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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBIZARRE: Birmingham developer offers plan to buy Belle Isle for $1 billion, secede from Michigan
Never mind that the proposed libertarian experiment, supported by prominent free-enterprise supporters like the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, retired Chrysler President Al Sperlich and Clark Durant, co-founder of Detroits Cornerstone Schools, likely will go nowhere.
The sale of Belle Isle requires the approval of Mayor Dave Bing and Detroit City Council and neither would give the proposal a serious look. Its also very unlikely the island could secede from Michigan.
In fact, the plan smacks of antagonism and divisiveness at a time when the city is shedding vital services to avoid bankruptcy.
More here: http://motorcitymuckraker.com/2013/01/13/birmingham-developer-offers-plan-to-buy-belle-isle-for-1-billion-secede-from-michigan/
WhoIsNumberNone
(7,875 posts)Probably.
LuckyTheDog
(6,837 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)US citizens owe US taxes no matter where they live
WhoIsNumberNone
(7,875 posts)by stashing their money in tax havens like the Cayman Islands. I would expect any Libertarian Utopia to be just that sort of place.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 14, 2013, 09:47 PM - Edit history (1)
Archaic
(273 posts)No access to the United States Power Grid. They can build their own power plant, lines, and maintain them. And if they pollute down stream, there will be serious consequences.
Water quality will be closely monitored. If they don't process their wastewater, international incident.
No airspace rights over the USA. They want to get there, they land in our airports, go through our customs, and deal with the TSA.
Special taxation on rental cars, and for using foreign plates from their little island when their limo picks them up at the public airports.
Geoblocking of their island from all of the US cellular carriers since they're using USA's radio bands. SIGNIFICANT international criminal laws if they put up their own cellular service that interferes with the USA carrier service.
No US cable/DSL/fiber into that haven. They want internet, they can pay to launch their own satellite.
As a foreign entity, their banking transactions will not be subject to our oversight or control. So they don't get to make electronic transactions into our markets, or banking system. They want to make their money on Wall Street, have at it. We're charging you international rates to make sure you're not laundering money or acting as a foreign agent to manipulate our markets.
Not sure how you're going to fuel your cars, since we're not running a pipeline there. And we can control the import/export of fuels. You want tanker trucks bringing your Bentley a little gasoline, pay.
And there's no way in hell we're going to allow a foreign army to pass into our country on the way to the island. Start recruiting your own, buy your own munitions, and don't take it personally when we put up towers to make sure nothing comes across the bridge that is a threat.
So I say, other than the fact they're screwing the locals by taking their public space, I'm for it.
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)backwoodsbob
(6,001 posts)Detroit needs money so provide them services like water/sewage,cable,electricity...at a 40% premium over regular rates
They love libertarian values so much..let them literally put their money where their mouth is
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)drm604
(16,230 posts)Just because a piece of land is privately owned, that doesn't mean that it can legally secede from the state or the union. It'd still be part of Michigan and have to abide by Michigan and federal laws.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)GM (whose father was william clark durant)?
nyquil_man
(1,443 posts)WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)have their own security, I'm sure), hospitals/doctors, FEMA help, re-entry without passports (conversely, no visitors without passports), bridge/road repairs, refuse their "currency"......y'all get the picture.
IOW: Treat Belle Isle like Cuba.
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)Then they'll be whining to be let back and cost taxpayers a mint to help them.