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Paypal Founder Peter Thiel Invests to Create Floating Micro-Countries

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Re: Paypal Founder Peter Thiel Invests to Create Floating Micro-Countries

#51

Post by georgieporgie »

This is a great test of Libertarian ideology. Personally, I suspect they'll quickly find out that those 'excessive' US taxes are paying for layer upon layer of security and infrastructure that is critical to the expansion of their wealth. Perhaps, though, their superior free-market will develop compact, cost-effective means of defense.

Then again, maybe they'll just end up in a nice tax shelter and use their political/financial connections to assure protection from the United States.

Re: Paypal Founder Peter Thiel Invests to Create Floating Micro-Countries

#52

Post by athom »

christkv wrote: post #35

I am Andrew Ryan, and I'm here to ask you a question. Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow? 'No!' says the man in Washington, 'It belongs to the poor.' 'No!' says the man in the Vatican, 'It belongs to God.' 'No!' says the man in Moscow, 'It belongs to everyone.' I rejected those answers; instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose... Rapture, a city where the artist would not fear…

From BioShock, for the one or two other idiots who (like myself) never bought or played the game.

Re: Paypal Founder Peter Thiel Invests to Create Floating Micro-Countries

#54

Post by ddw »

endtime wrote: post #43
ddw wrote: post #18

Funny how these guys can only afford these things from their profits in "nanny states." Basically this guy is keeping it close to San Francisco so that he can earn him money here and suck it over to his amusement park. If he really believed in "libertarianism" he would just do it without the money and see how he can prosper then. But alas, the super rich are not like everyone else.

>Funny how these guys can only afford these things from their profits in "nanny states." Do you really think Thiel would have made less money in a less socialist version of the US?

I was attempting to be facetious.

Re: Paypal Founder Peter Thiel Invests to Create Floating Micro-Countries

#55

Post by athom »

gexla wrote: post #19

Floating countries for rich people. Products: Gambling licenses. Dual citizenships. Offshore banking (tax havens.) What am I missing? Edit: Of course, nobody would actually be living in these places other than system admins. All the available space would be stuffed with servers to run the above services.

Don't forget retreat from the Zombie Apocalypse:

http://zombiesafehouse.wordpress.com/2010-zshc-winner/

Re: Paypal Founder Peter Thiel Invests to Create Floating Micro-Countries

#56

Post by ahi »

brass_cannon wrote: post #16
jackowayed wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd guess that a lot of rich people will inhabit them, at least at first. Ransom can be pricy.

Valid point, but if I am rich enough to be living on an isolated island micro-country, and will fetch a healthy enough ransom for pirates to snatch me, I am also investing a fair amount of resources into my own defense. Think small arms, ample security systems, security guards, etc.

You don't need to board the thing to take it ransom. Just need to have a credible threat of doing serious damage. "You have 5 minutes to wire $x into our bank account or your little country gets sunk."

Re: Paypal Founder Peter Thiel Invests to Create Floating Micro-Countries

#57

Post by Luyt »

christkv wrote: post #35

I am Andrew Ryan, and I'm here to ask you a question. Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow? 'No!' says the man in Washington, 'It belongs to the poor.' 'No!' says the man in the Vatican, 'It belongs to God.' 'No!' says the man in Moscow, 'It belongs to everyone.' I rejected those answers; instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose... Rapture, a city where the artist would not fear…

"Freedom: To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing." - Ayn Rand
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