Again government will pick winners and losers!
America does not need government relief, America needs relief from government!
HR

Any pragmatic government faced with economic decline would give the idea a try, there is not much downside if it fails. There are many variations so even a statist regime could do it.
I do not have links to hand but there are a number of similar zones around the world, curious that there is no reference to these in the paper (it loads ok here). From memory all have had at least some moderate success.
Consider, the relative success of Hong Kong and Macao compared with mainland China, and China after the economic freeing up compared with before.

Demented antiemetic comments aside (who's moderating this site?)...

The idea of slicing out an experiment in freedom by a geographical zone could serve as a demonstration to those who have been intellectually crippled by government education - those who have learned nothing from history.

We may need to address the concrete bound thinkers too as we reeducate the electorate to vote for freedom.

I think that he's trying to pick a battle he thinks he can win - just trying to get a foot in the door. Collectivists in politics (on both sides of the aisle) would never pass an all-encompassing policy like this. Using the idea of economic depression as a pretext to justify this is a great idea because it might actually stand a chance at getting enacted. When it works, then there will be some leverage to spread the "program" to other areas later on.

In our political climate, ANY advancement toward liberty should be considered a victory.

Regardless of Rand Paul's motive, the only reason a collectivist would vote for a proposal like this is to entice Atlantis into a continuing trade relationship, while remaining unwilling to discard the basic moral premise of collectivism.

The point might be: see how many people migrate to these zones.

What is happening instead is that States like Texas are turning themselves into economic freedom zones--of a sort--and encouraging immigration from State to State. But to do the job properly, they're going to have to secede from the Union and risk another civil war. Think Admiral Ragnar Danneskjöld, Commander of the Free Texas Sea Militia. Or simply "The Boz," like Jean Lafitte but without the depredation against private vessels or property.

Great idea. I do not think it will pass, as it undercuts the power structure of agencies whose only rational is their ability to restrict technology. It is certainly heartening to read, though. I have been downcast by the fact that, bad as the US is, I cannot find any country that is 'freer'. The idea that we could develop enclaves within the US that are allowed to be productive...Ahhh! Maybe all is not lost.
Jan

You could just send your capital to Detroit. You could stay a safe distance away.

Here's a great idea: All the Gun, Ammo and Arms accessories manufactures and Gun owners move to the Southwest. Specifically Texas and Arizona. That would become an Economic Freedom Zone and scare the hell out of the bloated Federal Govt.

If we must tax ourselves use the Fair Tax. Zero IRS, zero personal and corporate taxes including Payroll taxes for ss etc. Retail items have 22% federal taxes imbedded in them. The Fair Tax eliminates this and replaces it with a 23% tax at the retail level. The retail item is still sold at the same price but the tax is collected at the retail level. It is neither an increase or a decrease of taxes. Consider that all manufactured goods would now have a 22% cost advantage for export with the corporate tax eliminated. Our exports would bloom. When the top 400 foreign companies were asked what effect the Fair Tax would have on them 240 said that they would build their next plant here and the remaining 160 said that they would move their corporate headquarters here. With no tax advantages for congress to favor one company over another with political favors lobbyists would not be needed, they would be out of business. Power would be returned to the people. As a plus when the people would see how much they were paying in taxes they might just demand a decrease in spending. Also to protect the poor a monthly refund would be set up for taxes collected below the poverty line of $26000. A family of four would receive a check from the government for about $550 a month. Even with this the taxes collected would be greater than the current method of the way we do it now. This would cease the payments to CPA's and accountants of $450 billion to prepare our taxes, a real stimulus. Joe Six pack would have more money in his paycheck as he would no longer have federal income taxes taken out or the payroll taxes taken out resulting in more take home pay. When Joe Six Pack discovers this he will be furious. The Fair Tax would cause an economic tidal wave for our country resulting in higher employment and as a result more taxes collected to pay down our debt.

Let's not get carried away. Enterprise zones have been used to lure industry to areas for years. There are guidelines, plans of how you will operate, and there is an end when it is dropped or renewed, if eligible. It is not ongoing welfare of all types as we see from federal government handout programs. If you fail to perform as you state, you get dropped and lose the benefits of an enterprise zone. I would assume this plan would be in place of government handouts, or they should be so.
Look how often the EPA, often following UN Agenda 21, and its seeming goal to destroy business and farming, do exactly that with their unproven regulations. How many other stupid local requirements set by supposed-local boards, but actually UN Agenda 21 infiltrated, hinder both business and private life? Maybe not as crazy as you think. I am sure Paul is very aware of where the UN and world socialism are taking us, and it is the destruction of capitalism and personal freedom, including the right to own property. As long as it has an end clause and expiration times, that is more than one in and never out government handouts.

There are states and communities that use a variation on Rand Paul's concept, so it's not exactly a new idea. Oklahoma, as an example, has numerous incentive programs for businesses, and they aren't limited to tax relief. Some of the programs include "rebates" of money equal to a percentage of payroll, to add stimulus to creating more jobs. The state also has special incentive programs for bioscience, aerospace, and entertainment industries, being more target-specific. Oklahoma City has "tax incentive" zones, subject to city council approval, with relief proportional to corporate investment in the form of construction and payroll. State or municipal institutions fail usually because of vision limited to taxing and spending.

It won't work. No businessman would jump at this opportunity when they know the next liberal through the door would revoke it.

as much as I loved Jack Kemp, this has always worked out as a big fat pork barrel project. I'm with Hiraghm. picks the winners and the rest are losers.
If they really wanted to make Detroit an "experiment" go the whole way and make it truly free market

I'm not able to open the article. I'm really interested in this. where did you find it?

Rand Paul has sold out to the money changers. I will not state who they are, over half the people on this site will try to hang me.