Yeah, I don't want to live in China, I just think, looking at the matter objectively, they have the best chance of getting to Mars first. This system where every President pledges to land on Mars in 20 years, with all of the serious spending delayed until to first two years of the succeeding Administration, just doesn't cut it. Maybe if the US revoked the 22nd Amendment......

They don't have to be a "juggxrnaught of doom" they just have to be able to make funding commitments that last more than eight years, something the US has proven incapable of over the last four decades.

During my lifetime, landing on Mars has always been about 15 years in the future (along with fusion power). I suspect that will continue until the Chinese land there. The American political system just isn't built to sustain sort of long term programs that will be necessary to go to Mars.