Today I learned (from Scott Adams’ blog) that Donald Trump, during his last
presidential run, proposed that we pay the national debt off all at
once–with a massive tax on the rich.

I don’t know the details, and they don’t really matter, but it was something
like, “take 15% of the assets of those with the most money. Problem solved
instantly.”

I really like this idea, except for one thing. It won’t fix anything.

Governments will continue to be stupid. We’ll continue to grow our
population of people who are clueless while reducing our population capable
of creating such wealth, and no changes will be made to keep this from
happening again.

If a program like this could be combined with sweeping changes, I’d be all
about it. I’d even participate in the gutting–even though I wouldn’t be
anywhere near qualifying.

We could do it all based on incentives. I’d get a cool sticker to display
for taking the gutting, and it’d give me cool benefits like the ability to
park and use toll roads for free.

Anyway, I think it’s an interesting idea. But the notion of taking from
people in such a way without a plan for and promise of how things will
improve seems like pure crime.

Thoughts? ::

May 23, 2025