Politicians like to talk about the National Debt, and how each new baby "owes" about $60,000 (or some similar figure). I suppose each immigrant to the US also assumes a similar debt. You might wonder why anyone would come to the US, given that burden? Perhaps it is because if the government assets of the US were apportioned to the citizens, each person's share would be over $500,000. Considering that it is not such a bad deal. Even moreso, since the valuation of the land owned by the government is low-balled. For example, at one time the real estate in the City of Tokyo was worth more than all of the land in the contiguous 48 states. Which would you rather own, Tokyo or all of the 48 states?