User Panel
Posted: 10/31/2009 5:56:53 PM EDT
The last month or so, I've been doing some serious thinking. If my household was deep in debt and despite doing all I could to make payment, it was becoming obvious that was impossible... I would feel that I have one of two choices:
1. Default (not an option for me personally) 2. Sell some asset (a cabin, car, gun, some tools, whatever). So, why shouldn't the Federal government consider the same thing? We have some fantastic prime real estate. There would be the obvious logistical challenges of moving/compensating citizens currently living in those areas, but surely the sale of these assets would go far to bring down the National Debt. Heck, the "sale" could even include a long-term lease (or specific exemption) for Pearl Harbor for strategic & historical value. Thoughts? |
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Quoted: The last month or so, I've been doing some serious thinking. If my household was deep in debt and despite doing all I could to make payment, it was becoming obvious that was impossible... I would feel that I have one of two choices: 1. Default (not an option for me personally) 2. Sell some asset (a cabin, car, gun, some tools, whatever). So, why shouldn't the Federal government consider the same thing? We have some fantastic prime real estate. There would be the obvious logistical challenges of moving/compensating citizens currently living in those areas, but surely the sale of these assets would go far to bring down the National Debt. Heck, the "sale" could even include a long-term lease (or specific exemption) for Pearl Harbor for strategic & historical value. Thoughts? USVI |
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Close, but consider this-
If your family was broke and you had a wife that drove a $250,000 car and spent $5,000/month on clothing, you would do best to change the spending habits. And sell the car. Therefore I offer that we can sell Washington DC with all of it's 'furnishings' to whomever will haul it all off to their own country.I'd rather keep the USVI that WDC. |
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Auction off Iraq and Afghanistan to the highest bidder, two birds with one stone.
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I've been to the USVI, now known as just the "USI". HEEEYYYOOOO!
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I'd love to cut Hawaii loose and watch all those racists dive deep into poverty
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I don't like it.
Like the previous poster said, the first thing you do when you realize you are in debt is change spending habits. Reduce spending first. That could go a long way. |
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We should sell Puerto Rico. As far as I know it's empty as San Juan relocated to the Bronx.
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So a state can't secede, but it can be sold out of the union?
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I concur that spending habits have to change. The example of a wife driving a $250k car is spot-on. Selling a pricey OCONUS asset will only put a bandaid on a sucking chest wound if spending doesn't stop.
But let's say a miracle happens and Congress stops pissing away our money. We still have trillions in National Debt. For those that reacted with sarcasm - what's your solution? Do we just default? Why should the Government not operate according to the same (general) rules under which we manage our homes and checkbooks? |
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Quoted:
I concur that spending habits have to change. The example of a wife driving a $250k car is spot-on. Selling a pricey OCONUS asset will only put a bandaid on a sucking chest wound if spending doesn't stop. But let's say a miracle happens and Congress stops pissing away our money. We still have trillions in National Debt. For those that reacted with sarcasm - what's your solution? Do we just default? Why should the Government not operate according to the same (general) rules under which we manage our homes and checkbooks? One thing we don't do is essentially sell american citizens and their land to another nation. You know Americans live there right? |
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One thing we don't do is essentially sell american citizens and their land to another nation. You know Americans live there right? We don't? Does it say in the Constitution that we can buy territory, but not sell it? Besides, Skillets, did you read my OP? There would be the obvious logistical challenges of moving/compensating citizens currently living in those areas
Give people a choice to stay or move mainland. Compensate those who wish to move. <shrug> If you still disagree, propose a solution. I'm all ears eyes. |
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Honestly, I wouldn't call that "serious thinking".
You do realize States are sovereign. The Virgin Islands can be self-governming with a proper election as can most unincorporated territories. |
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One thing we don't do is essentially sell american citizens and their land to another nation. You know Americans live there right? We don't? Does it say that in the Constitution that we can buy territory, but not sell it? Besides, Skillets, did you read my OP? There would be the obvious logistical challenges of moving/compensating citizens currently living in those areas
Give people a choice to stay or move mainland. Compensate those who wish to move. <shrug> If you still disagree, propose a solution. I'm all ears eyes. Hawaii is not a territory, its a state. The V.I. is a different story. |
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I concur that spending habits have to change. The example of a wife driving a $250k car is spot-on. Selling a pricey OCONUS asset will only put a bandaid on a sucking chest wound if spending doesn't stop. But let's say a miracle happens and Congress stops pissing away our money. We still have trillions in National Debt. For those that reacted with sarcasm - what's your solution? Do we just default? Why should the Government not operate according to the same (general) rules under which we manage our homes and checkbooks? The US has had debt as a percentage of GDP significantly higher in the past than it is today. Our current debt level had not come close to reaching panic levels. |
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The USA is a business, those that hold excessive amounts of stock (dollars) made a bad investment, screw em.
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Hawaii is not a territory, its a state. The V.I. is a different story. It's territory (land owned by the US), and also officially a state... but now we're splitting hairs. So, the USVI and Puerto Rico... I suppose we could make some money auctioning them off. Excellent adaptation - simplifies things. Since they don't have full statehood, it would cost less to "compensate" those living there. |
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Quoted: We should sell Puerto Rico. As far as I know it's empty as San Juan relocated to the Bronx. THIS. Useless without Vieques. |
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Close, but consider this- If your family was broke and you had a wife that drove a $250,000 car and spent $5,000/month on clothing, you would do best to change the spending habits. And sell the car. Therefore I offer that we can sell Washington DC with all of it's 'furnishings' to whomever will haul it all off to their own country.I'd rather keep the USVI that WDC. Yep, I'd throw a few of our larger metro areas on that list as well, but that's just me. |
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I'd love to cut Hawaii loose and watch all those racists dive deep into poverty I don't get it? Hawaiians are racist? Can you explain briefly? Anyways, the British Empire pretty much divested itself of anything that wasn't far-flung sheep hearders or inbred island. They don't publicly regret their actions, but I think they miss it. Sell PR to china. |
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Close, but consider this- If your family was broke and you had a wife that drove a $250,000 car and spent $5,000/month on clothing, you would do best to change the spending habits. And sell the car. Therefore I offer that we can sell Washington DC with all of it's 'furnishings' to whomever will haul it all off to their own country.I'd rather keep the USVI that WDC. It would be much eaiser to sell the wife than get her to change her spending habbits. |
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I concur that spending habits have to change. The example of a wife driving a $250k car is spot-on. Selling a pricey OCONUS asset will only put a bandaid on a sucking chest wound if spending doesn't stop. But let's say a miracle happens and Congress stops pissing away our money. We still have trillions in National Debt. For those that reacted with sarcasm - what's your solution? Do we just default? (general) Why should the Government not operate according to the same rules under which we manage our homes and checkbooks?[/quote] That is kinda what got us into the predicament we are in today....The fact that most homes operate like the .gov and spend more money than they can take in |
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Why HI or VI ??
Why not Guam, American Samoa, Peurto Rico or the Northern Marianas ?? There's 9 other islands we have as well.... Bajo Nuevo Bank Baker Island Howland Island Jarvis Island Johnston Atoll Kingman Reef Midway Islands Navassa Island Palmyra Atoll Problem is...I think we could sell all of em & not even touch the amount of money we would need to fix the problems we have. |
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Hawaii would be illegal. The federal government cannot cede or divide the territory of a state.
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Hawaii would be illegal. The federal government cannot cede or divide the territory of a state. Good point..... |
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I think we should sell Canada to Nigeria. I've got an email that we copy and send to their president. It will totally work.
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Quoted: I think we should sell Canada to Nigeria. I've got an email that we copy and send to their president. It will totally work. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I'd love to cut Hawaii loose and watch all those racists dive deep into poverty I don't get it? Hawaiians are racist? Can you explain briefly? Google 'Kill a Haole Day'. Imagine if say Mississippi had a 'Lynch a ****** Day' that wasn't cracked down and condemned as racist. Also read this http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1081 Have you ever been there? Experienced the hostility? Being told when you ask about a region you would like to visit that 'You shouldn't go there, you're white'? I hate Hawaii. |
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If we sell Hawaii wouldn't that mean NObama is no longer a U.S. citizen and therefor not president. Hell for that I'd give it away
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Hawaii would be illegal. The federal government cannot cede or divide the territory of a state. Good point..... They already do with Federal land holdings. Could they sell those or at least the drilling/mining/mineral rights to let's say...china? |
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No way.
National Debt get's too bad we'll just invade somebody. |
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No. We should stop the subterfuge, stop trying to treat symptoms, and actually treat the issues
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Hawaii is not a territory, its a state. The V.I. is a different story. It's territory (land owned by the US), and also officially a state... but now we're splitting hairs. So, the USVI and Puerto Rico... I suppose we could make some money auctioning them off. Excellent adaptation - simplifies things. Since they don't have full statehood, it would cost less to "compensate" those living there. Wrong. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I'd love to cut Hawaii loose and watch all those racists dive deep into poverty I don't get it? Hawaiians are racist? Can you explain briefly? Google 'Kill a Haole Day'. Imagine if say Mississippi had a 'Lynch a ****** Day' that wasn't cracked down and condemned as racist. Also read this http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1081 Have you ever been there? Experienced the hostility? Being told when you ask about a region you would like to visit that 'You shouldn't go there, you're white'? I hate Hawaii. That's no shit. I've never been to Hawaii but every single person I've met from there is a complete and total asshole. No exceptions, out of a hundred or so. When they visit here they act like what the Euros despise about American tourists, but worse. They are the most incredibly arrogant and boorish assholes I've ever met. I'll never vacation in Hawaii, I'd probably get better treatment in Mexico without money if their tourists here are any example. |
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Auction off Iraq and Afghanistan to the highest bidder, two birds with one stone. We'll throw Los Angeles and its people as a bargain. We'll have to build a wall around the cess pool to keep them in first. |
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I've lived here in Hawaii for almost 25 years. I'm white and can count on one hand with fingers left over the number of racially related problems I've had here, even less if you leave out the crazies. I can't say the same about places I've lived on the mainland.
YMMV, mostly based upon your attitude. |
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So a state can't secede, but it can be sold out of the union? Let's pool our resources, buy Texas, and rename it... ARFARKANA! |
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How about we pass a set of laws that make Puerto Rico a sovereign country and hence no longer receives a free ride from the rest of us? If you think it's expensive now, add on universal healthcare in the near future.
Let's just incorporate Canada for its natural resources and Finland and Sweden for its women. |
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I'd love to cut Hawaii loose and watch all those racists dive deep into poverty I don't get it? Hawaiians are racist? Can you explain briefly? Google 'Kill a Haole Day'. Imagine if say Mississippi had a 'Lynch a ****** Day' that wasn't cracked down and condemned as racist. Also read this http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1081 Have you ever been there? Experienced the hostility? Being told when you ask about a region you would like to visit that 'You shouldn't go there, you're white'? I hate Hawaii. That's no shit. I've never been to Hawaii but every single person I've met from there is a complete and total asshole. No exceptions, out of a hundred or so. When they visit here they act like what the Euros despise about American tourists, but worse. They are the most incredibly arrogant and boorish assholes I've ever met. I'll never vacation in Hawaii, I'd probably get better treatment in Mexico without money if their tourists here are any example. +1 When I was in the military my wife had some serious problems with neighbors from Hawaii. Not really sure why they started tormenting us because we NEVER did anything. We lived in housing that required a key to gain access to the stairwell or be “buzzed” in. On numerous occasions they would see my wife coming and would shut the doors on her then stand and look at her at laugh while she dug for her keys. They would normally do this when she had her hands full, either with our son or with groceries. They would pile THEIR trash in front of our door and when I asked about it they denied it saying I should take MY trash out. It all culminated when the females of the family cornered my wife in the hall, threatening her and pushing her. I spoke with my 1st Sergeant and commander and they in turn contacted the service member’s commander to get everything resolved. After that there were no outward problems but they still managed to make our life a living hell for another six months. At one point they took chicken bones and piled them on our door step. They would also knock at the door or get really loud at odd hours. When I finally opened the door their family would be standing in their door laughing and then shut their door which was right across the hall from us. Dolomite |
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Hawaii is not a territory, its a state. The V.I. is a different story. It's territory (land owned by the US), and also officially a state... but now we're splitting hairs. So, the USVI and Puerto Rico... I suppose we could make some money auctioning them off. Excellent adaptation - simplifies things. Since they don't have full statehood, it would cost less to "compensate" those living there. Wrong. Hawaii is not a state? Really? You must be an unfortunate victim of this "new education" system. |
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One thing we don't do is essentially sell american citizens and their land to another nation. You know Americans live there right? We don't? Does it say in the Constitution that we can buy territory, but not sell it? Besides, Skillets, did you read my OP? There would be the obvious logistical challenges of moving/compensating citizens currently living in those areas
Give people a choice to stay or move mainland. Compensate those who wish to move. <shrug> If you still disagree, propose a solution. I'm all ears eyes. I'm saying we keep Hawaii and sell a more useless state... like Alabama. We could call it New Mexico..... oh, wait... Mexibama? |
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Quoted: Sell the wife.The last month or so, I've been doing some serious thinking. If my household was deep in debt and despite doing all I could to make payment, it was becoming obvious that was impossible... I would feel that I have one of two choices: 1. Default (not an option for me personally) 2. Sell some asset (a cabin, car, gun, some tools, whatever). So, why shouldn't the Federal government consider the same thing? We have some fantastic prime real estate. There would be the obvious logistical challenges of moving/compensating citizens currently living in those areas, but surely the sale of these assets would go far to bring down the National Debt. Heck, the "sale" could even include a long-term lease (or specific exemption) for Pearl Harbor for strategic & historical value. Thoughts? |
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Funny. I had similar thoughts a few months ago. I figure the Chinese will demand Alaska and Hawaii for repayment. And most dummycrats would go along with it if it meant dem handouts akeep acomin'.
And who cares if it is illegal or unconstitutional ? Has that ever slowed a politiician down? Think of it as a huge eminent domain case. |
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