How will Social Security payments work in the new republic? Will Vermont still be part of the "off-budget" social security? Will Vermont take it share of the ss surplus with it? Will the FedGov cough up the 20 billion dollars (this is a wild guess at the amount) of surplus due Vermont? Will it pay with debt instruments (fed bonds)? Will Vermont cash out of these BBB rated bonds into something safe? Will Vermont institute a ss tax? Should we continue to enslave the young to enrich the old? Or should we just give out the surplus and then call it quits on ss in Vermont?

The same question apply to mediCare and mediCaid and Federal employees retirement pension payments. Since the Fed has spent all the money that was support to be saved for these purposes it must come from Fed operating money. Will the fed continue to tax the 49 states and sent Vermont is "saved up" share of these payments?

Rob's Note: An excellent question, one which can be answered with a wide variety of possible scenarios, some of which you sketch out here.