a single compelling argument for going there that can be explained to someone about to loose their job as a result of downsizing. The 1960's were a unique time in American history. Our economy was expanding greatly, we had NO national debt, and the various entitlement programs had not yet begun to compete with other expenses in our society. This is not the case today, and it is hard for me to tell my two daughters, ages 18 months and 3.5 years, that going to the Moon again is something THEY should be paying for.
Still, I remember how disappointed I was when President Nixon and Congress curtailed our lunar exploration, just at a time when we were a few years away from setting up a permanent colony there. The 1990's could have been very exciting time for us! Knowing that there are people actually LIVING on the Moon could have altered some of our currently cynical opinions about where this country is going.