# Kick a state out of the Union. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 2, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704 "2012-11-02T21:06:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/101 "2012-11-06T13:59:18Z")
Texas is an easy answer, but I live here and would prefer to retain my US passport. Also I’m not sure of the wisdom of lopping off such a large part of the US economy, particularly some of its biggest ports and much of its refining capacity. So, Rhode Island, mainly because hardly anyone would miss it. Bonus: it could then become the Monaco of North America. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/102 "2012-11-10T19:10:45Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > South Carolina is the obvious choice for me. From the cruel rice plantations, crazy Calhoun, evil Brooks, and seditious secession through to racist Thurmond and idiot Wilson, half the suckiness in America comes from that one state. Yeah, well, you conveniently forget that South Carolina WANTED to leave the Union, and you liberal Yankees wouldn’t let them. NOW, after forcing them to stay in the Union at gunpoint, NOW you want them out? People, get your story straight! Do you want us in the Union or not? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/103 "2012-11-10T19:36:21Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > People, get your story straight! Do you want us in the Union or not? Depends. Do you want out? Then we won’t let you. That’s some catch, that Catch-22. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/104 "2012-11-10T19:41:33Z")
Hmmm. Texas certainly didn’t do well here. I was moved to write my own version of the refrain from “Deep in the Heart of Texas”, but came back and edited it away, not meaning to be too divisive. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/105 "2012-11-10T19:48:06Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > We’d lose Faulkner and the Mississippi Delta and the blues and country music and cowboys and Tex-Mex and Galveston and Austin. Why would “we” “lose” any of that? Does Liverpool being in England prevent the Beatles from being so important to American culture? ---
**Author:** ![Cold\_Dish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cold\_Dish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cold_Dish)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/106 "2012-11-11T06:03:05Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Missouri. Because Missouri is to Texas what Texas is to the rest of the country. ?? I’m from Missouri but I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/107 "2012-11-11T13:11:50Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Why would “we” “lose” any of that? Does Liverpool being in England prevent the Beatles from being so important to American culture? Pssst… the Beatles copied their whole sound from Southerners. Do the names Chuck, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Fats or Buddy ring any bells? ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/108 "2012-11-11T13:35:33Z")
Get rid of Florida and suddenly Medicaire becomes viable ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/109 "2012-11-11T14:00:00Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Pssst… the Beatles copied their whole sound from Southerners. Do the names Chuck, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Fats or Buddy ring any bells? Why do you think this contradicts my point rather than supporting it? The fact that Chuck, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Fats, or Buddy came from the American South has not prevented them from being important to British culture. Did we as Americans “lose” Shakespeare or Handel with independence? No, we didn’t. Cultural heritage is not affected in any way by changing national borders. It simply doesn’t work that way. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/110 "2012-11-11T16:27:04Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Casey Anthony was born in Warren, Ohio\*. Almost every nutjob in Florida came here from somewhere else. If Florida can keep these people out then they’ll still be your problem, just somewhere else, like Texas or California or wherever it is that the nutjobs would then flock to. > > \*She didn’t move to Florida on her own, her nutjob parents brought her here. > > I don’t totally discount the selection of Florida - it would sure make presidential politics different, and probably free up travel to Cuba for Americans. I’ve lived in FLa, and every real wanted for murder nutjob I had the unfortunate coincidence of crossing paths with while in Fla was from Ohio. So Minnie smells? I thought Nebraska was the stinkiest state? I think we should add to our states not kick any out. There’s one or two that should be gated and put under martial law ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/111 "2012-11-11T17:00:28Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Pssst… the Beatles copied their whole sound from Southerners. Do the names Chuck, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Fats or Buddy ring any bells? Chuck is from St. Louis, not the South. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/112 "2012-11-11T17:53:37Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Why would “we” “lose” any of that? Does Liverpool being in England prevent the Beatles from being so important to American culture? Yes, they made those rough bits of American culture more palatable for the white kids of Yankeeland. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/113 "2012-11-11T18:00:59Z")
> [@chela](#): > > I think we should add to our states not kick any out. There’s one or two that should be gated and put under martial law That’s a horrible attitude. That would make things bad. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/114 "2012-11-11T18:13:49Z")
If [this site](http://www.hawaii-nation.org/) is any indication, Hawaiians _want_ to become an independent nation (there is even a claim that Hawaii sued Obama/the U.S. Government for violating an 1893 treaty, something I hadn’t heard of until now). ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/115 "2012-11-11T18:54:32Z")
> [@Michael63129](#): > > If [this site](http://www.hawaii-nation.org/) is any indication, Hawaiians _want_ to become an independent nation (there is even a claim that Hawaii sued Obama/the U.S. Government for violating an 1893 treaty, something I hadn’t heard of until now). Let 'em go. If the Japanese get frisky again, I’m sure the Royal Hawaiin Army will do just fine. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/116 "2012-11-12T01:20:57Z")
I voted Mississippi, but I’d be just as happy getting rid of any other hell-hole former Confederate state. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/117 "2012-11-12T01:29:01Z")
Texas. Fuck 'em! > [@Michael63129](#): > > If [this site](http://www.hawaii-nation.org/) is any indication, Hawaiians _want_ to become an independent nation (there is even a claim that Hawaii sued Obama/the U.S. Government for violating an 1893 treaty, something I hadn’t heard of until now). Having lived in Hawaii, I can assure you that is a very fringe group. Not unlike, say, [Texas Secede](http://www.texassecede.com/). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/118 "2012-11-12T03:22:00Z")
> [@MegaBee](#): > > Bye-bye, Ohio! Don’t be a hayter, just because we’re Homecoming Queen every four years! I voted for Arizona, which is just a bunch of rich white old people on Medicare who vote Republican, who aren’t even from Arizona. The cool young people who are actually from Arizona and like living in Arizona can stay in the US by relocating to New Mexico. Samey samey. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/119 "2012-11-12T12:24:50Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > That’s a horrible attitude. That would make things bad. this whole thread is a bad attitude! Guess I was projecting and imagining horrible futuristic scenarios to what is in store for the good ol USA, state fights over oil, water pot etc… ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704/120 "2012-11-13T05:22:39Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > West Tennessee–cotton, tobacco. Mass, large scale agriculture on the bottom-lands. Area dominated by Memphis. > > East Tennessee–mountains, mining & manufacturing, with timbering & pig farming thrown in. Lowest proportion of African-Americans in the State. > > Middle Tennessee–more universities than the other two combined. Music industry. Even the Tennessee state flag acknowledges the [fact that each region is worth its own star!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_flag) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-a-state-out-of-the-union/639704.md?page=7)