# Suggestions for the 51st state **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 6, 2002, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152 "2002-04-06T06:53:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/21 "2002-04-06T17:37:43Z")
D.C and the surrounding counties of Maryland and Virginia should be one state. Marylanders and Virginians in those areas are always complaining about being ignored by the rest of the state. Same thing with NYC. Just take the parts of NY, NJ and Connecticut that it dominates and make it it’s own state. ---
**Author:** ![Kybrdbrkn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kybrdbrkn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kybrdbrkn)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/22 "2002-04-06T18:04:50Z")
Make Canada into a state, eh? Not if we take you over first… [SUB]What? Do you really think we just sit in our igloos and drink Tim Horton’s coffee all the time? Heck, no! We’re out to take over the planet. But don’t worry… It will be the most polite and unhostile takeover in the history of the world…[/SUB] ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/23 "2002-04-06T20:50:20Z")
There was a serious exploration about 30 years ago about NYC seceding from NY state. The upstate area would be screwed if this happened, the NYC area pays a lot more in taxes than it receives - all those Wall Street bucks. I don’t recall which, if any, suburban counties were going along. Uh, \*\*Kybrdbrkn \*\*, isn’t Tim Horton’s owned by a US company? I think Wendy’s owns it, eh? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Lost\_In\_Reality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Lost\_In\_Reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lost_In_Reality)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/24 "2002-04-06T21:52:20Z")
I have always been an advocate of the secession of Long Island from New York. We are completely different from the rest of the state. Although I am a Democrat, I think the Republicans deserve a stronghold up in the North. Long Island would be perfect for it. Rhode Island also needs some competition for the smallest state. I’m sure New York City would want to join Long Island, though the name is slightly confusing. Vote for me in 2060 for Long Island governor. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/25 "2002-04-06T22:22:34Z")
I gotta say it is high time Puerto Rico joined the US as a full-fledged state, though that is possibly because I am unaware of the motivation for not becoming one. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/26 "2002-04-07T01:02:40Z")
Cuba: there was serious attempt at this before the Civil War. But now without that pesky slavery issue in the way, it can finally be ours! ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/27 "2002-04-07T02:13:49Z")
From The Onion: "Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Bora Bora, Samoa, Philippines, Japan Granted U.S. Statehood Resource rich territories to become 49th through 55th states" ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/28 "2002-04-07T06:04:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by erislover \* > \*\*I gotta say it is high time Puerto Rico joined the US as a full-fledged state, though that is possibly because I am unaware of the motivation for not becoming one. \*\* I believe it’s because they don’t pay taxes right now. ---
**Author:** ![Cull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@Cull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cull)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/29 "2002-04-07T06:40:26Z")
Mexico. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/30 "2002-04-07T06:52:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rastahomie \* > \*\*Take Cook County, Illinois (Chicago & burbs) as well as the “collar” counties surrrounding it (DuPage, McHenry, Kane, Will, and possibly Lake). Combine these with the counties containing and surrounding Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Gary, Indiana. Viola! Call it **Garchicawaukee**. \*\* Makes sense to me, although there’s got to be a better name. Daleyland? A friend of mine used to refer to Milwaukee as “Chicago’s largest suburb”. I once wrote a story set in the indefinite future which included a passing reference to the University of Chicago at Milwaukee. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/31 "2002-04-07T07:32:27Z")
Heh, I once made a cyberpunk genre RPG in which Chicago had sprawled out and included Milwaukee and Gary in it 🙂 Must be a common theme. > [@](#): > > Take Cook County, Illinois (Chicago & burbs) as well as the “collar” counties surrrounding it (DuPage, McHenry, Kane, Will, and possibly Lake). Combine these with the counties containing and surrounding Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Gary, Indiana. Viola! Call it Garchicawaukee This will answer the question about eliminating the tollway system and using state taxes to support it without pissing off everyone south of I-80. Another vote for Daleyland. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/32 "2002-04-07T14:27:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ITR champion \* > \*\* > > I believe it’s because they don’t pay taxes right now. \*\* Puertorricans pay state taxes and Social Security. One of the most important reasons politicians say we should become a state is that _your_ government would give us more money (welfare, Medicaid). Do I believe there are better reasons to become a state? I don’t know, I think there should be, but that is what the politicians say to get the vote of the people. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/33 "2002-04-07T15:36:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGrenze \* > \*\* > > Puertorricans pay state taxes and Social Security. \*\* [slight hijack] IIRC, the US drug companies (and maybe other US corporations) would very much like PR to never become a State because they get substantial tax breaks from their facilites in PR. That was the situation some years ago, though I’m not sure if that’s changed. [/slight hijack] Mike ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/34 "2002-04-07T16:15:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Merhouse \* > \*\* > > [slight hijack] > IIRC, the US drug companies (and maybe other US corporations) would very much like PR to never become a State because they get substantial tax breaks from their facilites in PR. That was the situation some years ago, though I’m not sure if that’s changed. > [/slight hijack] > Mike \*\* It has changed, many of the tax breaks were abolished, and now companies are closing and leaving the island. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/35 "2002-04-07T18:21:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Angel of the Lord \* > \*\*Hey, **kniz** , don’t worry. The Master has already tackled this question for you: > > [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_303.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_303.html) \*\* Sounded good until I got to the part about **President Quayle**. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/36 "2002-04-07T20:51:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGrenze \* > \*\* > > It has changed, many of the tax breaks were abolished, and now companies are closing and leaving the island. \*\* Thanks, Karl – I wasn’t aware of that. I appreciate the new knowledge 😃 Mike ---
**Author:** ![Manach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Manach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manach)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/37 "2002-04-07T22:21:54Z")
Ireland please, one is quite willing to seceed from the EU to avoid the Strasbourg parliment and it’s eurocrats. We could bring the secret of making proper whiskey & stout as a dowrey. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yo\_La\_Tengo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/41988e/32.png) [@Yo\_La\_Tengo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yo_La_Tengo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/38 "2002-04-07T22:23:34Z")
I’ve always wanted to buy a big chunk of Canada and call it my own. Perhaps I could eventually do some deal with the US and make it a state. The name? Oh I don’t know, how about **Perezoso**? I think it has a nice ring to it… ---
**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:** [April 8, 2002, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/39 "2002-04-08T01:31:38Z")
A related threads I started. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=108230](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=108230) It may be of intrest. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-the-51st-state/102152/40 "2002-04-08T09:43:12Z")
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