"colonies were at least theoretically self sufficient." You mean like Antarctica, right? "Especially since it's the people of Earth that will be funding this

"colonies were at least theoretically self sufficient." You mean like Antarctica, right? "Especially since it's the people of Earth that will be funding this lifeboat." Rich folks and companies, and maaaaybe governments, will be funding this--the same as all colonization efforts in the past. Consider the colonization of the Americas. "real" pressures like limited resources, war, or economic expansion These are still very much things to worry about on Earth. Moving to Mars doesn't solve those problems--for the Earthlings. Then again, fuck'em.