New Mars Forums

I'm radical for capitalism, so I say it should be rights as a basis for Martian government. In my view, there is no "duty to society", only responsibilities to which one contractually agrees with another person. Proximity with others implies no unearned "duty" to them. Besides, the first settlers will be people who will build this new world, and no one will need the services of another person that don't already exist by the others' own necessity. It can be a society of interdependent specialists, not servants to a "greater good."

I highly doubt there would be a "wild west" scenario on Mars. No one would be able  to go (in the early days) unless they had the skills and means to survive. Those means - habitats, air reclamation & recycling, water purification, etc. - would be made available by those who produce and sell them, probably before the new settlers even leave Earth.