The united states honestly has little interest in scientific missions
to mars in the near future. However, if we were to reorient our
interests in mars to a industrial and economic one, our eyes would
open up more. Think about it, what has more economic return, a
scientific ouptost or a mining colony? Scientific outposts would take
centuries to develop into full fledge settlements but mining colonies
could do it in decades. It is well known that mars is an unraped
planet (at least by us) and having had a similar geological history
to our planet, should have lots of high concentration mineral
deposites that once discovered, would be prime sites for colonies.

Practically, it would be the better way mainly because most companies
that would benefit from such operations already have enough money to
start seed operations on mars without going bankrupt in event of
failure. It would in effect allow private sector to be in control of
events such as resource management and prices rather than
governmental control (which is not wanted).