I don’t think the Moon or Mars are optimal, to put it mildly.
The problem as I see it, is that this old earth is being overrun
by people too stupid to co-exist with. Some of them hold positions
of power, and are intent on denying basic human rights in short
order.
So the issue becomes, stay here and have your life taken from you
in real terms, or go somewhere else and eek out an existence
in real terms.
For me, eeking out an existence outranks living under no rights at all.
Humans have an uncanny ability to come up with solutions to seemingly
un-surmountable problems.
At some point, humans will inhabit other planets.
We might just as well get on with it.
Leave the Leftists to their paradise.
Once they kill each other, we could come back.
II Peter 3:10-13. It’s coming. Better be ready.
Don’t know what’s so useful about going to the Moon or Mars.
Now the asteroid belt! There’s some riches to be mined there!
To hell with that, I vote to send the leftists to Mars.
Optimal? Hardly.
Possible? Yes. And that should be enough for exploration and exploitation of off-Earth resources for off-Earth purposes.
I’d risk an awful lot for freedom and the chance of rewards, literally, without limit.