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I nominate Napoleon Bonaparte and his government for the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the US for a cool $15M (less than 3 cents an acre) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Purchase quote:Although the foreign minister Talleyrand opposed the plan, on April 10, 1803, Napoleon told the Treasury Minister François de Barbé-Marbois that he was considering selling the entire Louisiana Territory to the United States. On April 11, 1803, just days before Monroe's arrival, Barbé-Marbois offered Livingston all of Louisiana for $15 million, equivalent to about $233 million in 2011 dollars[15] which averages to less than three cents per acre.[16][17] You could also say that the Alaska Purchase was a smoking deal too, buying all of Alaska (all the seals you can eat and all the petroleum you can drink) for the equivalent of $123M in today's dollars. Motivated sellers in the form of desperate, cash strapped colonizing governments can make for some real bargains.
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Jul 31, 2017 07:10
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| # ¿ May 18, 2024 21:18 |
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Hey speaking of presidents making bad spending choices, let's talk about General George Washington  He refused his $500/month payment as commanding general during the American Revolution, and instead asked the Congress just reimburse his expense account. Over the course of 8 years, he racked up $449,000 in expenses. Whenever he fronted money from his own pocket, he charged 6% interest to the government He'd also do things like itemize a ball of twine (20 pence) or a broom (8 pence), and then throw in a line item for "wine, miscellaneous etc. etc." for $6,000 or a saddle for $800. He also bought a rad, custom made carriage for $1,430. He also spent a lot of money on Madeira, goose, mutton, and expensive meals for himself and the top brass of the army. When he was elected President, he suggested that he forego a salary and instead be given an expense account, repeating his arrangement. Congress didn't fall for that one twice in a row, and gave him a regular salary. Mary Todd Lincoln was also a compulsive shopper, and was grossly in debt. She came from a wealthy family, and had expensive tastes. Reminder, this is all during the Civil War! http://talkingcents.consumercredit.com/2014/02/17/mary-todd-lincoln-compulsive-shopper-severe-debt-problems/ quote:Mary Todd Lincoln, married to the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, had a taste for the finer things in life. Feeling the scrutiny from the media as a fashion symbol, she felt the need to spend exorbitant amounts of money on clothing and accessories. At one point, she purchased 400 pairs of gloves in a four month period. She also overindulged in the redecorating process of the White House, lobbying Congress for $20,000 (almost the same amount as the presidential salary) to refurbish the mansion, and ended up over budget by nearly $7,000. While she often received items as gifts, she still did not have a long-term plan to pay for those that were not gifted to her. 400 daggum pairs of gloves in a 4 month period. The Imelda Marcos of gloves
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Sep 21, 2017 01:31
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