The colonization program was viewed by many on Earth as a solution to the resource scarcity that had loomed over humanity for many years. Offworld colonies would be able to harness the resources of new planets and send some of those resources back to Earth. While shipments from the colonies did arrive, exports to the colonies were needed for their continued survival. It is impossible to simply start a modern existence from nothing, and colonies would need long term support before they were fully independent. As the waning years of the 6th millennium wore on, social pressure turned into political pressure to address this support. Many on Earth began to view the colonies as resource pits which consumed more than they produced, or even as leeches and freeloaders. A low level of discontent eventually turned into political action which threatened to cut the colonies off from Earth.
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