there were a lot of inaccuracies in that article
Clearly the writer hasn't even read the details of the space plan. Get what he says here:
"Rather than spend hundreds of billions of dollars to hurl tons toward Mars using current technology, why not take a decade—or two decades, or however much time is required—researching new launch systems and advanced propulsion?"
You Think!? Guess what dildo, that's exactly what the plan calls for! He makes it sound like we're going to Mars next year. And of course more of the astronomical cost BS. The Oberg article on takes these nitwits on directly.