[f1000]

I propose that Americans should consider admitting new states (countries) into the Union.

Countries that decide to join the Union need not be admitted as is, but would be reorganized into more appropriately-sized entities to better fit in with existing states.

Only those countries that fulfilled a Maastricht-like set of criteria would qualify for admission.

[christ]

Like Iraq and Afghanistan?

[Logic]

Originally posted by christ:
Like Iraq and Afghanistan?

Don't forget Haiti, Venezuela, and Pakistan.

[cpt kangarooski]

Other than existing US districts and territories such as the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico, who precisely would we be talking about?

[Twilly Spree]

I think the Union is just fine as it is.

[Shaddim]

It's about time we included Guam and Puerto Rico... and maybe Canada, if they ask nicely.

[daimoni]

.

[DeathToWindows]

daimoni - agreed. lose florida and texas. and, oh yeah - dump puerto rico.

[MacGorilla]

Sell the Dakotas, Wyoming and Guam to make room for fun places like Taiwan, Malta and San Marino.

[Shaddim]

Originally posted by MacGorilla:
Sell the Dakotas, Wyoming and Guam to make room for fun places like Taiwan, Malta and San Marino.

Maybe we can annex Ibiza... I loved my trip there in `98.

[Logic]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
Maybe we can annex Ibiza... I loved my trip there in `98.

Me too! Same year as well. East side or west side?


"hello my friend, very nice price just for you my friend" Ring any bells?


And you will never have Ibiza! It is ours!!!

[angaq0k]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
It's about time we included Guam and Puerto Rico... and maybe Canada, if they ask nicely.

In my lifetime, there is not a chance in Hell I let Canada do that.

We got enough problems of our owns, thank you; I won't have "american grown" ones on top of that.

[shmerek]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
It's about time we included Guam and Puerto Rico... and maybe Canada, if they ask nicely.

Canada would never ask to be part of the states (it would be the other way around) ... except for maybe some of those meatheads in Alberta. I am not a relegious man but I thank god (what ever that is) every day that I live in Canada and not part of the US.

[angaq0k]

Originally posted by shmerek:
Canada would never ask to be part of the states (it would be the other way around) ... except for maybe some of those meatheads in Alberta. I am not a relegious man but I thank god (what ever that is) every day that I live in Canada and not part of the US.

I would invite a depoluted and depoliticized California to join though...

[shmerek]

Who needs Cali when we can get this

[angaq0k]

Originally posted by shmerek:
Who needs Cali when we can get this

Definetly don't like the idea. But heck, if that's make you happy, go for it!

;o)

By the way, the Baie-des-Chaleurs area is quite nice already.. ;o)

[daimoni]

.

[Millennium]

Originally posted by shmerek:
Canada would never ask to be part of the states (it would be the other way around) ... except for maybe some of those meatheads in Alberta. I am not a relegious man but I thank god (what ever that is) every day that I live in Canada and not part of the US.

Actually, there are several provinces which have considered applying for statehood in the event that Quebec ever secedes. Which I guess sort of makes some kind of sense; a nation completely cut into two parts geographically faces some rather interesting complications.

In any case, there is a process by which new states can be admitted into the US. That process hasn't been used in a long time -the last two states, Alaska and Hawaii, were admitted over fifty years ago- but it could be used again.

As for the current territories, the issue has come up multiple times in most of them. Puerto Rico has referenda on the issue quite frequently, but hasn't ever gotten enough votes from its own people to put in an application. The prevailing attitude there is that although statehood has its advantages, territorial status has its advantages as well. The difference for many Puerto Ricans seems to be mainly cultural; in particular, they're afraid that they would have to stop speaking Spanish if they became an official state.

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
It's about time we included Guam and Puerto Rico... and maybe Canada, if they ask nicely.

Canada had it's chance. The Articles of Confederation invited Canada to join the United States. They didn't take it up, and the invitation wasn't repeated in the Constitution.

Another interesting historical tidbit. In the same period before the current US Constitution, when the Articles of Confederation wasn't working all that well, Vermont considered rejoining Britain. With Dean as governor, maybe they'd be happier there.

[angaq0k]

Originally posted by Millennium:
Actually, there are several provinces which have considered applying for statehood in the event that Quebec ever secedes. Which I guess sort of makes some kind of sense; a nation completely cut into two parts geographically faces some rather interesting complications.

Actually, Quebec considered that option for a time before the other provinces considered it...

[quandarry]

Originally posted by Millennium:
Actually, there are several provinces which have considered applying for statehood in the event that Quebec ever secedes. Which I guess sort of makes some kind of sense; a nation completely cut into two parts geographically faces some rather interesting complications.

that's news to me and i live here!

canadians DO NOT want to be americans PERIOD.

now if some states clean up there act we may consider after a lengthy debate to let those states that wish to, join the confederation of canada.

the rest can become part of mexico.

[DeathToWindows]

Originally posted by quandarry:
that's news to me and i live here!

canadians DO NOT want to be americans PERIOD.

now if some states clean up there act we may consider after a lengthy debate to let those states that wish to, join the confederation of canada.

the rest can become part of mexico.

snortinated.

[swrate]

Originally posted by quandarry:
that's news to me and i live here!

canadians DO NOT want to be americans PERIOD.

now if some states clean up there act we may consider after a lengthy debate to let those states that wish to, join the confederation of canada.

the rest can become part of mexico.

I doubt Pakistanis want to be Americans.
Pledge under the flag.
United Empire lol

[christ]

As posted in this thread :

Most folk want to be citizens of their own country, and not only do they not want to move to the USA (or elsewhere), they don't want their country remade in the image of the USA (or elsewhere).

In which direction would the United States be expanding?

Would the expandees be consulted?

[Millennium]

Originally posted by quandarry:
that's news to me and i live here!

I didn't say all provinces, did I? Certainly not all of them have ever said such a thing. Some, however, have. Either way, it's not as though any paperwork has ever been filed, nor any referenda held. It was put forth as a consideration, nothing more. And not by the US.

canadians DO NOT want to be americans PERIOD.

Actually, if you want to be technical about it, Canadians already are Americans, owing to the fact that they live in one of the two continents with "America" in its name. It's interesting; many people in the Spanish-speaking countries in Central and South America would be offended by any US citizen referring to himself as americano, since the term applies equally to them as well. Unfortunately, there really is no other suitable term in the English language (Spanish has estadounidense).

But anyway, we're both right about most people, even in this case, because not much caring what country you live in implies that you don't particularly want to live in any other country either. But you seem to project an almost violent objection to the concept onto your bretheren. If it is wrong for me to do such a thing, then it is equally wrong for you to do so.

[quandarry]

Originally posted by Millennium:
I didn't say all provinces, did I? Certainly not all of them have ever said such a thing. Some, however, have. Either way, it's not as though any paperwork has ever been filed, nor any referenda held. It was put forth as a consideration, nothing more. And not by the US.

Actually, if you want to be technical about it, Canadians already are Americans, owing to the fact that they live in one of the two continents with "America" in its name. It's interesting; many people in the Spanish-speaking countries in Central and South America would be offended by any US citizen referring to himself as americano, since the term applies equally to them as well. Unfortunately, there really is no other suitable term in the English language (Spanish has estadounidense).

But anyway, we're both right about most people, even in this case, because not much caring what country you live in implies that you don't particularly want to live in any other country either. But you seem to project an almost violent objection to the concept onto your bretheren. If it is wrong for me to do such a thing, then it is equally wrong for you to do so.

yes you are right, we are americans but not citizens of the u.s....i believe the legal term is u.s. citizen...i just used that term because u.s. citizens seem to have adopted it as their own just as they refer to their country as america which is also incorrect.

but enough technicalities...

we like what we have here.

and your last paragraph seems to make no sense...at least my simple canadian mind is confused by it.

it seems like you wanted to sound intellectual and in doing so failed to make a point.

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by quandarry:
yes you are right, we are americans but not citizens of the u.s....i believe the legal term is u.s. citizen...i just used that term because u.s. citizens seem to have adopted it as their own just as they refer to their country as america which is also incorrect.

Americans have been called Americans since long before "America" was the United States of America. I know Canadians resent that, but your history is still wrong.

It's also true that the British referred to their later-aquired colonial possessions in what became Canada as "America." But they also referred to Barbados that way.

[voodoo]

Originally posted by DeathToWindows:
snortinated.

What does snortinated mean??

Pokinated.

[phoenixboy]

i'd rather see hawaii and california secede from the union and become their own country. or even better, become part of the eu!

[voodoo]

Originally posted by phoenixboy:
i'd rather see hawaii and california secede from the union and become their own country. or even better, become part of the eu!

Hmmm I like the idea!

More hot beaches and sun

And the Governator!

[osiris]

just having fun:

I'd like to see Texas leave the Union, not that it ever was part of it...

Then we should make all of South America one state, to make up for the loss of Texas (at least we can keep SA under control better than Texans), cheaper beef for all you carnivores out there.

Of course Mexico should become a state; in the sort of the way Staten Island is a boro to NYC. We could put all our landfills there, abandon their public transportation system, and still charge enormous taxes..

Canada - who cares... Too cold up there anyway. But we could annex it and brew all our beer there. Clean hookers come from Canada, I hear...

The Bahamian isles: all of them, including the Fringe Caribe nations: Cuba, Jamaica and those darn French/British isles... Make all that one state. Great cigars, rum, and cocaine for all. Pot too.

China: While we are greatly in debt (literally) to the Chinese, we should invade before they demand payment on our loans, otherwise we're screwed. Plow the country under, bury the payment books, and grow lots of opium.

England: Let's just take over, something we shouldn've done decades ago, if not centuries ago. They are the arse kissers of Europe.

[angaq0k]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
Americans have been called Americans since long before "America" was the United States of America. I know Canadians resent that, but your history is still wrong.

It's also true that the British referred to their later-aquired colonial possessions in what became Canada as "America." But they also referred to Barbados that way.

It was also called "Nouvelle-France" for a little while as well, the territory covered was equivalent close to the Eastern half of the Northern continent, down to what is now Mexico.

[quandarry]

Originally posted by osiris:
just having fun:

I'd like to see Texas leave the Union, not that it ever was part of it...

Then we should make all of South America one state, to make up for the loss of Texas (at least we can keep SA under control better than Texans), cheaper beef for all you carnivores out there.

Of course Mexico should become a state; in the sort of the way Staten Island is a boro to NYC. We could put all our landfills there, abandon their public transportation system, and still charge enormous taxes..

Canada - who cares... Too cold up there anyway. But we could annex it and brew all our beer there. Clean hookers come from Canada, I hear...

The Bahamian isles: all of them, including the Fringe Caribe nations: Cuba, Jamaica and those darn French/British isles... Make all that one state. Great cigars, rum, and cocaine for all. Pot too.

China: While we are greatly in debt (literally) to the Chinese, we should invade before they demand payment on our loans, otherwise we're screwed. Plow the country under, bury the payment books, and grow lots of opium.

England: Let's just take over, something we shouldn've done decades ago, if not centuries ago. They are the arse kissers of Europe.

you see this is where your stupidity shows.

why do you think countries fight over a desolate piece of rock outcrop in the middle of some cold sea.

territorial rights, fishing rights, mineral rights and maybe even oil. 200 mile radius all the way around a cold barren piece of rock.

[nonhuman]

I'm not sure I get the premise of this thread. Presumably, if some one applied to be admitted to the union as a state and met the qualifications that have already been set forth for quite some time they would be admitted. Or is there some policy I'm not aware of that is stopping the US from considering new admissions?

[daimoni]

.

[angaq0k]

It was also called GONDWANA a few years ago as well...

But then nobody cared...

Well... there was nobody...

[osiris]

Originally posted by quandarry:
you see this is where your stupidity shows.

why do you think countries fight over a desolate piece of rock outcrop in the middle of some cold sea.

territorial rights, fishing rights, mineral rights and maybe even oil. 200 mile radius all the way around a cold barren piece of rock.

Uhmmm, duh, uhhhh, okay. Me like rock.