# United States contraction: Which states should go? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2002, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283 "2002-04-07T05:50:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/21 "2002-04-07T15:49:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*Fuse the Upper Penninsula of Michigan (sp?) \*\* You spelled Michigan just fine. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/22 "2002-04-07T16:04:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fairy Princess Kitty \* > \*\*A friend and I were actually talking about this a few days ago… > > Alabama… I can not think of a single redeeming quality, the only thing I think of is that alphabetically, it’s the first state > Kitty \*\* Hey **Fairy Princess Kitty** : Come to the seafood festival in Gulf Shores, Al, in October and I’ll show you some redeeming qualities. 😉 Then too, we have half of the Flori-Bama Bar. That in itself is enough to justify our existence. AND: Me and Jimmy Buffett! Y’all come on down, ya’ heah? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/23 "2002-04-07T16:32:53Z")
Utah can go. Those fine words about the US and its relationship to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” do not apply there, at least the happiness part. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/24 "2002-04-07T17:05:10Z")
originally posted by **ralph124c** :… **"Actually, large parts of the central prairies shoulsd be left to revert to their original wild state-this would greatly reduce the amount we pay out in crop subsidies. "** 'Twould also greatly reduce the amount of food we have to eat. .:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/25 "2002-04-07T17:12:47Z")
Mississippi. Can you think of a single positive thing it has contributed to the nation? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/26 "2002-04-07T17:16:58Z")
No need to give Texas back to Mexico since Mexican citizens are slowly but surely taking the place back anyway. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Texas is really more Baja Oklahoma than anything else. (Spoken as a recovering Texan) But–get the hell off of South Dakota’s case. That state is the best kept secret in the country and if my ex would leave, I might be tempted to go back. The people there, for the most part are just great, the work ethic is good, real estate is reasonable, there is no state income tax and the winters keep the sissys out. We can’t get along without Florida, so drop that idea. We should combine New York with New Jersey, saw the result loose from the USA and float Jersey-York out to sea. ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/27 "2002-04-07T17:23:54Z")
I’m thinking what we need to do is merge some states together. Especially here on the east coast. Why do we need 5 (or is it 6) states in New England? Lump them all together with upstate New York (dividing line: Hudson River) and call it The Northeast Reigon. Join lower New York with New Jersey (which it pretty much already is anyway), add Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia (dividing line somewhere in Pr. Wm. county). Call it the Mid-Atlantic Reigon. Combine Southern Va, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia and call that the Southeast/Gulf Shores Reigon. The possibilities are endless. But the bottom line is: fewer of those tiny little states that would be counties in larger states (i.e. Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland). All they really do is take up space in Congress anyway. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/28 "2002-04-07T17:28:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BigKahunaBurger \* > \*\*Mississippi. Can you think of a single positive thing it has contributed to the nation? \*\* Elvis? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/29 "2002-04-07T17:33:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BigKahunaBurger \* > \*\*Mississippi. Can you think of a single positive thing it has contributed to the nation? \*\* Sela Ward is a Mississippi contribution that no straight male with eyesight can deny. Then there’s William Faulkner… ---
**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, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/30 "2002-04-07T17:35:39Z")
**Connecticut** is only a place for New Yorkers to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/31 "2002-04-07T17:36:22Z")
OK, I concede that Mississippi has made some contributions to the nation (Even though anyone who has read “Barn Burning” might not appreciate Faulkner that much) but it’s still fairly worthless. If we disbanded it those people would just be from other states. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/32 "2002-04-07T17:39:53Z")
If we got rid of Mississippi, I’d have to move… to Texas! Yay! All of Louisiana except New Orleans seems pretty useless to me. I’ve driven across it a lot and it’s so damn empty. Get rid of that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/33 "2002-04-07T17:41:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobT \* > \*\*I think it’s usually Mississippi and Louisiana pulling up the rear in social indicators. > > Unless it’s education. Then it’s California. > I would get rid of Delaware. Does it exist anyway? \*\* Delaware has something up its sleeve, it’s not on the table. There’s something about legal system that makes it a Mecca for forming corporations… so don’t mess with Delaware! But there seems to be a general feeling that the deep South can take a hike. Didn’t they try that a while back?😛 ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/34 "2002-04-07T17:59:12Z")
Texas should stay. The people there, for the most part are just great, the work ethic is good, real estate is reasonable, there is no state income tax and the _ **summers** _ (which are at least 8 months long) keep the sissys out. ---
**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, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/35 "2002-04-07T18:05:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Carter of Mars \* > \*\* > > Sela Ward is a Mississippi contribution that no straight male with eyesight can deny. Then there’s William Faulkner… \*\* Faulkner is only the best known of many [**Mississippi writers.**](http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/english/ms-writers/) Country singers Tammy Wynette, Charlie Pride, LeAnn Rimes, and Conway Twitty. Others like Jimmy Buffet, Bo Diddly and Jimmie Rodgers. And, of course the _King_ **Elvis Presley**. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/36 "2002-04-07T18:12:07Z")
We just portion out Mississippi’s writers like the rest of its stuff. And may be don’t have any more novels of Southern _angst_. This I assure you is not such a great loss, since there will be nothing anymore to agonize. By the way, must we assimilate these states? Can’t we simply banish or destroy them? Just to keep a few options open…😃 ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/37 "2002-04-07T18:17:37Z")
Texas has no state income tax? I did not know this. Thanks for informing me, **lorinada** ; I can use it as ammunition in my fight to convince my parents that a move to Texas is best for me. (We’re from New York, the state that makes everybody pay obscene amounts even in the economically-depressed upstate region, just because of the high cost of living in The City.) ---
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/38 "2002-04-07T18:20:31Z")
PLEASE, get rid of Indiana! I have lived here my whole life, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/39 "2002-04-07T19:05:20Z")
There is no New Jersey - just West New York and East Philadelphia. The rest is just landfill. Dig down 6 feet and find where the Canarsie Indians dumped their refuse 500 years ago. 😃 (yes, I know W. N. Y. exists) ---
**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, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283/40 "2002-04-07T19:15:44Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by BigKahunaBurger_ > **Mississippi. Can you think of a single positive thing it has contributed to the nation?** To add onto what everyone else said… About every kid in elementary school knows how to spell it, AND sometimes, when they count, they go, “1-Mississippi, 2-Mississippi, 3-Mississippi, etc.” 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-contraction-which-states-should-go/102283.md?page=3)