I have always enjoyed the public education aspects of having astronomy as a hobby. However the events in the US in the first few years of the new century, plus my own kids entering the public school system, have made me approach it more seriously than in the past.

Just Google Scientific literacy and the facts will (sadly) speak for themselves.

If having Star Parties and other public outreach events can reach even a few people that would otherwise fall for the nonsensical garbage that popular news media outlets (here's looking at you Fox), politicians (seriously, what rock did 90% of these people just crawl out from under?), and religious fundamentalists (these people are truly a threat to democracy vs. the bomb throwing whack jobs) spew these days then the world is that much of a better place.