New Member

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Collin R. Skocik"
wrote:

> But assuming Mars can be terraformed, which I think it can be
> relatively easily within half a millennium

Why would we want to do this?

What purpose is served by having people live on Mars? I can understand
scientists who are researching planetary origins and their support
staff, but what use is there for a sheet metal worker, an interior
designer, a financial trader, a sculpter, a rocket engineer, a cabinet
maker, etc?

You haven't yet specified your reasons for advocating planetary
settlements, but most other people seem to me to be fixated on the
neat technology of terraforming and have no clue about the why of it
all, unless they muster some rationalization for harkening back to the
pioneer spirit of our forefathers and how that would be good for our
society. Balderdash! (Heh, I've always wanted to use that word, LOL)

Mars will be a giant fiscal sinkhole that'll make the ISS seem like
the wisest gov't procurement program ever conceived.

How will Mars pay it own way? Why would people rather live there than
on Antarctica?

TangoMan