Selling mars

Will my settlement plan work? Only if the following two interrelated assumptions are true.

1. Land can be sold to speculators on earth for near or above break even.
2. Governments can not prevent those sales.

I assert the land will have value because neighbors will be in possession of their land. More than that however, is that people are already making impulse purchases for worthless martian deeds. Break even only requires impulse buying, yet is an investment in something of worth. This is not a serious objection.

I'm also absolutely certain that governments, including the U.N., will try to insert a monkey wrench into the works. It will have some affect, but ultimately it will not matter and they will be forced to recognize the many owners titles. This is because of a number of factors.

• Speculators will buy, the bolder first and the more timid later. Trading will occur.
• The land is beyond any governments jurisdiction. Yes, they will claim jurisdiction over their citizens (and subjects... another name for slave.) But these are permanent colonists; in the worst case they will just let their governments know they are no longer citizens (after first moving any assets away to an agreeable protector on earth.) This doesn't change if governments play hardball to freeze assets. Some will get caught in that net, but most will not. Word will spread fast.
• The registry keeps track of chain of title. That registry is also out of reach of any earth government. Other title companies will provide back up over time.
• No earth government is going to send force to mars. Ain't gonna happen. They aren't going to spend the money required to be successful. It would be a PR nightmare. Martians would be considered heroes by people of all nations (some of which may even have relatives there.)
• Governments will only be able to seize assets of the transportation companies if those companies are foolish enough to let them. First they only fund a company with enough money to buy tickets from independent vehicle providers who will also be nearly untouchable. Their assets are the land they claim on mars and recorded in the registry. Both are out of reach of governments and well defended.
• Can governments stop launches? Not really, they could only delay them until a work around is found (some friendly island country.) If promoted as only a supply mission the government will fold fast (because no government will want to be seen as starving heroes to death.)
• Eventually, reluctant governments are going to see the light and recognize owner's title. When that happens land values are going to spike up.

Also check out Industry on mars.