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.

You're probably thinking we should fix Earth first because resources are finite. Wrong framing. The real question isn't either-or, it's whether Mars colonization drives innovation that actually fixes Earth faster. Space programs have spawned water purification tech, solar panels, medical devices. Sitting still and pouring resources only into Earth's problems hasn't worked for decades. Mars forces us to solve life support, renewable energy, and closed-loop systems at scale. We don't choose between Mars and Earth. We choose between stagnation or breakthrough innovation that serves both. Which actually solves your problems faster?