# Starting Your Own Country? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2001, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215 "2001-08-20T19:35:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215/1 "2001-08-20T19:35:38Z")
I think I remember a post way back with a little information on starting a breakaway state. Should I consider buying land, how can I go about starting my own country within UN regulations and be recognized? BTW, your all welcome to come 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215/2 "2001-08-20T19:38:18Z")
There are various islands that are for sale, and you could make your own country on one of them. Problem is that if you are too successful, you run the risk of invasion by a relatively small gang of thugs. ---
**Author:** ![Gartog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@Gartog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gartog)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215/3 "2001-08-20T19:41:08Z")
I think that you would need some kind of enforcement, I believe most of the islands that are for sale are still part of a country at the moment . . Or you could invade another country, or Mary in to Royalty and become a Monarch, or campaign for President/PM . . . Not that I’ve thought about this you understand ---
**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215/4 "2001-08-20T19:45:56Z")
During a recent trip to America, we crossed at the Wolfe Island point (along the Saint Laurance) someone brought the point that we should buy the island and profits could be made. Obviously I could buy/inherit a tract of land, but how could I avoid paying Canada’s taxes while not ending up in court or other legal troubles? ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215/5 "2001-08-20T19:50:56Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, **d12**. There have been many threads on this subject in the last year or so. You can find them by clicking on the “search” icon at the upper right corner of this screen. One recent thread is [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=75314](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=75314) bibliophage, moderator, GQ ---
**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215/6 "2001-08-20T19:58:53Z")
Thanks Biblio ---
**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215/7 "2001-08-21T23:50:12Z")
None of those seemed to mention how to not pay taxes (I only skimmed through them) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215/8 "2001-08-22T01:43:52Z")
And of course, here’s the Master Himself on the issue: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_300.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_300.html) BTW I have READ “How to Start Your Own Country.” Fun piece of work, though quite dated by now. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Stewart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Dave\_Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Stewart)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215/9 "2001-08-22T02:47:24Z")
Does anyone know how the boys at Sealand are going? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/77215/10 "2001-08-23T14:06:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dave Stewart \* > \*\*Does anyone know how the boys at Sealand are going? \*\* The principality has sought to become a net-services haven, but they have been faced with instances of principality-identity theft (i.e. fake “representatives” claiming to be able to incorporate your business in Sealand, or sell you a passport). Prince Roy, due to failing health, has granted a data-center outfit the operational management and maintenance of the “principality” premises. Britain seems to be ever so gently re-asserting their claim [http://www.sealandgov.com/history.html](http://www.sealandgov.com/history.html) [http://www.havenco.com](http://www.havenco.com)