[Animus]

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.

[ebaines]

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.

[NeedKarma]

...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?

[smoothy]

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.

[Animus]

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.

[NeedKarma]

Thats ridiculous and you know it.

Whooooosh!

[Animus]

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

[NeedKarma]

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

[Animus]

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

[Animus]

Thanks?

[NeedKarma]

We stop that, and we pay off our debts

How? You're no longer collecting taxes - how do you pay down those trillions?

[Animus]

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.

[ebaines]

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?

[NeedKarma]

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.

[Animus]

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.

[Animus]

We would use marijuana as our currency.

[Animus]

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.

[ebaines]

We would use marijuana as our currency.

OK! Now I'm with you!

[Animus]

Damn skippy!

[Animus]

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?