# We must cut down on the number of nations **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 28, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401 "2013-10-28T00:06:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/61 "2013-10-29T11:26:34Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Poor, poor Mongolia. It’d be revenge for all that shit the Mongols put the Chinese and Russians through in the 13th century! ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/62 "2013-10-29T11:30:22Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > As it’s a made-up country anyway, Belgium with either France or the Netherlands, probably the latter. Can’t we merge with the UK instead? Please? ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/63 "2013-10-29T11:37:39Z")
Italy with San Marino - To prevent exclaves Japan with Taiwan - They have fairly good relations, and they are both islands in East asia Israel? No idea… Maybe Saudi Arabia for the lulz ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/64 "2013-10-29T11:48:07Z")
Merge [Slovenia, Slavonia and Slovakia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/94/Slovenia-slovakia-slavonia.png). For their new national anthem, a tape of a cat sneezing three times. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/65 "2013-10-29T12:22:41Z")
What happens if a country is wiped off the map before the deadline? Certainly a handful of countries will take the attitude that they can get a better deal by holding the world hostage. Given what’s at stake, it seems like the prudent thing to do might be to just obliterate such states using the combined military might of the rest of the world. Could we, for example, reduce Monaco to a smoking crater, toss the charred remains of their flag over to another intransigent state, and call it a day? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/66 "2013-10-29T12:49:22Z")
> [@Garula](#): > > What happens if a country is wiped off the map before the deadline? Certainly a handful of countries will take the attitude that they can get a better deal by holding the world hostage. Given what’s at stake, it seems like the prudent thing to do might be to just obliterate such states using the combined military might of the rest of the world. > > Could we, for example, reduce Monaco to a smoking crater, toss the charred remains of their flag over to another intransigent state, and call it a day? Even smoking craters can have recognised governments. Poland got the ever-loving shit kicked out of it in WWII yet they were still a recognised state with a government. If you can convince the survivors to join up another nation, or simply blackmail ‘join with _x_ or we’ll turn your country into plate glass’ then go for it. If at the deadline the amalgamation has not happened, however… ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/67 "2013-10-29T17:54:56Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Slovenia, Slavonia and Slovakia. Serbia and [del]Lusatia[/del] Sorbia? Iberia (Spain+Portugal) and Iberia (in Georgia the country)? Georgia and Georgia for that matter? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/68 "2013-10-29T21:53:40Z")
Wasn’t there a semi-serious movement a few years back for the Cayman Islands to join Canada as an eleventh province? ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/69 "2013-10-29T22:16:42Z")
Let’s stop living in sin with Bermuda and just tie the knot already. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/70 "2013-10-29T22:59:13Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Australia and New Zealand could never amalgamate…there’d be be too much blood shed over rugby games, let alone those netball nutjobs. > > Sorry… Nah, it’d be fine. Instead of the games being internationals they’d be the “Islands of Origin” series. Eastern Islands vs Western Islands, with your loyalties depending on how you pronounce “across the ditch”. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/71 "2013-10-29T23:48:37Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > Japan with Taiwan - They have fairly good relations, and they are both islands in East asia Also Taiwanese are one of the few East Asian peoples who have relatively fond memories of the Japanese from the imperial era. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/72 "2013-10-30T00:53:01Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > I would vote in the U.S. referendum to request assimilation by the Canadians. Under their constitution. That’s the only way I’d agree to it. I like my Canadian health care and gun regulations just fine, thank you very much. And I hear you guys wear your shoes in the house. That’s just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/73 "2013-10-30T03:40:17Z")
Plus the Queen, resuming sovereignty over all of North America. I think we would need to insist on that as a condition of union. ---
**Author:** ![Arete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Arete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arete)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/74 "2013-10-30T03:46:56Z")
How long do the newly created borders have to last? Because I would just force areas of multiple tiny, weak states under the same roof until ET is satisfied. Russia, China, the US, and other major world powers are not going to voluntarily dilute their national identities if they can just cram a few Yugoslavias together. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/75 "2013-10-30T06:57:28Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#): > > Can’t we merge with the UK instead? Please? Will you bring chocolate? And some beer? Not sure how long the U.K. is going to stay merged with itself, but that needn’t prevent me asking nicely for good Belgian choccy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/76 "2013-10-30T07:02:47Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Oh no, but then their own [tiny Olympics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_of_the_Small_States_of_Europe)would cease to be a real international sporting event! I had never heard of these tiny Olympics, but I love the idea. It just sounds more fun, somehow. 😃 And cannot need enormous big sports stadia, so less environmentally nasty. Are they very small and cute and fluffy and friendly games? Or does the sheer smallness lead to even fiercer rivalry? ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/77 "2013-10-30T10:14:58Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Australia+New Zealand. Sorry New Zealand, but you know the drill. Couldn’t we take say Samoa instead of Oz? (There’s a couple of other pacific island options if Samoa isn’t keen). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/78 "2013-10-30T12:24:51Z")
In Honolulu, Lusitania Street connects, appropriately, with Lisbon Street, which meets Beretania Street. “Beretania” was the Hawaiians’ approximation of “Brtiannia,” and their consulate was located there when Hawaii was a kingdom. We could merge these three nations (with little difference to the UK or Hawaiian flag). There is now a new baby heir to the British throne, but, as it always is with long-defunct monarchies, Portugal and Hawaii’s claims are split between representatives of the various cadet branches. We will need to put baby Prince George in a chalk circle, and whoever can coax him out is the winner. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/79 "2013-10-30T13:31:20Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Well, if it starts to get down to the line, we may just have to assign everyone to the next country down alphabetically. This would have the advantage of nobody having to merge economies with Zimbabwe. In what language? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401/80 "2013-10-30T13:34:10Z")
> [@Guy Rotting](#): > > Man. Doesn’t _anyone_ like the Portuguese? A lot of Spain is perfectly OK with the Portuguese (just don’t name them in Galicia), but the Portuguese wouldn’t want to join with Spain. They managed to break apart again after we were all in personal union under Philip II, there is no reason why they’d want to have to put themselves in the situation of having to remind Madrid periodically that “we’re not one of your borroughs, you centralist fucks!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-must-cut-down-on-the-number-of-nations/672401.md?page=5)