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Donate to the Treasury to help pay down the $36.7T public debt

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Re: Donate to the Treasury to help pay down the $36.7T public debt

#3

Post by A_D_E_P_T »

austin-cheney wrote: post #2

Why? Until congress is willing to pass a balanced budget this is just lightning your own money on fire.

It's gotta be a joke.

If they're serious, they should return to tradition and sell honors. Like "Patrician" status if you donate $5M or more, which comes with certain minor benefits. (Like you don't need to go through airport security, or you gain access to certain private clubs, etc.) Hereditary "Equestrian" if you donate $100M in cash. And so on.

There wasn't a feudal monarchy around that wouldn't sell honors and titles if they were in dire enough straits, and a $37T debt is as dire as it gets.

Of course, this is an extremely bad idea for obvious reasons (e.g. endemic corruption in our low-trust society, government donations as political signaling, etc.) and would also be something of a joke...

Re: Donate to the Treasury to help pay down the $36.7T public debt

#4

Post by nabla9 »

Only $29T is actual meaningful debt. $7.4T is intergovernmental holdings. It's just accounting where one part of the government owes to another.

Best way to reduce debt/GDP ratio is just support politics and policies where debt grows slower than economy grows.

Re: Donate to the Treasury to help pay down the $36.7T public debt

#7

Post by tyleo »

A_D_E_P_T wrote: post #3
austin-cheney wrote: post #2

Why? Until congress is willing to pass a balanced budget this is just lightning your own money on fire.

It's gotta be a joke. If they're serious, they should return to tradition and sell honors. Like "Patrician" status if you donate $5M or more, which comes with certain minor benefits. (Like you don't need to go through airport security, or you gain access to certain private clubs, etc.) Hereditary "Equestrian" if you donate $100M in cash. And so on. There wasn't a feudal monarchy around that wouldn't sell honors and t…

I’d appreciate if they sold title-only with no benefits. You can be called a patrician but don’t get the status, clubs, or security benefit.

It feels poetic in a way, like the NFT version of an honors system.

Re: Donate to the Treasury to help pay down the $36.7T public debt

#9

Post by treetalker »

A_D_E_P_T wrote: post #3
austin-cheney wrote: post #2

Why? Until congress is willing to pass a balanced budget this is just lightning your own money on fire.

It's gotta be a joke. If they're serious, they should return to tradition and sell honors. Like "Patrician" status if you donate $5M or more, which comes with certain minor benefits. (Like you don't need to go through airport security, or you gain access to certain private clubs, etc.) Hereditary "Equestrian" if you donate $100M in cash. And so on. There wasn't a feudal monarchy around that wouldn't sell honors and t…

Should be tied to how close it takes one's net worth to zero and annual subsistence to the poverty line.

Anything else would be more plutocracy.

Re: Donate to the Treasury to help pay down the $36.7T public debt

#10

Post by AbstractH24 »

nabla9 wrote: post #4

Only $29T is actual meaningful debt. $7.4T is intergovernmental holdings. It's just accounting where one part of the government owes to another. Best way to reduce debt/GDP ratio is just support politics and policies where debt grows slower than economy grows.

Phew, and I thought we were in trouble. Glad it's only $29T
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