Why not funnel half the NASA funding to researching a new engine that uses something more efficient than carbon-based fuel?

We can't get very far, efficiently using jet fuel based rocket technology, why waste money on more space missions using the stuff?

A side effect of a break through would be revamping the entire World's energy system. Imagine if they discovered an engine that used some sort of plasma as propulsion, that is a 1000 times more efficient in getting something into space compared to jet-fuel.

That same engine and energy source will cure the world energy needs.