Trump calls for contest to create futuristic ‘Freedom Cities’

[Maj. Bill Martin]

So I've seen this raised a couple of times by @catfish1957 , and hadn't heard it myself, so I did some digging and sure enough, Trump is proposing some absolutely massive government proposals to achieve a "quantum leap in the American standard of living."  There's an article and then the actual video of Trump himself saying these things, so there's no question this is legit/not fake. 

It involves building massive new cities on federal land, building personal vertical takeoff/landing aircraft for individual families, etc..  The cost of what he is proposing  is probably in the tens of trillions.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that this is coming from a candidate in the party that is supposed to be the conservative party in this country.

Modern cities and flying cars might sound like the makings of an episode of the 1960s cartoon The Jetsons, where a fictionalized family flew around in Orbit City.

For former President Donald Trump, however, it’s the foundation of a new set of futuristic policy proposals.

In a video set to be released on Friday, Trump will call for a “quantum leap” in the American standard of living.

Trump’s plan, shared in advance with POLITICO, calls for holding a contest to design and create up to ten new “Freedom Cities,” built from the ground up on federal land. It proposes an investment in the development of vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicles; the creation of “hives of industry” sparked by cutting off imports from China; and a population surge sparked by “baby bonuses” to encourage would-be-parents to get on with procreation. It is all, his team says, part of a larger nationwide beautification campaign meant to inspire forward-looking visions of America’s future.

“Past generations of Americans pursued big dreams and daring projects that once seemed absolutely impossible. They pushed across an unsettled continent and built new cities in the wild frontier. They transformed American life with the interstate highway system—magnificent it was. And they launched a vast network of satellites into orbit all around the earth,” Trump said in his video.

“But today, our country has lost its boldness. Under my leadership, we will get it back in a very big way. If you look at just three years ago, what we were doing was unthinkable, how good it was, how great it was for our country. Our objective will be a quantum leap in the American standard of living,” Trump said.

Trump campaign advisers acknowledge the new set of plans are out of the ordinary. But they note he’s made other eye-popping proposals before — like purchasing Greenland from Denmark. They offered analogies to Abraham Lincoln’s campaign for the transcontinental railroad, Teddy Roosevelt’s vision for a national park service, and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway System.

A former celebrity real estate developer and TV personality, Trump has a long history of outlining audacious new initiatives that are heavy on imagery and light on details. The latest offerings come with a few explanations for how they will be executed.

Trump says he would host a contest for the public to design and then build “Freedom Cities” on a small portion of federal land to “reopen the frontier, reignite American imagination, and give hundreds of thousands of young people and other people, all hardworking families, a new shot at home ownership and in fact, the American Dream.”

Trump’s call for investments in vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicles, which he says could transform transportation and connect rural and urban America, is part of a “major initiative” focused on lowering the cost of a new car and creating new transportation methods. It comes as companies like Boeing and Honda are currently spending billions to develop and test electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles that operate like giant drones for humans.

“Just as the United States led the automotive revolution in the last century, I want to ensure that America, not China, leads this revolution in air mobility,” Trump said in the video.

As for “baby bonuses” to encourage the next baby boom and tackle America’s slowing birth rate, Trump appears to be (knowingly or not) borrowing a page from others, like Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). During the 2020 campaign, the New Jersey Democrat proposed “baby bonds,” which would set aside funds in a savings account for every child in America.

Trump’s advisers concede that the set of proposals put out on Friday are broad brushstrokes. But they also insist that they aren’t moonshot either.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/03/trump-policy-futuristic-cities-00085383

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJA_GBhCGgE

[Kamaji]

Trump's been watching "Meet the Robinsons" again:

[catfish1957]

I am not an economist Major, but I do understand finance and how it interplays with business and government pretty well.

Let's hear how much Trump thinks it will cost.  My Wild assed guess estimate?  $10-15T, with at least 75-90% subsidized by taxpayers.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I am not an economist Major, but I do understand finance and how it interplays with business and government pretty well.

Let's hear how much Trump thinks it will cost.  My Wild assed guess estimate?  $10-15T, with at least 75-90% subsidized by taxpayers.

This is the kind of thing that if it was proposed by a Democrat, every conservative/GOP politician and voter in the country would be mocking openly as the quintessential example of big government run amok.  It would be a meme we'd be making jokes about for literally decades, like Dukakis in the tank.

I hope every Trump-supporting politician is asked about this, and whether or not they support it.  And I hope that when the primary really gets going, the Fox Business panel focuses on this specific proposal.

The wildest thing about this is that we're seeing cities become less necessary because of the ability to remote work.  The logic of building entirely new cities is just...bizarre.

[catfish1957]

This is the kind of thing that if it was proposed by a Democrat, every conservative/GOP politician and voter in the country would be mocking openly as the quintessential example of big government run amok.  It would be a meme we'd be making jokes about for literally decades, like Dukakis in the tank.

I hope every Trump-supporting politician is asked about this, and whether or not they support it.  And I hope that when the primary really gets going, the Fox Business panel focuses on this specific proposal.

The wildest thing about this is that we're seeing cities become less necessary because of the ability to remote work.  The logic of building entirely new cities is just...bizarre.

Trump is out FDR-ing FDR. 

And I got a chuckle from the poster earlier with his Trump love while sporting a Coolidge pic on his profile.    Irony at its best.

OTOH, and speaking of FBN, I got a lot of respect for Kudlow, and am dying to hear what he thinks of this.  I hope he will speak honestly and candidly rather than continuing to carry his bosses water.

[kevindavis007]

Question:


1. Where is he going to build these 'Freedom Cities'
2. Of course where is he going to get the money
3. Does the average Trump supporter really want to live in a City
4. What is going to happen to these Freedom cities in 50 years

[catfish1957]

Question:


1. Where is he going to build these 'Freedom Cities'.

I believe near or at 90% of federal owned lands are west of the Mississippi, including a lot in Alaska, and in overall western states away from coastal areas.  That's a pretty wide selection, but the best I can guess at this point. 

2. Of course where is he going to get the money

If history repeats, and I think it will, I am guessing 10 cities would run in the neighborhood of $10-15T, with 75-90% of those costs being covered by the US Taxpayer.  Think FDR on steroids.

3. Does the average Trump supporter really want to live in a City

Or even a better question is does the average Trump supporter support this socialist idea.   I challenge one single Orange Leanng Briefer to defend this initiative.  I dare you!!!!!

4. What is going to happen to these Freedom cities in 50 years

I think you kind of answered your owned question with timing, and the quality of demographic that typically inhabits large cities.  This is maybe the most stupid and idiotic idea Trump has ever had.  And I wish just one Briefer would come here and debate me on the matter.

I kind of touched upon it, in an earlier thread, but from my understanding of the economic interphase of business/government, my prognotistication above in blue.

[Free Vulcan]

The wildest thing about this is that we're seeing cities become less necessary because of the ability to remote work.  The logic of building entirely new cities is just...bizarre.

Exactly. We need to move away from bigger and bigger megacities of centralized power and long supply chains. That's one of the  biggest problems we have now.

It's a dumb idea.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Question:


1. Where is he going to build these 'Freedom Cities'
2. Of course where is he going to get the money
3. Does the average Trump supporter really want to live in a City
4. What is going to happen to these Freedom cities in 50 years

This is literally the same thing they do centrally-planned, command economies.  China, Russia, etc..  It's lunacy.  This is the exact kind of thing you'd expect to hear from someone like Gavin Newsome at his nuttiest.

[DefiantMassRINO]

 

I nominate Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  There's no intrusive, oppressive Government repression there.

[Kamaji]

Question:


1. Where is he going to build these 'Freedom Cities'
2. Of course where is he going to get the money
3. Does the average Trump supporter really want to live in a City
4. What is going to happen to these Freedom cities in 50 years

What will happen in 50 years?  Just consider Brasilia, or Chandigarh.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Our existing cities should be freedom cities, but the people living in them keep voting for less freedom, so how would this be different? I like Trump thinking big but this is a dud in my eyes. But at least someone is proposing something new I guess?

I'm not all negative on this...

Trump was mocked for the space force and IMO it will be come to be seen as a visionary proposal given enough time.

[LMAO]

Our existing cities should be freedom cities, but the people living in them keep voting for less freedom, so how would this be different? I like Trump thinking big but this is a dud in my eyes. But at least someone is proposing something new I guess?

I'm not all negative on this...

Trump was mocked for the space force and IMO it will be come to be seen as a visionary proposal given enough time.

Except we have a $32 trillion problem that’s only gonna grow in the next several years. And, to at least attempt to rein that in, it’s going to require some tough, and sometimes unpopular decisions.

[catfish1957]

Our existing cities should be freedom cities, but the people living in them keep voting for less freedom, so how would this be different? I like Trump thinking big but this is a dud in my eyes. But at least someone is proposing something new I guess?

I'm not all negative on this...

Trump was mocked for the space force and IMO it will be come to be seen as a visionary proposal given enough time.

You really think this government can sustain another $10-15T in incurred federal debt?

[LMAO]

You really think this government can sustain another $10-15T in incurred federal debt?

Well, that’s a typical politician. Big on ideas, small on the details, no idea how to pay for them.

[bigheadfred]

Young Kansas girls will swarm to these cities. If they can get past the flying monkeys.

[catfish1957]

Young Kansas girls will swarm to these cities. If they can get past the flying monkeys.

Don't worry....  Hillary has large cages and a big broom for containment. 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

You really think this government can sustain another $10-15T in incurred federal debt?

 

I don't think anything will change. And I don't see any government with a currency doing a substantially better job. People who think China currency will replace the US are dreaming, they're even more foolish than we are with money.

And even small government conversatives like Reagan cannot stop the deficity spending (it's military so it's "ok" somehow).

Sorry to be a pessimist.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I believe near or at 90% of federal owned lands are west of the Mississippi, including a lot in Alaska, and in overall western states away from coastal areas.  That's a pretty wide selection, but the best I can guess at this point.

And this exposes one of the critical flaws in this kind of centrally planned bullsh*t.

Settlements and cities emerge naturally at points where it makes economic sense for them to do so.  That means reasons such as trade, access to navigable water, proximity to critical raw materials, etc..

That's a pretty good description of what most federally-owned land isn't.  So why in the hell would you want to build cities there?  Who is going to move there, and why?

On top of that, It is inherent in Trump's plan that the government is going to be selecting these particular sites, and that the government is going to decide which of the proposed city models entered into this competition are the winners.  What person who has ever voted Republican in their life actually believes that is a good idea?

[mountaineer]

Young Kansas girls will swarm to these cities. If they can get past the flying monkeys.

And then they'll learn there was no place like home, after all.

[kevindavis007]

Our existing cities should be freedom cities, but the people living in them keep voting for less freedom, so how would this be different? I like Trump thinking big but this is a dud in my eyes. But at least someone is proposing something new I guess?

I'm not all negative on this...

Trump was mocked for the space force and IMO it will be come to be seen as a visionary proposal given enough time.

The Space Force is necessary, however, I'm afraid those 'Freedom Cities' will end up those Ghost Cities like the ones in China



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt-Pa5s5zZI

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I like Trump thinking big but this is a dud in my eyes. But at least someone is proposing something new I guess?

I'm not all negative on this...

Though this specific idea is stupid and poorly thought out on its own, the biggest issue I have is that it is a big government idea.  There are plenty of "big ideas" out there that don't involve massive expenditures and central economic planning.  I want any Republican President to have an instinctive opposition to that.  Instead, Trump is proposing it.  So what other "big government" ideas does he support?

I don't know what's worse - believing that he didn't have any economic advisors who tried to talk him out of this, or that he did but he refused to listen to them.

Trump was mocked for the space force and IMO it will be come to be seen as a visionary proposal given enough time.

That was basically just consolidating a bunch of pre-existing government/military activities into a single command.  And I think most would agree that those things were all legitimate areas for government activity in the first place.

This is something entirely different.

[roamer_1]

So I've seen this raised a couple of times by @catfish1957 , and hadn't heard it myself, so I did some digging and sure enough, Trump is proposing some absolutely massive government proposals to achieve a "quantum leap in the American standard of living."  There's an article and then the actual video of Trump himself saying these things, so there's no question this is legit/not fake. 

It involves building massive new cities on federal land, building personal vertical takeoff/landing aircraft for individual families, etc..  The cost of what he is proposing  is probably in the tens of trillions.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that this is coming from a candidate in the party that is supposed to be the conservative party in this country.

But wait!

Is it a coincidence that Tumpy is talking cities at the same time as Davos is hawking their 15 minute cities? Both leaning on modernity...

Presumably, Federal land, federal money... the Feds will own these cities...
'You'll own nothing, and be happy'... 

Stinks of Davos.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Though this specific idea is stupid and poorly thought out on its own, the biggest issue I have is that it is a big government idea.  There are plenty of "big ideas" out there that don't involve massive expenditures and central economic planning.  I want any Republican President to have an instinctive opposition to that.  Instead, Trump is proposing it.  So what other "big government" ideas does he support?

I don't know what's worse - believing that he didn't have any economic advisors who tried to talk him out of this, or that he did but he refused to listen to them.

That was basically just consolidating a bunch of pre-existing government/military activities into a single command.  And I think most would agree that those things were all legitimate areas for government activity in the first place.

This is something entirely different.

A freedom city... a libertarian type city free from onerous or excessive regulations is a great idea. That is where Trump goes wrong with this. This is what I mean by thinking big.

[Free Vulcan]

You really think this government can sustain another $10-15T in incurred federal debt?

I think the Chinese will cut us off long before that.

This cowboy swagger, swinging for the fences stuff - that crap has to go. We need to ground ourselves, retrench, and fix things.

Trump needs to quit flag waving and papering over things, then focus on solutions to what's broke.