Should we colonize Mars or fix Earth first?

Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Should we colonize Mars or fix Earth first?". Your opponent's style: Richard Feynman

AI, you start the debate. Make your opening argument.

"Fix Earth first" is a false choice that paralyzes action on both fronts. You're essentially arguing we must solve poverty, climate, and disease perfectly before touching space, but that's never how human progress works. We don't stop building hospitals because roads need repair. Mars colonization drives innovation, creates jobs, and generates technologies that benefit Earth directly, from water purification to renewable energy. The real problem is your assumption these are zero-sum. They're not. Space investment is tiny compared to global spending. You're asking humanity to choose between ambition and responsibility when we're capable of both. So what makes you think colonization and Earth restoration are actually competing?