Why a Martian Society Will Change Ours
The establishment of a sustainable community on Mars is just decades away, and it provides an extraordinary opportunity to rethink society. Like the New World led to the Constitution of the United States—inspiring millions of people to overthrow tyrants in their own countries—Mars could be a new city on a hill. This time not on stolen land and without the stain of slavery.
At first, living on Mars will be like trying to make it work in the middle of the Sahara Desert. The unique challenges will likely influence its choice of government, and like the Articles of Confederation, the first draft might not be sufficient. But once we begin seeing restaurants, movie theaters, neighborhoods, bars, and schools open up, what will that society look like?
Consider the following:
“On this planet, no one goes to bed hungry. Everyone has access to clean water. No one is homeless. There is no war. All children receive quality education. There are no insiders and outsiders—everyone has access to opportunity. No one is punished for their philosophy. Free thinkers are encouraged, not feared. Government has a separation of church and state. Money does not drive politics. There is no corruption. Everyone has access to good healthcare. And everyone uses the Internet. Hardly anyone complains of inequality. Innovation is everywhere.”
Why does this sound so achievable on Mars, yet so odd and impossible on Earth? Because we forget that the world is what we make it. Mars reminds us that everything can be different. Like Europe in the 18th century, the Earth is stuck in its ways. Martians will make a lot of people wonder why our society looks the way it does.
