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?