[richcollins]

We are being made to participate in this venture via taxes.

That said, its incredibly exciting.

[mikeash]

Not yet, although that is apparently the plan. If someone argued that it should be entirely privately funded, I'd be fairly sympathetic, although I don't agree.

(It is indirectly funded through some tax dollars with things like their ISS resupply missions, but that's money the company would get with or without a Mars plan, and could easily just take as profit instead.)