The Homesteading Act could give you (Man or Woman 18+) the option to either take the $2,000 USD check or to obtain 2 (or more) acres of undeveloped land (which there is currently 1.9+ billions acres of in the US) under the premise that you will improve said land and become self sustainable. This land would be tax free for x years. After x years, if you have not complied with the contract, then it becomes taxable. However, if you have complied then it would remain tax free.
I believe this would be far more beneficial to the populace. Which is why it would probably never been done.
What says you?
That would be nice. And you'd have to do something with the property in order to keep it. Like life there full year to keep it.