So said a lot of people in the 1960’s with respect to the Apollo Moon Landings. Fortunately, we didn’t listen.

That was a) exploration, and b) part of the Cold War oneupsmanship. Scientifically, there was little reason to put people on the moon. They were (in 1969) more versatile, of course. The modern rovers we've sent to Mars are generally superior at this point, being able to do anything a human could do (in scientific activities).

Adding humans to the Mars equation is an unnecessary, even detrimental, complication, that requires a LOT more resources to sustain and protect them. And then, their kidneys will start failing by the time they get there. They won't survive the journey back. Without radiation-proof shelter, they wouldn't last that much longer on Mars. I linked a few articles about that last year, though probably on the Science board (since it seemed less like "US Policy").

I'm all for exploring the planets. I'm against the notion that we should just give up on the Earth, and try to colonize someplace else. Earth is the one place that WILL support us, if we take moderate care of it. No place else will, that we know of.