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The website that prompted my debt poll

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Spinach, Nov 29, 2009.

  1. Spinach

    Spinach New Member

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    US Debt Clock

    I looked at that site and naturally thought about debt. My debt. Others' debt. It's mind blowing!

    Thoughts?
     
  2. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    First thought is that the government owns half the land west of the Mississippi and this asset is not included in the mix.
     
  3. targus

    targus New Member

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    Why would it be?

    Are you proposing that the Federal Government start selling off land assets?

    To who - China?

    Once the land is sold for all practical purposes it is gone. It is not available for public use as it is now.

    The city of Detroit took that route. Over the years there have been proposals to sell the Detroit Zoo, Belle Isle, Cobo Hall, the Ambassador bridge, etc.

    Once an asset is sold there is a short term budget relief but no long term solution. The budget shortfall continues in the following years.

    The long term solution is to spend less.
     
  4. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    And less government
     
  5. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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    I'd like to start this part of debt reduction immediately.
     
  6. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    >Are you proposing that the Federal Government start selling off land assets?

    I was proposing than an honest balance sheet requires the listing of all assets but as long as you mention it . . . .

    The government has millions of square miles of land as scrubby as Phoenix and Las Vegas was before humans transformed it. During Lincoln's Revolution, black Americans were promised 40 acres and a mule for joining with Lincoln's troops.

    I propose that any head of household who has filed a 1040 form and has a claim to the proper ancestry be given 40 acres of scrub land and a mule equivalent - an American manufactured walk behind tractor. The land claims could be assigned by lottery. The primary cost would be the surveying.

    This would put the land on the tax rolls. Entire new counties and cities could be established. For example, a new walled city could be built as a Baptist enclave. Maybe a 51st (Baptist) state with two Baptist senators and a Baptist representative.

    The only hang up would be water rights. The lawyers woiuld love it.
     
  7. exscentric

    exscentric Well-Known Member
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    Wouldn't that be the 59th state?

    Yep, just another Odrama dig :wavey: but then I haven't done one in a loooooong time:thumbs:
     
  8. targus

    targus New Member

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    I don't know how many accounting classes you have taken... that was a "debt clock" on a website - not a financial statement.
     
  9. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    The next to the last line (in green) was a list of national assets.
     
  10. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Listing assets isn't going to reduce the debt. Spending less than what is being taken in is the only way to reduce the deficit.
     
  11. targus

    targus New Member

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    Assets don't mean much in relation to debt unless you are willing to sell off the assets.

    Why would you want to transfer ownership of public land out of trust and into the hands of your owners? :laugh:
     
  12. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    A good way to pay off the national debt is to give Mass, NY, and Chicago to China. Also, if it would bring us to zero, they can also have the west coast.
     
  13. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Yeah, all that land we own west of the Mississippi must be part of area 51.
     
  14. billwald

    billwald New Member

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  15. targus

    targus New Member

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    What's the point? No one is questioning whether there are Federal and State lands.

    What is questionable is your desire to include those holdings when talking about the national debt.

    The land is in trust for a purpose.

    It sounds as though that in addition to mortgaging our children's futures you are in favor of squandering their inheritance to boot.
     
  16. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    >The land is in trust for a purpose.

    Yes. Apparently in trust for oil companies and mining companies. Soon a new mine in Alaska on govt trust land will pollute an entire river system.

    Was the homestead act evil because it transferred public land to private parties?
     
  17. targus

    targus New Member

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    The purpose of the homestead act was to motivate people to relocate people to areas that the government wanted to see developed for the benefit of the nation - not to raise revenue.

    Oil and mining companies extract natural mineral resources which our country needs and also pay royalties for the privlege to do so. When they are done the land still remains in the public trust.

    Your proposal would remove land from the public trust permanently.

    As I said you seem to be promoting not only mortgaging our childrens' future but squandering their inheritance as well.
     
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