The 'need' for breakthroughs in physics isn't quite the same as the 'need' for medicine.

That said, 'back off man, I'm a scientist'! I just don't think the general public gives a damn about things that don't directly affect them... things like CERN. I told my parents the other day about the breakthroughs in quantum superposition and they could not possibly have cared less. Now if there were some miracle weight loss breakthrough they'd be all ears!