Short of funds for SETI I've always thought that we haven't made contact because science denies the possibility of ESP and prayer. Not that I think there's any merit to wearing foil headgear, but our brains seem to be equipped with the ability to see things while we're asleep, or during trance states, or in response to drugs. Why do hallucinogens work? There may be a whole different medium for messages that isn't limited by the speed of light.