If the USA had to lose a state...

[Vingtor]

Losing Alaska is losing a major economic state in terms of oil. They'd never get rid of it.

I'd say Hawaii. Completely useless other than college football and tourist purposes. Either let it go independent or sell it to the highest bidder.

Who would want it?

[The Drone Empire]

Losing Alaska is losing a major economic state in terms of oil. They'd never get rid of it.

I'd say Hawaii. Completely useless other than college football and tourist purposes. Either let it go independent or sell it to the highest bidder.

Who would want it?

China?

[Sonnveld]

I used to be part of a political party that advocated the (peaceful, done with legislation instead of firepower) secession of Oregon and Washington, along with the secession of British Columbia from Canada.
The two states and the province would then join together and become the Republic of Cascadia.
I still kind of support it, simply because Oregon usually gets shafted whenever there's trouble in the United States. GWB called a bill to fund rural schools here "pork barrel" and we've been referred to as "the brake shoes of the nation: whenever the economy slows down, we're the first to feel the heat." Some of us feel it's because we're a Blue state but I get the feeling that we'd be dirt poor even if we swung Red. Possibly go from dirt poor to desperately poor if that happened.
Oregon is the hungriest state and one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. If the hypothetical Republic of Cascadia were to happen, we'd go from one of the poorest states in the nation to a province in the third richest economy in the hemisphere. Currently, we're going through another economic contraction, and baby — it hurts.

And no, I don't blame Obama. I blame the fucking Republicans that forced him to abandon the sunsetting of the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

[The Drone Empire]

I used to be part of a political party that advocated the (peaceful, done with legislation instead of firepower) secession of Oregon and Washington, along with the secession of British Columbia from Canada.
The two states and the province would then join together and become the Republic of Cascadia.
I still kind of support it, simply because Oregon usually gets shafted whenever there's trouble in the United States. GWB called a bill to fund rural schools here "pork barrel" and we've been referred to as "the brake shoes of the nation: whenever the economy slows down, we're the first to feel the heat." Some of us feel it's because we're a Blue state but I get the feeling that we'd be dirt poor even if we swung Red. Possibly go from dirt poor to desperately poor if that happened.
Oregon is the hungriest state and one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. If the hypothetical Republic of Cascadia were to happen, we'd go from one of the poorest states in the nation to a province in the third richest economy in the hemisphere. Currently, we're going through another economic contraction, and baby — it hurts.

And no, I don't blame Obama. I blame the fucking Republicans that forced him to abandon the sunsetting of the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

Ave' to that!

[Nuvalia]

Well I would be happy if my state went back to France or became the Republique de Louisiane.

[Anit christ]

not happing

[Monatoro]

Iowa get rid of all the potatoes means well get rid of all the potato chips and meaning we shall get rid of all the obese people

[The Cookish States]

I used to be part of a political party that advocated the (peaceful, done with legislation instead of firepower) secession of Oregon and Washington, along with the secession of British Columbia from Canada.
The two states and the province would then join together and become the Republic of Cascadia.
I still kind of support it, simply because Oregon usually gets shafted whenever there's trouble in the United States. GWB called a bill to fund rural schools here "pork barrel" and we've been referred to as "the brake shoes of the nation: whenever the economy slows down, we're the first to feel the heat." Some of us feel it's because we're a Blue state but I get the feeling that we'd be dirt poor even if we swung Red. Possibly go from dirt poor to desperately poor if that happened.
Oregon is the hungriest state and one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. If the hypothetical Republic of Cascadia were to happen, we'd go from one of the poorest states in the nation to a province in the third richest economy in the hemisphere. Currently, we're going through another economic contraction, and baby — it hurts.

And no, I don't blame Obama. I blame the fucking Republicans that forced him to abandon the sunsetting of the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

Washington (D.C) wouldn't take well to any seccession very peacefully...what do you think about Texas and Cascadia making a break for it at the same time? That'd be awesome.

[Norstal]

not happing

Not Happing isn't a state.

[Wiztopia]

I used to be part of a political party that advocated the (peaceful, done with legislation instead of firepower) secession of Oregon and Washington, along with the secession of British Columbia from Canada.
The two states and the province would then join together and become the Republic of Cascadia.
I still kind of support it, simply because Oregon usually gets shafted whenever there's trouble in the United States. GWB called a bill to fund rural schools here "pork barrel" and we've been referred to as "the brake shoes of the nation: whenever the economy slows down, we're the first to feel the heat." Some of us feel it's because we're a Blue state but I get the feeling that we'd be dirt poor even if we swung Red. Possibly go from dirt poor to desperately poor if that happened.
Oregon is the hungriest state and one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. If the hypothetical Republic of Cascadia were to happen, we'd go from one of the poorest states in the nation to a province in the third richest economy in the hemisphere. Currently, we're going through another economic contraction, and baby — it hurts.

And no, I don't blame Obama. I blame the fucking Republicans that forced him to abandon the sunsetting of the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

Give us Wyden and then you can break off if you want.

[Salandriagado]

Cuba is better than the U.S.? Have toilet paper famines!

Well, let's see:

Positive economic growth throughout the recession (on all statistics I could find, would appreciate it if anyone has any more)
98.5% of the population above the poverty line
98.3% employment
National debt: 17.5% of GDP
Universal health service
And all this despite all of the bullshit that America has pulled towards them


Yeah, I'd say they're doing better than you.

[Chetssaland]

Cuba is better than the U.S.? Have toilet paper famines!

Well, let's see:

Positive economic growth throughout the recession (on all statistics I could find, would appreciate it if anyone has any more)
98.5% of the population above the poverty line
98.3% employment
National debt: 17.5% of GDP
Universal health service
And all this despite all of the bullshit that America has pulled towards them


Yeah, I'd say they're doing better than you.

The US is fourth in the world in HDI. I realize Cuba wasn't included in the study, but I think I'll go out on a limb and say they wouldn't be as high as fourth.

[Calmerica]

Losing Alaska is losing a major economic state in terms of oil. They'd never get rid of it.

I'd say Hawaii. Completely useless other than college football and tourist purposes. Either let it go independent or sell it to the highest bidder.

Who would want it?

China, Russia, maybe. Someone could buy it in Europe like England or France and turn it into a colony of some sort.

Also, Oregon leaving? You're f-ing nuts. They'll never lose the continental United States, much less one with as much historic value as Oregon. Combining with Canadian provinces is ridiculous as well. If that ever is even a theory of happening I'll move.

[Salandriagado]

Well, let's see:

Positive economic growth throughout the recession (on all statistics I could find, would appreciate it if anyone has any more)
98.5% of the population above the poverty line
98.3% employment
National debt: 17.5% of GDP
Universal health service
And all this despite all of the bullshit that America has pulled towards them


Yeah, I'd say they're doing better than you.

The US is fourth in the world in HDI. I realize Cuba wasn't included in the study, but I think I'll go out on a limb and say they wouldn't be as high as fourth.

The figures in the HDI:

Life expectancy: 78.9 in Cuba, 78.7 in the USA
Adult Literacy Rate: 99.8% in Cuba, 99% in the USA
Gross Enrolment Rate: 100.8% in Cuba, 92.4% in the USA
GDP per Capita: $9,900 in Cuba, $47,400 in the USA

Having calculated the HDIs myself from these figures, Cuba came out at 0.888 whilst the USA came out at 0.954 (somewhat higher than the last official HDI). However, the only area in which the USA wins is in GDP per capita, and considering that the USA has higher income inequality than Cuba (Gini 40.8 and 45 depending on whose stats you use, compared to 30 for Cuba), that's a shocking measure. So yeah, let's get this right: they are doing better than the US in every damn box (including GDP growth, which isn't in the HDI but is -2.6% in the USA compared with +4.3% in Cuba at the time of posting) with just over 1/5 as much money to work with. That sounds a hell of a lot like they're doing better than you to me.

[Chetssaland]

The US is fourth in the world in HDI. I realize Cuba wasn't included in the study, but I think I'll go out on a limb and say they wouldn't be as high as fourth.

The figures in the HDI:

Life expectancy: 78.9 in Cuba, 78.7 in the USA
Adult Literacy Rate: 99.8% in Cuba, 99% in the USA
Gross Enrolment Rate: 100.8% in Cuba, 92.4% in the USA
GDP per Capita: $9,900 in Cuba, $47,400 in the USA

Having calculated the HDIs myself from these figures, Cuba came out at 0.888 whilst the USA came out at 0.954 (somewhat higher than the last official HDI). However, the only area in which the USA wins is in GDP per capita, and considering that the USA has higher income inequality than Cuba (Gini 40.8 and 45 depending on whose stats you use, compared to 30 for Cuba), that's a shocking measure. So yeah, let's get this right: they are doing better than the US in every damn box (including GDP growth, which isn't in the HDI but is -2.6% in the USA compared with +4.3% in Cuba at the time of posting) with just over 1/5 as much money to work with. That sounds a hell of a lot like they're doing better than you to me.

The income equality in the US argument doesn't really work. However large the gap may be, it doesn't mean the ones getting the short end are incredible poor. The rich are incredibly rich, but the middle class is doing just fine. The poor are as poor as most developed countries' poor are. As a comparison, the percentage of people in poverty in the US (12.65%) is slightly lower than France's (14%). I realize that we're comparing Cuba to the US, not France to the US, but if Cuba's has a much lower percentage of people in poverty would you say that Cuba is doing better than France?

[Salandriagado]

The income equality in the US argument doesn't really work. However large the gap may be, it doesn't mean the ones getting the short end are incredible poor. The rich are incredibly rich, but the middle class is doing just fine. The poor are as poor as most developed countries' poor are. As a comparison, the percentage of people in poverty in the US (12.65%) is slightly lower than France's (14%). I realize that we're comparing Cuba to the US, not France to the US, but if Cuba's has a much lower percentage of people in poverty would you say that Cuba is doing better than France?

All things considered, and considering the resources available to them, yes, I would.

[Chetssaland]

The income equality in the US argument doesn't really work. However large the gap may be, it doesn't mean the ones getting the short end are incredible poor. The rich are incredibly rich, but the middle class is doing just fine. The poor are as poor as most developed countries' poor are. As a comparison, the percentage of people in poverty in the US (12.65%) is slightly lower than France's (14%). I realize that we're comparing Cuba to the US, not France to the US, but if Cuba's has a much lower percentage of people in poverty would you say that Cuba is doing better than France?

All things considered, and considering the resources available to them, yes, I would.

Well at least you're consistent. Agree to disagree I suppose.

[Pinewald]

Okay, so if I name a state we could loose by combining to other states, I automatically offend the person from it?
I don't care, because to be fair, I'm in AZ and I hate the lunatics here that so treasonsly want crime goblin criminals to take over.

I'll name off three we could combine to the neighboring states:

Rhoode Island: Why? It's too small, therefore could be added to a next door state.
Any of the really small states could be combined together/combined into next door states.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Iowa get rid of all the potatoes means well get rid of all the potato chips and meaning we shall get rid of all the obese people

I think you mean Idaho. Iowa grows corn and soybeans, not a lot of potatoes. Getting rid of the corn would help with obesity, too, though. All that high fructose corn syrup...

[Nazi Flower Power]

I'll name off three we could combine to the neighboring states:

Rhoode Island: Why? It's too small, therefore could be added to a next door state.
Any of the really small states could be combined together/combined into next door states.

No. Some places the state lines were drawn arbitrarily to make appropriately sized states, but in New England, the states were originally separate colonies each with its own unique history and attitudes. You can't just mash them together.

[IndependentCanada]

Alaska should be given to the best country in the world, which is Canada.

[Vingtor]

I still say the Pacific Northwest. They are more lower Canada anyway.

[Pope Joan]

Texas can do just fine by itself and I think many Texans would prefer it that way, so why not?

Mississippi is useless, but it would be unkind to cut them loose, they are so far from being self sufficient.

[Nuvalia]

Texas can do just fine by itself and I think many Texans would prefer it that way, so why not?

Mississippi is useless, but it would be unkind to cut them loose, they are so far from being self sufficient.

Texas and my Louisiana would would do perfect independent. Both States have mighty energy fields not to mention a booming agricultural, shipping, and manufacturing center. Texas has world class infrastructure and is rich in energy. Louisiana has many Oil and Natural Gas Rigs of it's coast and the refineries and massive ports to handle the volume. Not to mention all the money to be made of the taxes used to access our ports won't go to the federal government instead it would go to state coffers. Texas and Louisiana if they were allowed to buy all federal owned property in their territories could effectively say fuck you to the fed and be perfectly independent.

[Coccygia]

There's 3 states that I say wouldn't really matter if we lost - so long as we lost it to another state. West Virginia joining back with Virginia, Delaware joining with Maryland, and Rhode Island and Conncecticuit to Massachusets. My reasons?

West Virginia broke away from Virginia during the Civil War because they just plain and simple didn't want to be with the Confederacy. The war's done. Why not join the states back together?

Delaware is just a little sliver of land bordering Maryland, the Atlantic, and New Jersey. It's actually pointless to have such a small state when it could quiet easily join with Maryland.

Same with Rhode Island and Connecticuit to Massachusets, only Rhode Island and Connecticuit are both bigger than Delaware.

Nobody wants to lose 2 Senators.