re: Terraforming socialistic?
So, if we assume that
1) Terraforming Mars is technically possible, and there is confidence that all potential problems can be anticipated and solved.
2) It is so expensive or so long-term a project that it is not feasible for it to be undertaken by private enterprise.
3) The need to terraform the planet is determined to be absolutely essential (say, to relieve population pressure or provide earth some essential Martian resource).
There are terraforming projects on earth that could be pointed to as a guide: the draining of the Everglades, the land reclamation in the Low Countries, the deforestation of the Amazon.
Then what, if any, should be the model for development. I don't believe these are unreasonable issues.