Would you sell a chunk of your country for $1000?

[Mitch]

Imagine that in the country where you are a citizen, a private company has bought a large piece of land with access to the ocean, approximately 100x100 kilometers in size. Currently, no one lives on this land.

The company has investors who would like to create an independent state of a new type on this territory.

The investors want a truly autonomous state that independently conducts its internal and foreign policy. They plan to seek diplomatic recognition from other countries, issue their own passports, build a modern city, and create something like a comfortable offshore haven with ultra-low taxes and minimal business regulation.

The company makes an offer to your country: recognize our independence for this territory as a new state. In return, we will make a one-time payment to each citizen of your country in the form of a gold bar equivalent to $1,000 USD.

This proposal is announced in the media and debated. Opinions are polarized, with some people convinced that you can't sell your homeland, even a small piece of territory, even if the land was already legally purchased by the company on the market and no one lives there.

They argue that the land of the entire country is the heritage of all future generations and is priceless.

Another group of people would like to receive $1,000 worth of gold and don't mind the emergence of a new country.

Your government decides to hold a referendum on whether to adopt a new law for such a deal, sell this small piece of the country, and recognize the new country, or leave everything as it is.

When I ask this question, people often try to imagine themselves as a politician, president, or dictator of the country receiving the offer. But don't do that; I'm not interested in the president's answer, I'm interested in the answer from the real you, an ordinary citizen. Consider the situation from your personal point of view, what are the pros and cons for you personally.

Think about what income you personally expect to receive from this territory over your lifetime if it remains part of the country and is just an uncultivated field waiting to be sold.

Also, think about how it would affect your country's economy if not only you but every citizen received a gift of gold worth $1,000.

How would you vote?

[philipma1957]

So China would get 1k x 1.2b = 1.2 trillion correct?

USA would get 1k x 330m = 330 billion correct?



Long Island New York is 3800 square kilometers

you would want to sell 3x long lslands for 330 billion.

the dynamics are not possible


not sure what country has shitty piece of waterfront that is 10000 square kilometers.

long island is

nassau homes are 600k
suffolk homes are 500k
brooklyn homes are 1.1 million
queens. homes are 900k


there are an easy million homes on those four counties

way more than a 330 million national payout.

pretty sure 1000 is way too low