Actually, if profit can be made, the exploration of space would take off. I don't have a problem with mining on some God foresaken asteroid, or planet for that matter.
Yeah what could go wrong with this scenario.?
So you have a fortune inhereted from dear old dad. You like the idea of space mining for minerals.
Put yourself in this position, just how far would you go to have everything you ever wanted.?
First thing I would think would be is to call in all debts to politions and those in government.
Space is now up for grabs so you need to get anyway you can people to get you out there.
Where are you going to get the people to willing go off planet. All the experts will be earth bound as they are to valuable to risk danger.
Mining on any planet including Earth takes allot of man power, most of the man power is done by those with no skill, they are the mules of the industry.
Where to get the Mules to do do the dirty work, why not get a few laws changed and send up the men and woman on death row.?----They are given a choice death or going off planet to work.
As more and more workers die, the offer goes to those with long time sentences, and down to petty offences.
Interesting as anyone charged with an offence that is young and healthy is soon sent off to slave labor to work and die for some company that has the pull to somewhere make big gains for their share holders.