Why (not) terraform?

Terraforming has become very fashionable. From the scientists at the space agency to the pretense inventor billionaire, everybody has been talking about terraforming Mars and even Venus. Why stop there? As some argued, Pluto has to be let back into the planet club and so perhaps they should look even further out. The more important question is Why?

Humans are funny animals. For nearly 100K years they have been burning anything they could find without understanding that the fickle greenhouse they live in can break apart anytime. And now, as we near catastrophe, the typical idiotic response is to find somewhere else to go. Of course, there is a group of people who are trying to make Mars Great Again for their own purpose but the idea is misplaced.

The billionaires should start with terraforming Earth back to a sustainable position. It is certainly not glamorous but it could have a much higher value for humanity. But if the intent of terraforming other planets is to have a special and small group of people to leave the dying planet, focusing on Earth will not work. Any taxpayer funding of this activity has to stop as the 8 billion are unwilling to be choked to death while the billionaires escape. The “human,” is not that special to be saved that way.

Policymakers do not have sufficient skills to effect optimal policy in this realm. The space agency has been on a wrong track, partying with billionaires on taxpayer money and pushing manned space missions even though machines are a lot better. The billionaires have been feeding the public hype to show-off their intellect. Such ego has no value for humanity.

If the space agency and the billionaires know how to terraform, do that on Earth first.