[elihu]

I don't see colonizing Mars as an alternative to fixing the major problems on Earth. We definitely need to do something about climate change whether we go to Mars or not. I see going to Mars as just something we're going to end up doing eventually anyways, as long as technology keeps advancing as it has. It used to be almost impossibly difficult to send people to Mars. Right now it's still hard, but becoming easier, mostly due to recent progress with respect to high-efficiency reusable rockets. In a hundred years it may be almost trivial. (Or not, if we don't address our climate and political and economic problems.)

Having access to space along with manufacturing and mining capabilities may give us some surprisingly large benefits in the long run. Right now the idea may seem a little silly because we don't even know for sure if we can do it, much less construct a plausible business plan to make a profit at the same time.