1996年4月1日，快餐连锁店塔可钟（Taco Bell)在《纽约时报》上刊登了整版广告和这样一条新闻：“为了努力帮助国家

1996年4月1日，快餐连锁店塔可钟(Taco Bell)在《纽约时报》上刊登了整版广告和这样一条新闻：“为了努力帮助国家减少国债，塔可钟愉快地宣布。我们已经同意购买我国历史珍品自由钟。现在它将称为塔可自由钟，并将仍然向美国公众开放参观，我们希望我们的动机会促使其他公司采取类似的行动，以减少国家的债务。”按照现在的衡量标准，美国公司的这种行动能实际减少国债吗？如果美国政府采用资本预算，你的回答会有什么改变？你认为这些行动代表了政府负债的真正减少吗？你认为塔可钟对这个计划是认真的吗？(提示：注意日期。)

On April 1, 1996, Taco Bell, the fast-food chain, ran a full-page ad in the New York Times with this news:“In an effort to help the national debt, Taco Bell is pleased to announce that we have agreed to purchase the Liberty Bell, one of our country's most historic treasures. It will now be called the Taco Liberty Bell and will still be accessible to the American public for viewing. We hope our move will prompt other corporations to take similar action to do their part to reduce the country's debt.” Would such actions by U.S. corporations actually reduce the national debt as it is now measured？ How would your answer change if the U.S. government adopted capital budgeting？ Do you think these actions represent a true reduction in the government's indebtedness？ Do you think Taco Bell was serious about this plan？ (Hint: Note the date.)