The debate, though, revealed a larger issue: the lack of a coherent, persuasive rationale for human exploration of Mars, or human space exploration in general.
Trying to promote human exploration on the far-future benefits of a new civilization seems like a tough sell.

Unlike near Earth asteroids, for example, Mars poses no threat to the Earth in any conceivable manner. In addition, there is little danger to American security if some other country mounted a human mission to Mars. Also, despite some efforts to concoct a business plan for commercial human exploration of Mars, the sheer costs associated with such a mission make it hard to find anything to sell that could make such a business plan close. “You know, point out some of the riches on Mars to me, if you would,” Park said. “I’m at a loss as to know what we could bring back that would begin to compensate for the cost of going to get it.”

It's not easy to sell Mars!

Raoul