As the United States continues to gush billions of dollars each week in Iraq and Afghanistan, states are selling off airports, parks, and other public areas to pay for basic services. This week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will propose selling San Quentin Prison, the Los Angeles Coliseum and other state-owned properties.
The fireside sale of such historic properties would raise less than a billion dollars but such short-term acts are now common. At some point the image of the U.S. giving billions to an oil rich nation like Iraq will cause a public backlash against our leaders. We have reached a point of anaerobic breakdown of our country where we are selling off basic public areas at bargain prices. The result is that a small number of companies and individuals will become fantastically wealthy by giving politicians a short-term infusion of cash.
For the story, click here.
Well Sally, that has been *the* problem throughout humankind…a woman trusted a man and the problems began…
Now you tel me FFLEO?
After I sent him all my savings via western union? Darn it all!!
“Mu handshake is my bond. You know you can trust me…”
__________________
Sally! Never ever trust a guy who caint spell My and then says that you can trust him.
Sally,
You’re in on the ground floor. Clean out your accounts now and wait for instructions. I prefer cash and no paperwork. Mu handshake is my bond. You know you can trust me I’m that nice old guy who wouldn’t harm a flea.
Mike S,
Count me in!! I’ll give you my hard earned cash to use as a downpayment!!!
“The government controls too much land and too many resources and it should be put into production and generating revenues.”
Bron,
Right you are. Could you imagine the development that private industry could do with the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone,
Glacier National Park, The Washington Mall (Lincoln Memorial and Washington monuments are separate deals) and even Central Park in Manhattan? Why it would be thrilling and people could make a bundle. Selling the entire National Park system alone would wipe out the National Debt and I’m sure there are plenty of foreign buyers who would also be interested. Our motto should be “First the Parks, then the Parkways…..and finally the whole Damn Thing!.” Foreign Investors could do wonders with our country and the only down side is we’d have to learn the metric system, which you being an engineer would know anyway.
Sell the durn place to Obamer for his new Gitmo….
AY,
Got any extra cash laying around the house, because I know an Island in San Francisco Bay that we can buy cheap.
Big Fella,
Aren’t you aware that Arnold is an indestructible robot from the future, obviously built by other German robots? He was elected Governor because Californians always get it right. After all Ronald Reagan was a war hero and one tough hombre.
As for Senator George Murphy, that man could dance.
Mike S.,
Your witticism only is exceeded by your sarcasm. I love it. How do I say, “here I sit trying to” . . .think!!!!
Buyers beware, a title search might disclose that the state of California does not own the Los Angeles Coliseum. I also wouldn’t recommend buying a used car from Arnold…
This has actually been an issue for a while… SQ is located on some prime real estate and some people have been pushing to develop bayside properties on it.
Puzzling:
the land and structures that rightfully belong to individuals will be returned to indiviiduals. I see this as a very good thing indeed. The government controls too much land and too many resources and it should be put into production and generating revenues.
Looks like the looters are on their last legs and dont know what to do.
Finally, at my advanced age and being a person of modest means all my life the opportunity of a lifetime arises. I am announcing right here on JT’s site that I am putting a consortium together to purchase San Quentin and its’ scenic isle. I envision a mix of very upscale Townhouses and Condos,
with a Country Club, Shopping Mall, Boutique Hotel and park.
Visitors will be permitted but only at the behest of residents,
maids for instance, or as sightseers/shoppers providing they have a favorable credit rating. The complex will boast its’ owned armed police force, with full peace officer status. Think of the views! Think of the money! Think of the exclusivity!
Investors please contact me at 1-800-Elitist.
puzzling:
Have you been reading Chris Martenson? Cause your making way to much sense.
Hard to believe that, after one hundred-plus years of jokes, the Brooklyn Bridge might actually be sold given the state of things.
This is a smart idea. Not only will it force lawmakers to enact some sort of prison reform, but it will make the state a good amount of cash as San Quentin would be some really nice real estate.
And to think that Bush could be blamed for all of the ills of society. It was the one right before Geo I. I think its initials are RWR, I don’t like to think that name out loud. The trickle down theory really does work, does it not?
I am standing in a puddle and it is yellow, so it must work well.
I should clarify one statement in my comment above.
ALL banks can loan money they don’t have in our fractional reserve lending system. It is the Federal Reserve that will be used to buy trillions in US Treasuries – which are the instrument of borrowing by the federal government – until the US dollar itself collapses as worthless.
This is the equivalent of the State pawning its belongings. It’s a final desperate tactic before bankruptcy.
This approach still has a way to go, however.
I expect to see states sell off toll collection rights on today’s free highways, to offer casino rights for cash, and perhaps even decades worth of lottery rights all for money paid today. Why not sell the ability to collect years worth of back taxes for 50 cents on the dollar? All of these will be tried.
Ultimately I expect the federal government will be used to bail out states, perhaps under the guise of stimulus and government stability. This money will not be borrowed from our bankrupted population or from China, but will simply be loaned to us by the Federal Reserve, the only entity that can loan money it doesn’t have. This monetization cycle of what will become trillions in debt started in March 2009 and was openly announced by the Fed itself.