# When in doubt-- blame Delaware! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 15, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021 "2002-08-15T14:31:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/1 "2002-08-15T14:31:41Z")
Heh heh heh- the shameful truth comes out about Delaware. For shame, denizens of the new 11th ring of hell, for shame. Time to annex this goofy little spec of a state (Rhode Island too)- maybe the Congress needs one of those plywood cutouts used by the amusement park people to ensure that kids don’t ride the roller coasters. However, this one would state that “You must be THIS big to be admitted to the Union.” Here is my cite which _proves_ the evil which is Delaware: [http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020819&s=chait081902](http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020819&s=chait081902) Oh yeah, for the humor impaired, 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/2 "2002-08-15T14:43:45Z")
With apologies to **South Park**. . . _Times have changed, traffic’s getting worse, I have to pay these tolls for which I don’t get reimbursed! Should I blame the drivers? Should I blame the cars? Or the people at the evil DOT? Blame Delaware! Blame Delaware! They keep their crappy state alive By overtolling 95! Blame Delaware! Blame Delaware! Next time I’ll just drive all the way up through PA._ ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/3 "2002-08-15T15:05:28Z")
Ah, Delaware- the Sealand of the USA. I wouldn’t be surprised if they renamed it MBNA-ville. ---
**Author:** ![DougAB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@DougAB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougAB)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/4 "2002-08-15T15:14:31Z")
> [@](#): > > I wouldn’t be surprised if they renamed it MBNA-ville. I don’t get it. What is MBNA? ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/5 "2002-08-15T15:25:34Z")
The sole owner of Delaware, they also sell lots of rebadged credit cards to alumni associations ect. . . ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/6 "2002-08-15T16:11:48Z")
We blame Delaware all the time. We live about ten inutes drive from the border, in Maryland. Did you know that Delaware only has 12 streets? It’s a FACT. **Mojo** - I got the joke. Dave used to work for MBNA. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/7 "2002-08-15T16:46:20Z")
Bravo, **pldennsion**. You should just change cars to SUVs to rhyme with DOT. _Because when Delaware is gone There’ll be no more Pierre DuPont_ ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/8 "2002-08-15T17:13:30Z")
> [@](#): > > What is MBNA? [MBNA](http://www.mbna.com/index_main.html) is a leader among high-interest credit card issuers that has angered [many people](http://www.mbnasucks.org/). ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/9 "2002-08-15T17:28:26Z")
I have nothing meaningful to say so I’ll just cock this handy stetson, stick my thumbs in my belt and ask : What did Delaware ? ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/10 "2002-08-15T17:30:10Z")
elf6c–you must be a Farker. I don’t know, I wish more states would follow Delaware’s lead regarding taxes. I would love to live in a state with no sales tax. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/11 "2002-08-15T18:21:42Z")
London\_Calling, that’d be a new jersey. And sadly, I think my “MBNA-ville” comment is more true than funny. ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/12 "2002-08-16T02:04:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*I have nothing meaningful to say so I’ll just cock this handy stetson, stick my thumbs in my belt and ask : What did Delaware ? \*\* I dunno…Alaska. or, our old delaware french class fav: “Pierre, Pierre, il a mangait Delaware” ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/13 "2002-08-16T16:07:17Z")
Not MBNA-ville, but Bank-ville, or just $ville. There are _plenty_ of other banks, lenders, and such here. Applied Card Systems has an enourmous amount of money running through here, and one of the four largest Pharmas is here. Musn’t forget the DuPonts, nor the Purdue family, either… ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/14 "2002-08-16T18:59:27Z")
I will be leniant towards MBNA on account of them giving an awful lot of money to people to pay for in-state colleges. And quietgirl has a summer job with them, albeit a much-despised one. Oh, and someone should tell that new republic halfwit that he can’t even fathom what it’s like to live in Dealware 'less he grew up here. Rat bastard. (I can’t believe I’m standing up for my state. Dear lord, next thing you know I’ll be getting a Sussex County pride shirt…) ---
**Author:** ![AK\_dog\_doc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@AK\_dog\_doc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK_dog_doc)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/15 "2002-08-16T19:36:15Z")
Personally, I think Alaska is waaaaay too big for ‘Dela’ to ‘ware’ - not to mention a bit on the chilly end (snerk!). But I like it here anyway. Even if all the banks in DE in general and MBNA in particular are evil, still a lot of really great folks live in DE, which ought to redeem it… ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/16 "2002-08-17T03:40:07Z")
Awww, thanks! If’n I din’t know better, I’d say you’d spent some time here… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/17 "2002-08-17T10:31:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElwoodCuse \* > \*\*I don’t know, I wish more states would follow Delaware’s lead regarding taxes. I would love to live in a state with no sales tax. \*\* Well, I dunno. I live in Oregon right now (Which I am leaving forever Sept. 7 - yay!) which has no sales tax. It’s cool because what a price tag says is exactly what you pay. It’s NOT cool because income taxes are jacked way up to compensate. With a sales tax people with more money (who presumably buy more expensive things) end up paying more taxes. Since I am not a person with money, this seems perfectly fair to me; i.e., if you want a gudy Beamer to display your wealth, why not enrich the public in the process? ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Belowjob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/18 "2002-08-17T13:13:08Z")
On the bright side, the fishing at Indian River inlet is great, and you can hunt with a crossbow during gun season. Breaking up the peninsula into three separate states - DE, MD, and VA - is silly, a hangover from the colonial era. All Delmarva should be one state. The residents would probably prefer it that way. It’d still be Mississippi on the Atlantic, but at least the boundaries would make geographic sense. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/19 "2002-08-17T20:30:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elf6c \* > \*\*Heh heh heh- the shameful truth comes out about Delaware. For shame, denizens of the new 11th ring of hell, for shame. Time to annex this goofy little spec of a state (Rhode Island too)- maybe the Congress needs one of those plywood cutouts used by the amusement park people to ensure that kids don’t ride the roller coasters. However, this one would state that “You must be THIS big to be admitted to the Union.” > > Here is my cite which _proves_ the evil which is Delaware: > Oh yeah, for the humor impaired, 😉 \*\* [http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020819&s=chait081902](http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020819&s=chait081902) Maybe I’m being whooshed, but in reading the linked article, the article’s thesis is compelling and the tone is quite serious (possibly overly serious) about Delaware being something of a national parasite. I’m not really seeing the ;). I live in MD 10 miles from the Delaware border and I can tell you that Delaware is a different kettle of fish from most other states. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021/20 "2002-08-17T21:59:28Z")
Yes, the article came on seriously, and contained factual errors and ommisions that render it essentially valuless. A senior editor wrote that? He should be sacked for crappy research, if nothing else. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-doubt-blame-delaware/124021.md?page=2)