New Member

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Steve Long wrote:

> None of those people (with the possible exception of the sheet metal
> worker and the rocket engineer) would serve much purpose on a
> scientific expidition to Mars; but once the change from "expedition"
> through "colony" and then to "society" occurs, there will be room
> for those. As well as artists, musicians, sculptors, actors,
> dancers, pizza delivery persons, schoolteachers, and even
> lawyers.

Why a society? You're missing my question. What reason is there to go
to Mars? Appeals to historical precedent show economic issues were
either a draw for emigrants to the New World or at the very least not
a hindrance. Neither of these conditions hold for Mars.

For those souls looking for a challenge, why not go develop Papua New
Guinea? The weather is better, it's cheaper to develop, it's cheaper
to get there, it has products to export to the rest of the world, you
can generate wealth there to further invest in developing your new nation.

Habitats have their proximity to Earth which they can use to service
the markets of Earth. This will generate wealth.

What does Mars have to offer Earth? Nothing. Absolutely zilch. It'll
be a sinkhole for Earth's wealth. Sure we may set up research stations
but a society, fugit about it. Those unlucky settlers will fall into
depravation that befalls autarkic societies. Look how well North Korea
is doing.

I don't know if you read that godawful book "Red Mars" by Kim Stanley
Robinson, but I sure wouldn't be buying into his vision of the future.

I don't really mean to be spewing this diatribe directly at you, but
no Mars advocates seem able to provide reasons for why a society would
emerge on Mars and how it could grow, other than by sucking wealth
away from Earth.

Better these advocates move to PNG and develop that nation for the
benefit of all of mankind.

TangoMan