They say that its harder to govern the masses than it is to govern a town. I am going to hold this statement to be true for this question.

So why don't we stop trying to govern the United States, and eliminate the Federal Government. Let's just pretend the South won the civil war and give each state its right to whatever form of government it chooses.

Did you know that Andrew Jackson was the only president to ever pay off the national debt? His last words were "I killed the bank." If we become individual countries again, then we stop giving our money to the Federal Reserve, if we do that then we can finally get rid of our national debt.

Why stop at the state level? After all, stats like Texas and California are too big as it is. Let's have each town and hamlet have its own government. We could be like Somalia, with local war lords who run their tribes and take what they can from the other "infidels." Great idea.

...then we stop giving our money to the Federal Reserve, if we do that then we can finally get rid of our national debt.Explain again how that gets rid of your debt?

One problem is that doesn't resolve the debts run up by certain states, Tossing California out as one example and Illinois as a second(there are a LOT more). If the Federal government was shrunk back to its historic and intended roles before the power grabs of the last century occurred... it would be less the behemoth its become today that sucks the wealth from those who work... and offer little in return.

Using an analogy... The federal government would be better served as a Teacher in a classroom of advanced placement students, than say The Overlord (boss) at a sweat shop.

That's ridiculous and you know it. Just because the federal government stops funding the military doesn't mean the military and its nukes just... DISAPPEAR! State government will pick up the tab and defend its people.

Thats ridiculous and you know it.Whooooosh!

The federal reserve (owned by a private company) prints money, loans it out to banks, and rakes in the interest slowly robbing our country.

I pretty sure you're a little unclear about who owns your debt.
Here's a little light reading for you: United States public debt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt)

We stop that, and we pay off our debts without losing what we have been to the individual who owns the Federal Reserve. If you are still confused watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGk5ioEXlIM

Thanks?

We stop that, and we pay off our debts How? You're no longer collecting taxes - how do you pay down those trillions?

How are we no longer collecting taxes? Each state would combine its tax revenue to pay off past dues. The reason why it would be possible in a new government is because the Federal one blows through money like a teenage girl.

That's ridiculous and you know it.


Yes. It was a sarcastic response to the ridiculous question you posed. But I'm curious - since you're from Washington State how would you envision the Replublic of Washington working? Would your state have its own currency? Would it issue its own passport? Would it put up checkpoints at the border with Oregon to keep out "illegal aliens" from Portland, and to tax imported goods from places like Idaho? You've already said it would have a military with nukes - I assume that's to protect itself from invasion by neighboring states and Canada, right?

So you assume that the states will all get together to willingly pay down a debt that no longer directly affect them. That's a tall order.

If I am correct then our debt is to other countries. If it were up to a democratic vote, people would chose to pay off those countries rather than start a war.

We would use marijuana as our currency.

In all reality, I think that much of daily life would go on the same, people would just be able to make changes at a more fundamental level. I personally prefer Socialist economy, I would move to a state that offered that.

We would use marijuana as our currency.

OK! Now I'm with you!

Damn skippy!

How come nobody is like hey "I agree with you we should do that!" Does anyone reading this forum actually think this form of government would work, or be superior to our current one?

Does anyone reading this forum actually think this form of government would work, or be superior to our current one?Hello A:

No.

excon

Problems is true democracies are unmanagible in all but tiny countries. And there is nothing wrong with how our government was set up to work... but there is with what Activist Judges that are overstepping their bounds and forcing what could not be legislated so what the left has contorted the government into in their attempt to force socialism onto an unwilling public. And Socialisn has never worked... and will never work. Because it rewards the lazy at the expense of the motivated.

You need to be specific about what period when you refer to our government. Because while most like our form of Democracy... far fewer may like what its been forced into by unelected judges that act like dictators twisting the law and constitution to fit their distorted view of reality TODAY.


Incidentally you are commenting on posts rather than replying to them (or "Answering this question") depending on which forum skin you are using. Big difference. You can't get feedback on a comment... only on a post.

Incidently you are commenting on posts rather than replying to them (or "Answering this question") depending on which forum skin you are using. Big difference. You can't get feedback on a comment...only on a post.
If you see a ? In brackets after a member's name, e.g. Animus [?], that means he is using the new skin.

If you see a ? in brackets after a member's name, e.g., Animus [?], that means he is using the new skin.

I didn't like the new skin at all... so not sure what their reply options actually are as a result. Other than its not the right one. A comment can't be quoted without a cut and past... and they can't get greenies or reddies for their reputation score.

Skin? What advantage could a new skin have? I don't understand. Is this a reference to the website?

Of course I am commenting on posts, that is what the comment button is for. I will reply when I mean to.

Animus, you're using the new and improved skin (version of this web site), whereas we are on the old skin that most of us believe is much more user friendly. IT developers are still tweaking the new skin, but refuse so far to get rid of the Comment feature which has caused no end of problems.

"Comment" is a misnomer. You should scroll down slightly to an Answer box and "comment" there. Then we can rate your replies and quote you. If you use the Comment box, we have to manually go through the hassle to c/p your Comment into an Answer box and quote you, like this --


Comment on Wondergirl's post
Skin? What advantage could a new skin have? I don't understand. Is this a reference to the website?

Or this --

Comment on Wondergirl's post
Skin? What advantage could a new skin have? I don't understand. Is this a reference to the website?

Oh I see. Thank you. I will try to work out this technical problem.

And I do believe Animus is someone that will care about their hard earned reputation score as they spend more time here.

Based on their posts thus far... I see them as someone that's might be around a while... not someone that posts a question or two and is never heard from again.

Animus, respond to this with an Answer, not a Comment. Tell me one sentence.

I seem to be unable to find the options to change my skin so that I can reply to answers... I could use some help.

Animus, scroll down a small amount to find Answer.

My only two options are either "Report Post" or "Comment" there is also the
"Is this helpful" option.

Scroll down more.

You all have been incredibly helpful. People who use this site are very smart cookies.

Alternately to change the skin you see... Click on my profile... then EDIT OPTIONS

Near the bottom of that you see a Miscellaneous Options...

There is a Forum Skin... I use Light V2 for example... not forum default

Thank you. I'm a librarian and like to know stuff.

To visit us in the old skin, do this --

Go to the top right of your screen, to Settings. Click on that and a window will open. At the bottom left of the window, it should say something like "Take me back to the old skin." Click on that.

Animus, respond to this with an Answer, not a Comment. Tell me one sentence.

I am attempting an "Answer" response and not a comment.

Animus, respond to this with an Answer, not a Comment. Tell me one sentence.

Is this an actual response?

I guess there is a little learning curve to this site... Thank you all for your help.

Is this an actual response?
YYYyyyyaaayyy!

To visit us in the old skin, do this --

Go to the top right of your screen, to Settings. Click on that and a window will open. At the bottom left of the window, it should say something like "Take me back to the old skin." Click on that.

Is this an actual response?

Yes, that is an answer and not a comment. You will find the field to be much larger and allow far more lengthy answers. Sometimes this is good, sometimes this is bad... but you won't find yourself cut off so quickly when typing mid-thought.