# If you could get rid of any state... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724 "2017-11-15T21:44:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/81 "2017-11-16T22:53:00Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > California. because they need to understand that they’re only important to this country if they’re a state. > > and of course, casting off all of those useless airhead celebrities who do nothing of value whatsoever. Not quite clear about what we need to understand, come again? California is the 7th largest economy in the world. Tell me how we aren’t important to the US. I’m okay with vaporizing the Kardashians though. Be my guest. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/82 "2017-11-16T22:55:10Z")
I suggest turning Montana, Wyoming and the western portions of the Dakotas into national parks. Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi can secede and see where it gets them. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/83 "2017-11-16T23:01:53Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m still working out the details, clearly. 😉 I would look into the San Andreas fault. I have on good authority that a missile attack there has interesting potential. Make sure you don’t put Ms. Teschmacher’s mom in harm’s way though because she could really foil any plans. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/84 "2017-11-16T23:11:38Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Seriously? You want to get rid of them because whomever they join winds up governed better? > > Do you see anything illogical or poorly reasoned about this strategy? He didn’t say “whomever they join”. He said Mexico, the country so shitty everyone wants to forget they are an OECD member. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/85 "2017-11-16T23:13:49Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I would look into the San Andreas fault. I have on good authority that a missile attack there has interesting potential. Make sure you don’t put Ms. Teschmacher’s mom in harm’s way though because she could really foil any plans. Thanks for the tip. Now I’ve just got to figure out how to incorporate a North Korean attack into the plans … How do you guys feel about mountaintop removal mining over there? … Nevermind, that’s a silly question. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/86 "2017-11-16T23:36:35Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I would look into the San Andreas fault. I have on good authority that a missile attack there has interesting potential. Make sure you don’t put Ms. Teschmacher’s mom in harm’s way though because she could really foil any plans. Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but the San Andreas is a transform fault, which means it travels horizontally, so it wouldn’t ever “sink into the ocean.” Instead the southern coast and Baja are moving northward, so some day SF and LA could be within rock-throwing distance from each other. You just need to wait a few million years. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/87 "2017-11-16T23:54:58Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > The United State of America? Yeah, that’s kinda what I had in mind.🆒 I find it’s strange how many folks here have such a hate on for California. Admittedly, I’m a fifth gen native, but still. I actually don’t dislike any other state, much less ones that I’ve never visited. Seems to me that there’s something for everyone here. Mountains, ocean, desert, forests, wine, food, conservatives of all stripes, liberals of all stripes, idiots, geniuses, etc, etc, so on and so forth. Maybe the flip side is that there’s something here for anyone to not like. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/88 "2017-11-16T23:56:12Z")
Well, more like LA and Berkeley. When the fault slips, it takes SF with it. I would also like to point out that any plan messing with that fault means dealing with me personally, since I can _see_ the fault line from my front window. Whether this is a plus or a minus is left to the responder. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/89 "2017-11-16T23:59:48Z")
> [@Jumpbass](#): > > Yeah, that’s kinda what I had in mind.🆒 > > I find it’s strange how many folks here have such a hate on for California. Admittedly, I’m a fifth gen native, but still. I actually don’t dislike any other state, much less ones that I’ve never visited. Seems to me that there’s something for everyone here. Mountains, ocean, desert, forests, wine, food, conservatives of all stripes, liberals of all stripes, idiots, geniuses, etc, etc, so on and so forth. > > Maybe the flip side is that there’s something here for anyone to not like. I wouldn’t really have a grudge against it if they would keep their idiots and liberals _in_ California, but they’re leaking out and infecting formerly-nice places like NV and CO, and that irritates me. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/90 "2017-11-17T00:09:41Z")
Keep in mind that California is a vast and non-homogeneous slice of real estate. I would point out that the political divide within the state (there are large areas of VERY conservative voters, believe it or not) is not so much North-South, but more East-West, or Coastal-Inland. With that in mind, the San Andreas fault/Hayward fault could effectively provide what some here are dreaming about. However, as pointed out, the Pacific Plate side of the fault (where LA and SF reside - if you count the Hayward) is sliding to the northwest, and not drifting out to sea. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/91 "2017-11-17T00:11:34Z")
I’ve never been to California, but the only consistently terrible thing I’ve heard about it is Los Angeles. I really urge you to reconsider New Jersey. What has it done for us lately? I mean, for the New Jersey Turnpike alone it would be a contender, but it also gave us Chris Christie and Jersey Shore. Come on. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/92 "2017-11-17T00:17:42Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > However, as pointed out, the Pacific Plate side of the fault (where LA and SF reside - if you count the Hayward) is sliding to the northwest, and not drifting out to sea. That’s what the nukes are for. Didn’t you see the scientific presentation on it? He just slammed his pointer down and it cracked apart. Hit it hard enough and what remains will just crumble away. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/93 "2017-11-17T00:18:56Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I’ve never been to California, but the only consistently terrible thing I’ve heard about it is Los Angeles. > > I really urge you to reconsider New Jersey. What has it done for us lately? I mean, for the New Jersey Turnpike alone it would be a contender, but it also gave us Chris Christie and Jersey Shore. Come on. NJ is definitely in my top 5 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/94 "2017-11-17T00:20:30Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Keep in mind that California is a vast and non-homogeneous slice of real estate. I would point out that the political divide within the state (there are large areas of VERY conservative voters, believe it or not) is not so much North-South, but more East-West, or Coastal-Inland. With that in mind, the San Andreas fault/Hayward fault could effectively provide what some here are dreaming about. However, as pointed out, the Pacific Plate side of the fault (where LA and SF reside - if you count the Hayward) is sliding to the northwest, and not drifting out to sea. Nah, the [city of San Francisco is on the North American plate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayward_Fault_Zone#/media/File:122-38HaywardFault.jpg). The southwest, and San Mateo county suburbs would be going northwest. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/95 "2017-11-17T01:16:56Z")
Texas. Put it under Louisiana. Maybe a little Mardi Gras would straighten them out. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/96 "2017-11-17T01:50:12Z")
\*Americans are considered crazy anywhere in the world. They will usually concede a basis for the accusation but point to California as the focus of the infection. Californians stoutly maintain that their bad reputation is derived solely from the acts of the inhabitants of Los Angeles County. Angelenos will, when pressed, admit the charge but explain hastily, “It’s Hollywood. It’s not our fault—we didn’t ask for it; Hollywood just grew.” The people in Hollywood don’t care; they glory in it. If you are interested, they will drive you up Laurel Canyon “—where we keep the violent cases.” The Canyonites—the brown-legged women, the trunks-clad men constantly busy building and rebuilding their slap-happy unfinished houses—regard with faint contempt the dull creatures who live down in the flats, and treasure in their hearts the secret knowledge that they, and only they, know how to live.\* RAH said it 50 years ago, and it’s still true today. Go ahead - vote us off the island. We’ll be just fine. Y’all, OTOH, are fucked. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/97 "2017-11-17T02:01:57Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I would point out that the political divide within the state (there are large areas of VERY conservative voters, believe it or not) I once did a political internship in Kern County; I had never heard so much right-wing radio before. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/98 "2017-11-17T02:06:23Z")
I vote “all of them. Every state on the planet.” ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/99 "2017-11-17T02:14:12Z")
I vote Texas, for the aforementioned astonishing execution rate and general red-state assholery. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724/100 "2017-11-17T02:28:06Z")
I say offload both Texas and California. After they buddy up with Mexico to become Teximexifornia, the problem of illegal immigration will solve itself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-get-rid-of-any-state/801724.md?page=6)