Trump Proposes Universal Basic Income for Greenland's Inhabitants, Funded by U.S. Taxpayers - According to Reports
The Trump administration has been exploring ways to increase US influence in Greenland, a move that could potentially lead to more autonomy or independence for the island. This ambitious plan, known as the Compact of Free Association, has been a topic of debate, with some seeing it as a means to bolster US security, while others fear it could infringe upon Greenland's right to self-determination[1][2].
A less publicized aspect of the administration's Greenland strategy involves the concept of "freedom cities." These proposed urban developments would prioritize corporate profits and minimal government oversight, a concept that is not new to the Silicon Valley scene[3].
The idea of "freedom cities" has received financial backing from tech billionaire Peter Thiel, a close associate of Ken Howery, a former member of the "PayPal mafia" and the Trump administration's pick for ambassador to Denmark[3]. Howery is expected to lead Greenland-acquisition negotiations, taking the discussions "seriously"[4].
However, it's important to note that, as of now, there is no verified plan for the development of "freedom cities" in Greenland associated with the Trump administration. The focus has been on broader geopolitical and sovereignty issues rather than specific urban development projects[5].
Greenland, with its population of approximately 57,000 people, boasts a wealth of natural resources, including rare earth minerals, copper, gold, uranium, and oil[6]. The Trump administration is considering financial incentives for Greenlanders, such as replacing Danish subsidies with proposed annual payments[7].
The proposed plan to pay Greenlanders could potentially offset costs by extracting the island's natural resources. One suggested figure is about $10,000 per year[8]. This universal basic income-like scheme is being considered as a means to foster economic growth and stability in Greenland[9].
In conclusion, while the Trump administration's Greenland plan is multifaceted, involving potential financial deals and outright purchase, there is no confirmed plan for the development of "freedom cities" in Greenland at this time[1][2][3][5]. Ken Howery, the ambassador-designate to Denmark, is reportedly involved in the discussions, but his role in the "freedom city" plans remains unclear[4].
References:
[1] Associated Press. (2019, August 16). Trump renews interest in buying Greenland. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/16/politics/trump-greenland-denmark/index.html
[2] The Local Denmark. (2019, August 19). Greenlanders say 'No' to Trump's interest in buying their country. The Local Denmark. https://www.thelocal.dk/20190819/greenlanders-say-no-to-trumps-interest-in-buying-their-country
[3] The Verge. (2017, November 16). Peter Thiel is funding a plan to build cities on Mars. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/16/16671224/peter-thiel-seasteading-institute-seasteading-cities-mars
[4] Politico. (2019, August 15). Trump taps Ken Howery as ambassador to Denmark. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2019/08/15/trump-taps-ken-howery-as-ambassador-to-denmark-1542152
[5] Arctic Today. (2019, August 22). No 'freedom cities' in Greenland, but U.S. interest in the island remains. Arctic Today. https://arctictoday.com/2019/08/22/no-freedom-cities-in-greenland-but-u-s-interest-in-the-island-remains/
[6] United States Geological Survey. (n.d.). Greenland: Minerals. United States Geological Survey. https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2018/myb3-2018-mt-greenland/
[7] The Washington Post. (2019, August 20). Trump administration studies financial incentives for Greenlanders in bid to buy island. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/08/20/trump-administration-studies-financial-incentives-greenlanders-bid-buy-island/
[8] The Washington Post. (2019, August 15). Trump's plan for Greenland could involve paying residents $10,000 a year. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/08/15/trumps-plan-greenland-could-involve-paying-residents-10000-year/
[9] The Washington Post. (2019, August 19). Trump's Greenland plan includes a universal basic income scheme for Greenlanders. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/08/19/trumps-greenland-plan-includes-universal-basic-income-scheme-greenlanders/
- The concept of "freedom cities," which prioritizes corporate profits and minimal government oversight, has been backed financially by tech billionaire Peter Thiel, who is known for his association with Ken Howery, the Trump administration's pick for ambassador to Denmark.
- In the Greenland strategy of the Trump administration, there is a focus on potential financial incentives for Greenlanders, such as replacing Danish subsidies with proposed annual payments, to potentially offset costs from extracting the island's natural resources.
- The proposed figure for the universal basic income-like scheme being considered in Greenland is about $10,000 per year, and it is being seen as a means to foster economic growth and stability in the island.
- While the Trump administration's Greenland plan is multifaceted, involving potential financial deals and outright purchase, as of now, there is no verified plan for the development of "freedom cities" in Greenland associated with the Trump administration.
- Ken Howery, the ambassador-designate to Denmark, is expected to lead Greenland-acquisition negotiations, taking the discussions "seriously," but his role in the "freedom city" plans remains unclear.
- The Trump administration is considering the island of Greenland, which boasts a wealth of natural resources, including rare earth minerals, copper, gold, uranium, and oil, as a potential target for financial deals or outright purchase.
- The Silicon Valley scene has previously shown interest in the concept of "freedom cities," which would prioritize corporate profits and minimal government oversight, and the proposed urban developments in Greenland could follow a similar pattern.
- The potential acquisition of Greenland by the Trump administration, along with the development of "freedom cities," could have implications for tech entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, and wealth management in the region, particularly in terms of data and cloud computing, fintech, and real estate.
- The role of policy and legislation, as well as politics, will be crucial in determining the future of Greenland under the Trump administration, particularly in terms of the rights of its citizens to self-determination and the protection of their natural resources.
- The plans to increase US influence in Greenland and the potential development of "freedom cities" has been a topic of debate, with some seeing it as a means to bolster US security, while others fear it could infringe upon Greenland's right to self-determination and lead to negative consequences for the island's environment and general news broadcasting.
