# What will be the next US state? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063 "2014-04-14T01:57:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/61 "2014-04-16T16:47:51Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > ETA: If they ever did spin off NYC as its own city-state, then it might make sense for Long Island to be annexed into Connecticut. Socially, they’d be a perfect match. If New York City ever broke off from New York State it should join New Jersey. Much though New Yorkers may sneer at New Jersey, they’re really effectively one entity in a lot of ways. (At least northern New Jersey, that is.) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/62 "2014-04-16T17:37:24Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > If New York City ever broke off from New York State it should join New Jersey. Much though New Yorkers may sneer at New Jersey, they’re really effectively one entity in a lot of ways. (At least northern New Jersey, that is.) I think it would make sense to annex Statin Island into New Jersey. It’s the red-headed stepchild of the New York boroughs, and it’s right off the coast of New Jersey anyway. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/63 "2014-04-16T18:45:35Z")
Crimea. [/Edgier than bismuth] ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/64 "2014-04-16T18:48:53Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > I think it would make sense to annex Statin Island into New Jersey. It’s the red-headed stepchild of the New York boroughs, and it’s right off the coast of New Jersey anyway. Also, with Gov. Christie’s weight issues, it’s a pretty safe bet that his BP could use the help. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/65 "2014-04-16T18:59:49Z")
I don’t think DC has any chance of gaining representation in congress as long as it is perceived as a black city. As the demographics continue to shift over the next decades, that perception will change of the city as a black city and then it will be possible for it to gain some kind of representation. As it is, there is a sentiment that a large black community shouldn’t be trusted with democracy (they re-elected a crackhead). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/66 "2014-04-16T19:25:11Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Not to put too fine a point on it, but we’re talking about the people who elected Marion Barry as their mayor. _After_ he got busted in a cocaine sting. By that standard, the US shouldn’t be a country. After all, we twice voted [name redacted] to the office of President! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/67 "2014-04-16T20:33:25Z")
That’s not really how democracy works, whether people have the vote or not shouldn’t depend on whether you agree with how they use it. Those ‘people’ who re-elected Barry did so because they felt he would be a good mayor. Either you’re for democracy, or you’re not. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Trucker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Space\_Trucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Trucker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/68 "2014-04-17T02:28:14Z")
An additional state would screw up the flag. lol ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/69 "2014-04-17T02:38:46Z")
It’s an ugly flag. Not only is the proposed design for 51 stars discussed upthread, we also have the options of keeping the current colors or going back to 13 stars in a circle, or making the stripes red and blue and the stars neon yellow. It seems to me, though, the the nation’s flag and the Constitution are two more documents that are never going to change again. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/70 "2014-04-17T14:51:26Z")
We could incorporate Canada. They’re not even a real country anyway. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/71 "2014-04-30T21:39:29Z")
I voted for “something else not mentioned” - I think that, eventually, California will split into two states…that is, depending on how the phrase “no new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state” is interpreted, although there is precedent for splitting a state into two (Virginia and West Virginia - and the Supreme Court ruled that Virginia never “really” seceded, so the claim that it was formed from land that was not a state doesn’t really apply). I think the only thing that really stands in the way of two Californias is a water issue - the south needs to be able to get water from the north, especially in a drought like the one the state is having now. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/72 "2014-05-01T04:38:29Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > We could incorporate Canada. They’re not even a real country anyway. That’s rather insulting, actually. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/73 "2014-05-01T04:44:44Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > That’s rather insulting, actually. It’s just a bit of friendly American rivalry/teasing. I don’t want to speak for Siam Sam but I’m sure he really didn’t mean anything of the sort. In many ways, Canada is a much better country than the USA. That being said, I think many Americans find it quaint/puzzling for example that Canada, Australia, and other independent countries in The Commonwealth still have the royal monarch of England as their head of state, that the judicial system nominally derives their authority from The Crown, and such. Americans tend to be very proud of the fact that America is a republic, we fought for independence, and as such, are a more “legitimate” country than Canada and others (even though we know it’s not really true in any meaningful sense). ---
**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:** [May 1, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/74 "2014-05-01T05:13:35Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > That’s rather insulting, actually. Sounds like someone’s never watched _South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut_. My remark was a lyric from its Oscar-nominated song “Blame Canada.” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/75 "2014-05-01T06:02:18Z")
The 51st state is Verhampsachusetts (2010 pop. 193,000). It will incorporate the mutually contiguous counties of Windham in Vermont, Cheshire in New Hampshire, and Franklin in Massachusetts. Capital city is a tossup between Brattleboro and Keene. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/76 "2014-05-01T08:00:31Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Sounds like someone’s never watched _South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut_. My remark was a lyric from its Oscar-nominated song “Blame Canada.” Sorry. I’ve heard of the song, but don’t know it. I’ve tried watching South Park and don’t see the humour; in fact it’s rather irritating. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/77 "2014-05-01T10:07:36Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > That’s rather insulting, actually. Meant in good fun. Canadia is cool. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/78 "2014-05-01T13:38:04Z")
[Sicily.](http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19820328&id=GdgcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=914EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3046,6873186) 😃 j.k. Actually, I voted for Puerto Rico down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/79 "2014-05-01T20:10:48Z")
Don’t wait for statehood. Get your Verhampsachusetts state motto [sweatshirt](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2936/14080533442_9b473996e1.jpg) now. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063/80 "2014-05-03T00:42:36Z")
How exactly would Hawaii be “expanded”? The islands to the northwest are tiny dots in the Pacific inhabited only by birds and seals. Besides, they are already US Territories. The US has claim to all the under sea mining in the area. To the southeast, Lōʻihi, the “next” island in the chain, isn’t expected to rise to the surface for at least another 10,000 years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-next-us-state/686063.md?page=5)