Life Hypothetical: A New Homestead Act - Page 5

**Rain Man** · 02:23 PM

Assume that the U.S. government starts a new Homestead Act in a foreign territory that is experiencing a void of power. The government formally makes the place a territory a la Puerto Rico or Guam, so there'll likely be a long-term American presence there.

With a goal of cementing American power in the region, the government offers homesteads to Americans such as yourself. The following conditions exist:

1. You will get an area large enough to support yourself via farming, with some income crops to let you acquire basic things you can't make yourself. Let's call it 640 acres.

2. You will get basic farming equipment to accomplish the above. It's not fully automated, but you're not out there with an oxen team. It's hard work, but not hardscrabble. You will receive some initial farming training if you need it, and a homestead extension officer will visit once a month to advise you as needed.

3. The government will provide a shipping container home for your use, along with four outbuildings along the same lines for equipment, storage, chickens, etc. You'll have to assemble everything.

4. You will get enough livestock to be self-sufficient per the above, and a seed stock and other stuff that you need to get started.

5. There are some native folks who are not happy at all about you being given their land. You don't really like their culture, and they don't like yours. They've been herded onto a territory a day's drive from your farm, but are mobile. They aren't violent, but they don't mind a fight at all and aren't above the occasional raid on one or two farms per year. However, the army will be running patrols that will include a welfare check on your property once per week.

6. There are enough Americans doing this that your farm will be surrounded by other farms of similar size. There will be 1,000 or so farms in your area.

7. There will be a town with a general store approximately one day's drive from your farm. It will have one cafe and a small hotel, and a small health clinic. The nearest big city with a hospital, college, movie theater, Long John Silver's, etc., is a four-day drive.

8. This area is isolated and a long way from the U.S. It'll cost you at least $10,000 to make a trip to the U.S., so you're not going to go back regularly at all.

9. You're on your own for schooling and child-raising and anything social.

10. You'll have solar power, access to a good well, and free satellite wifi.

11. You will own the land as long as you reside on the land. You can't get the land and then move back to the U.S. and lease it to the angry locals or some such thing. No loopholes.

Do you homestead, or do you keep your life the way it is now?

Psyko Tek · 08-21-2013, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buehler445

TOTALLY depends on where the 640 acres are.

And my answer is no.

EDIT: 640 isn't a great expanse. It's a mile by a mile.

On a john deere no big whoop
behind a team of oxen, yeah , that's a lot of area

**Buehler445** · 08-21-2013, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEX

Bunch of lazy ass ****s on this board just like the country
..

You think?

**Buehler445** · 08-21-2013, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psyko Tek

[/B]

On a john deere no big whoop
behind a team of oxen, yeah , that's a lot of area

DUDE!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Assume..
2. You will get basic farming equipment to accomplish the above. It's not fully automated, but you're not out there with an oxen team. It's hard work, but not hardscrabble. You will receive some initial farming training if you need it, and a homestead extension officer will visit once a month to advise you as needed.

TEX · 08-21-2013, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

I suppose you built everything you own yourself, right tough guy?

Well my parents paid for my education. I got a couple of degrees, got a good job and a good life and I did most of it on my own through hard work, I would go for the experience and adventure. And after I built something over there, id have to listen to guys like you asking me if I did it on my own? And the answer would always be the same. I'm not really that tough, but I do work hard. If you have to ask that question, you definitely wouldn't understand...

Hammock Parties · 08-21-2013, 06:10 PM

Sounds like a lot of pain and bullshit.

Also, the OP is NOT the first time the word "hardscrabble" has been posted on CP.

I was shocked to learn people use that word.

**cdcox** · 08-21-2013, 06:22 PM

Trade the 640 acres for 640 square feet of hardscrabble beachfront condo and a $5000 per month subsidence income and I'm all over it.

Pablo · 08-21-2013, 06:30 PM

Hardscrabble is the sort of board game they play in penitentiaries. I didn't think Rainman was so in touch with his deviant side.

**loochy** · 08-21-2013, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seclark

can we grow weed, man? /bump

Dude wtf happened to that dude? I haven't seen anything from him in months.

Pablo · 08-21-2013, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

Dude wtf happened to that dude? I haven't seen anything from him in months.

NSA news came out and he couldn't handle it.

Stopped all online and telephone communication.

Just a guess.

**CrazyPhuD** · 08-21-2013, 06:32 PM

I'd do it if it was on Mars or France.

tooge · 08-21-2013, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

It's probably for the best.

I'd hate for the areas only dentist to not have any teeth left in his head...

You wouldn't have to worry about that. I'd be more worried about this MTG idiot spreading his redneck genes with my OTHER serfs

MOhillbilly · 08-21-2013, 09:06 PM

**** yes.
That's easy living.

tooge · 08-21-2013, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

**** yes.
That's easy living.

Not so fast. You realize you have to fight Rain Man on the undercard of MTD #10 vs me, for toughest guy on the plains right?

Setsuna · 08-21-2013, 09:32 PM

I'm a suburban wimp. I couldn't farm to save my life.

**Bugeater** · 08-21-2013, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEX

Well my parents paid for my education. I got a couple of degrees, got a good job and a good life and I did most of it on my own through hard work, I would go for the experience and adventure. And after I built something over there, id have to listen to guys like you asking me if I did it on my own? And the answer would always be the same. I'm not really that tough, but I do work hard. If you have to ask that question, you definitely wouldn't understand...

Yeah, 'cause you are the only person in this country that has worked hard for what you have.

You didn't even pay for your own damn education...asswipe.

View Poll Results: Do you homestead or stay?
Homestead. That sounds like a pretty good life.	15	30.61%
Stay. I don't need the 640 acres and the peace and quiet that bad.	31	63.27%
I can't answer until I learn more about our local football franchise.	3	6.12%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

08-21-2013, 02:14 PM
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-672449 VARSITY	Hypothetical: A New Homestead Act Assume that the U.S. government starts a new Homestead Act in a foreign territory that is experiencing a void of power. The government formally makes the place a territory a la Puerto Rico or Guam, so there'll likely be a long-term American presence there. With a goal of cementing American power in the region, the government offers homesteads to Americans such as yourself. The following conditions exist: 1. You will get an area large enough to support yourself via farming, with some income crops to let you acquire basic things you can't make yourself. Let's call it 640 acres. 2. You will get basic farming equipment to accomplish the above. It's not fully automated, but you're not out there with an oxen team. It's hard work, but not hardscrabble. You will receive some initial farming training if you need it, and a homestead extension officer will visit once a month to advise you as needed. 3. The government will provide a shipping container home for your use, along with four outbuildings along the same lines for equipment, storage, chickens, etc. You'll have to assemble everything. 4. You will get enough livestock to be self-sufficient per the above, and a seed stock and other stuff that you need to get started. 5. There are some native folks who are not happy at all about you being given their land. You don't really like their culture, and they don't like yours. They've been herded onto a territory a day's drive from your farm, but are mobile. They aren't violent, but they don't mind a fight at all and aren't above the occasional raid on one or two farms per year. However, the army will be running patrols that will include a welfare check on your property once per week. 6. There are enough Americans doing this that your farm will be surrounded by other farms of similar size. There will be 1,000 or so farms in your area. 7. There will be a town with a general store approximately one day's drive from your farm. It will have one cafe and a small hotel, and a small health clinic. The nearest big city with a hospital, college, movie theater, Long John Silver's, etc., is a four-day drive. 8. This area is isolated and a long way from the U.S. It'll cost you at least $10,000 to make a trip to the U.S., so you're not going to go back regularly at all. 9. You're on your own for schooling and child-raising and anything social. 10. You'll have solar power, access to a good well, and free satellite wifi. 11. You will own the land as long as you reside on the land. You can't get the land and then move back to the U.S. and lease it to the angry locals or some such thing. No loopholes. Do you homestead, or do you keep your life the way it is now? Last edited by Rain Man; 08-21-2013 at 02:23 PM..
Posts: 145,499

08-21-2013, 06:10 PM	#65
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $810478	Sounds like a lot of pain and bullshit. Also, the OP is NOT the first time the word "hardscrabble" has been posted on CP. I was shocked to learn people use that word. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,427

08-21-2013, 06:22 PM	#66
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $-578231	Trade the 640 acres for 640 square feet of hardscrabble beachfront condo and a $5000 per month subsidence income and I'm all over it.
Posts: 46,032

08-21-2013, 06:30 PM	#67
Pablo Ultrabanned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northland Casino cash: $-1880644	Hardscrabble is the sort of board game they play in penitentiaries. I didn't think Rainman was so in touch with his deviant side.
Posts: 43,923

08-21-2013, 06:32 PM	#70
CrazyPhuD Meow Join Date: Jun 2005 Casino cash: $10005050	I'd do it if it was on Mars or France. __________________ "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t*rd by the clean end"
Posts: 8,523

08-21-2013, 09:06 PM	#72
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	**** yes. That's easy living. __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

08-21-2013, 09:32 PM	#74
Setsuna Paladin Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Gator Country Casino cash: $10008487	I'm a suburban wimp. I couldn't farm to save my life.
Posts: 13,215