# Fark.com sez: Twenty percent chance that Australia will become a U.S. state. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 17, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229 "2003-07-17T20:53:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eolbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@Eolbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eolbo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/21 "2003-07-18T01:06:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stemba \* > > BTW, can I get a hoo-ah from anyone with ANZAC pride? God no! ANZACs dont say hoo-ah, that’s so American Here is another Australian saying Pig’s arse to that idea. What would we get out of it? We would lose our health system, and get George Bush and 957 million billion trillion zillion dollars debt. Each. We would have to drink watered down pigswill unfit even for Canadians instead of beer. We would have to acknowledge kinship with Ann Coulter and Michael Moore. We would have to spend years of our lives teaching our new countrymen how to speak recognisable english like we do. Before that we would spit the dummy I reckon, I would do my block for sure if we had to merge with you drongoes. You can’t even spell colour! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/22 "2003-07-18T01:40:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eolbo \* > \*\*We would have to drink watered down pigswill unfit even for Canadians instead of beer. \*\* Where did this myth that Americans have bad beer come from? We’ve got the best beer in the world, IMHO. I’ve had Canadian beers like Moosehead and Molson, although I’ve never dared to try Labatt, and they were all quite ordinary. And let’s not get started on Australian brews. Quite ordinary to tell you the truth. Whenever a friend visits from Europe, I always introduce them to the non-export brews that are commonly available in the US and they always agree that they rival anything else of the same category that’s out there. And our microbrews and semi-micros are better than most anything else out there. So far, I’ve impressed a Belgian (who felt that Mendecino’s Eye of the Hawk brew was one of the best he’s ever had), five or six Brits and an Australian. Plus, we have a better selection of Mexican beers. So nyaah. ---
**Author:** ![Truth\_Seeker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Truth\_Seeker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truth_Seeker)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/23 "2003-07-18T01:50:14Z")
_We’ll save Australia Wouldn’t want to hurt no Kangaroos! We’ll build an all-American amusement park there, They got surfing too!_ ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/24 "2003-07-18T03:08:04Z")
There are also things such as electricity (220 volt 50 cycle in Australia, versus 120 volt 60 cycle in North America); different analog television broadcasting formats (PAL versus NTSC), with some Australian TV channel frequencies overlapping North American FM frequencies); and driving (Australians on the wrong side of the road, North Americans on the correct side). Then again, I don’t think Australia would lost their health care system if it’s done on a state-by-state basis, similar to Canada has and what some US states are considering. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/25 "2003-07-18T03:20:16Z")
John Howard will probably let you have all the little outlying islands as a 51st state. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/26 "2003-07-18T03:38:21Z")
Believe it or not, there is a real, serious, if very small organization, the Expansionist Party of the United States, which wants to – well, to reassemble the British Empire, and then some, under the United States Constitution. (If the British Empire had had such a thing in the first place, or something like it – a system which did grant all the colonies representation at Westminster – I think it would probably still exist.) You can learn more about the XP-USA by clicking [http://members.aol.com/XPUS/index.html](http://members.aol.com/XPUS/index.html). They want to bring in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, and that’s just for starters. A while ago I started a GD thre about these ideas, “Should the United States expand its territory?” ([http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177216&highlight=expand+territory](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177216&highlight=expand+territory)) which boiled the blood of a few patriotic Canadians – Canada being first on the list, obviously, if the U.S. ever does decide to follow an expansionist course. I like the idea of Canada uniting with the U.S. so we can have some Canadians in the U.S. Congress – maybe open some serious debate about single-payer health care. I’m a democratic socialist and I admire the Canadian New Democratic Party. We **need** the Canadians in Washington! But having Australians in the U.S. Congress is something I haven’t thought much about – I don’t know much about Australian politics. What do you guys think? If there were Australians in Congress, would they push the political center of gravity leftward, or rightward, or whichward? And let’s keep all this in perspective: A union between the U.S. and Australia would be a political union only. The currently existing states of Australia would remain in place as going concerns, and for national government, Australians would be voting to send representatives to Washington instead of Canberra. There is no reason why this would require the Australians to take up American sports, or change their electric voltage, TV formats, or traffic laws, or start drinking American beer. Remember, also, there is no reason why such a change would lead to any massive shifts in population. That is, Yanks aren’t suddenly going to develop an interest in emigrating to the former nations of Canada or Australia, just because the political borders are down. It would be completely unlike earlier episodes of U.S. expansionism across North America, in which the U.S. flag was preceded by the slaughter of Indians and followed by Yankee settlers by the millions. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/27 "2003-07-18T04:32:57Z")
Although I like the idea, and think that it would be good for them (heck, what right minded person would not want to be an American?), I see no real way for it to happen because there is no _need_ on the aussies part for it. What pressing need is there for Australia to join the US? Frankly, they are probably the most US like country out there. However, what I could see happening is some third world nation, say Liberia or Haiti, suddenly announcing it wants to join the union. In such a case the country would benefit greatly under the security, stability, and economic freedom of American statehood. Could you imagine the congress ever turning them down? Of course the biggest problem with any third world nation becoming the 51’st state is a guaranteed addition of two democratic senators. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/28 "2003-07-18T04:36:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BrainGlutton \* > \*\*It would be completely unlike earlier episodes of U.S. expansionism across North America, in which the U.S. flag was preceded by the slaughter of Indians and followed by Yankee settlers by the millions. \*\* Yes it shall!! The rivers will run red with the blood of Australian resistors as the air fills with the screams of their women and children!! ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/29 "2003-07-18T05:01:46Z")
I also forgot to add that any major increase in the number of states will be nearly impossible unless we return to a more states-rights system. Can you imagine the unwieldy beaurocracy that would grow from the one we have now if the number of states and the size of the population were to greatly expand? We would have to throw out most of the post “New Deal” federal government expansions to manage it and leave the rest to the states themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Eolbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@Eolbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eolbo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/30 "2003-07-18T05:30:37Z")
I just thought it was amusing that the suggestion came from an American living in Australia rather then an Australian. He has a very fundamental misunderstanding of Australians if he imagines we would be interested in such a thing, we like things as they are. Perhaps he is homesick. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/31 "2003-07-18T05:35:55Z")
I’ve always wanted to respond to a question like that with an answer like this. Just for fun you know. Come on, you know you want Bush out of the office bad. With Canada and Australia joining he’s history. You have to do it for the good of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/32 "2003-07-18T05:38:28Z")
Crap! I’m sorry. I thought this was MPSIMS. Ignore my post. Stupid Forum Jump! ---
**Author:** ![Eolbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@Eolbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eolbo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/33 "2003-07-18T05:44:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fern Forest \* > \*\*I’ve always wanted to respond to a question like that with an answer like this. Just for fun you know. > > Come on, you know you want Bush out of the office bad. With Canada and Australia joining he’s history. You have to do it for the good of the world. \*\* Hmm good point. Oh alright then, for the good of the world we shall take up the imperial burden and annex and civilise the US. Aid packages of real beer and Kylie Minogue albums will be sent immediately. No more presidents getting hummers will distract you for now you will have John Howard as your rightful leader and he could not get a hummer in a whorehouse. We shall teach and mould you and remake you in our image. When you are all good blokes and shielas we will then also absorb France. The Greater Australian Co-Prosperity Scheme will last a thousand years, but you will get time off on long weekends. Nicole Kidman will spank anyone who resists. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/34 "2003-07-18T06:15:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BrainGlutton \* > **I like the idea of Canada uniting with the U.S. so we can have some Canadians in the U.S. Congress – maybe open some serious debate about single-payer health care. I’m a democratic socialist and I admire the Canadian New Democratic Party. We need the Canadians in Washington! > \ > And let’s keep all this in perspective: A union between the U.S. and Australia would be a political union only. The currently existing states of Australia would remain in place as going concerns, and for national government, Australians would be voting to send representatives to Washington instead of Canberra.** IIRC, one of the major complaints from that thread was the US-centric approach that you advocate. _If_ there is ever some form of political unification between any/all of these countries (USA, Canada, Australia, Britain, etc…), I think that it would be monumentally stupid to just incorporate the “other” countries into the U.S. Congress - as you suggested. Or sending representatives _to_ Washington. I hope that in the future there’s greater globalization of governments, but they wouldn’t be incorporated _into_ the USA. Rather, they’d move into each other, more of an equal blend. I really don’t think those who think Australians sending representatives to Washington is a good idea would support the US sending representatives to Canberra. Or Ottawa. Or London. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Eolbo_ > **Hmm good point. Oh alright then, for the good of the world we shall take up the imperial burden and annex and civilise the US.** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/35 "2003-07-18T06:30:07Z")
Wot **Loaded** said, but with extra redness. Plus: > [@](#): > > Australia would be nice to have on board, though. We could just make it a huge military base. We’ve already got that distinction thanks. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/36 "2003-07-18T06:48:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > Where did this myth that Americans have bad beer come from? We’ve got the best beer in the world, IMHO. I’ve had Canadian beers like Moosehead and Molson, although I’ve never dared to try Labatt, and they were all quite ordinary. And let’s not get started on Australian brews. Quite ordinary to tell you the truth. Whenever a friend visits from Europe, I always introduce them to the **non-export brews** that are commonly available in the US and they always agree that they rival anything else of the same category that’s out there. And our **microbrews and semi-micros** are better than most anything else out there. bolding mine. I think you anwered your own question. People around the world don’t get exposed to our good beer. They get Bud & Coors :(. Now why Canada has a good reputation…can’t help you there. ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/37 "2003-07-18T11:37:28Z")
Hahahaha. No. And I agree with **Kambuckta** on the military base comment. Add extra rolleyes here. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/38 "2003-07-18T12:31:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Debaser \* > \*\*Australia would be nice to have on board, though. We could just make it a huge military base. It’s like a huge aircraft carrier that can’t be sunk. 🙂 \*\* Yeah! We’ll show them Anarticans who’s boss!! 😃 Sua ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/39 "2003-07-18T12:46:55Z")
How about the U.S becomes our 7th state? You’ll get **12** senators! A Queen! A funny little bald man with bushy eyebrows as your Grand Chief! I think an offer like that is too good to refuse. How bout it, Merkins? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229/40 "2003-07-18T13:07:24Z")
It will happen the same day Ireland rejoins the UK. When does hell freeze over? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fark-com-sez-twenty-percent-chance-that-australia-will-become-a-u-s-state/189229.md?page=3)