Australia, the 51st state?

[platypus]

<b>LINK</b>

<b>Australia primed to be yanked into US</b>

Tess Livingstone, higher education editor
16jul03

AUSTRALIA has been urged to seriously consider becoming the 51st state of the US.

And American-born historian Dr David Mosler told a Brisbane audience yesterday there was a 20 per cent chance of Australia becoming an American state in the next 50 years.

The visiting research fellow at Adelaide University, who has lived in Australia since 1971, said the chances would increase significantly in the event of a major Al-Qaeda attack on Australia or if Indonesia became a fundamentalist Islamic republic.

Dr Mosler told the 2003 Fulbright Symposium at Griffith University yesterday that he decided Australia was "an unreformable society" after the loss of the 1999 republic referendum.

Australians, he said, had no flag of their own; a weak sense of nationhood; no prime minister in the Lodge, with John Howard living in Sydney; no national bushfire or water plans, even with the worst drought in history; and no "broad knowledge of nation in public discourse or popular culture". Australians had replaced "Empire with Yanks" after 1942, and the country retained a "quasi-colonial status".

He said Australian governments, attuned to the British, Americans, Japanese and global capital markets, had "sold off the farm" – electricity, water, ports, airports, resources, manufacturing – while Australians were not offended by such "treasonous behaviour".

He said Australia's passage to American statehood would not be difficult under its Constitution.

He listed the advantages of American statehood for Australia as:

• Access to the world's best higher education system.

• Large savings on embassies.

• Being part of the world's most effective defence system.

• Merger with the world's strongest currency.

• Being part of the world's biggest economy.

• A constitution bringing a republic and a Bill of Rights.

• Fielding teams in the US national basketball, baseball and gridiron competitions.

Statements like this from a fellow Yank make me uncomfortable. I'd like to apologize for this dickhead, but he actually left the US for Oz during the Nixon administration and hasn't been back. Good riddance, but sorry you got him.

Personally I like Australia more for the way it differs from the US, than for how it resembles it. The last thing I'd like to see is this guy's idea of US global domination come to fruition. Besides, it would fuck up our flag. ;-)

[Nisses]

20 % chance in the next 50 years?

that's a fancy way of saying he's talking BS

There's alot that might very unlikely happen during the next 5 decades, doesn't mean it's gonna

[Charlatan]

Sounds like the same sort of drek spouted about Canada becoming the 51st state of the USA... Gotta love the neo-cons for their sense of humour though.

[Cynthetiq]

hmmm...I'd think that Puerto Rico would have the slot for the 51st... especially since it's already in protectorate status...

20% in the next 50 years? jeez... that's some odds I'm not betting on.

[james t kirk]

Yeah,

I will give that goof ball 1 in 5 odds then on 100 grand.

I would think the chances of Australia becoming the 51'st state are akin to a me going to the moon any time soon.

[Peetster]

I doubt this is what the majority of Aussies want.

[mtsgsd]

Originally posted by Peetster
I doubt this is what the majority of Aussies want.

That's an understatement if I ever heard one.

On top of that, I thought the US had policy of not accepting any more states into the union. Supposedly this is why Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are "commonwealths" and not states?
I think commonwealth is the term I heard.

In any case I hope it never happens. Australia would never recover...

[mirevolver]

Originally posted by mtsgsd
That's an understatement if I ever heard one.

On top of that, I thought the US had policy of not accepting any more states into the union. Supposedly this is why Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are "commonwealths" and not states?
I think commonwealth is the term I heard.

In any case I hope it never happens. Australia would never recover...

Actually Peurto Rico can become a state anytime they want to. They held an election about it a few years ago and voted it down. Mainly because as things are now, they are recognized as U.S. Citizens and they don't pay U.S. Taxes. The only drawback to their current situation is they don't get to vote in federal elections.

I'm sure if it were put to a vote in australia, the result would be something like 5% for, 95% against. I just don't think the Aussies want to become Americans.

As far as a 51st state, I think there are three possibilities:

1. Peurto Rico votes for statehood.

2. Guam becomes a state.

3. (not as likely as 1 and 2) Quebec decides they want to become an independant country and the rest of Canada joins the U.S.

[Charlatan]

Originally posted by mirevolver
3. (not as likely as 1 and 2) Quebec decides they want to become and independant country and the rest of Canada joins the U.S.

Never going to happen...

[clavus]

If I was from Oz, I'd be pretty insulted by this.

Of course, if I was Australian, I'd have a good sense of humor and a thick skin, so I wouldn't give it a second thought.

If Australia DOES join the US, maybe they can show us how to properly host the Olympics. If hosting the Olympics was an Olympic event, the US would be politely applauding in the crowd as Oz accepts the Gold.

[rat]

I doubt America will be adding any more states in the next 50 years. Hell, it's been over 50 years since we last accepted one. And to be accepted as a state, you have to apply for it, and no commonwealth or other country will apply for statehood if it has its head screwed on straight. Citizen status without paying taxes? I'd give my vote for that any day. That may sound undutiful and unpatriotic, but the only reason I will vote (missed the last general election by 9months) will be concerning taxes and foreign policy. So if I don't pay taxes, and one of those commonwealths is not attacked, guess who could honestly not give a fuck? That'd be me chillin in Guam.

[rev_skarekroe]

Let's just invade Australia now and get it over with. What, you need a REASON? Sigh. Ok, I heard they bought some radioactive materials from somebody. From who? Uh, Africa. Yeah that's it, someplace in Africa. We'll figure out the details later, but in the meantime, we've got to go kick their asses. NOW! sk

[platypus]

OK, but don't destroy the breweries or the Bundaberg distillery.

[Lebell]

Interesting, but I think there is more likelyhood of Puerto Rico finally approving a petition to join and Quebec pissing off the other provinces into joining before the Aussies want to hook with us other 50.

[TaLoN]

Originally posted by Charlatan
Never going to happen...

never say never, your words might come back to bite you

[Phaenx]

Hey, and another hundred billion years later Australia will actually BE a part of America. Then we can play DODGEBALL together.

[Halx]

Originally posted by Nisses
20 % chance in the next 50 years?

that's a fancy way of saying he's talking BS

Amen

[seretogis]

Originally posted by Phaenx
Hey, and another hundred billion years later Australia will actually BE a part of America. Then we can play DODGEBALL together.

In 50 years (let alone a hundred billion), "dodgeball" will be labeled a bloodsport and made illegal. It's already been taken out of public schools.

[rodgerd]

Originally posted by rat
I doubt America will be adding any more states in the next 50 years. Hell, it's been over 50 years since we last accepted one.

Uh, under 50 years, actually.

[platypus]

Originally posted by rodgerd
Uh, under 50 years, actually.

Yup. Hawaii in 1959. So only 44 years ago. American history taught to Americans by a Kiwi. Always figured other countries knew more about us than we do.

[MSD]

I'd much rather see them as a friendly independent country than as a state who hates us because they have to pay taxes on their phone bills to fund the Spanish-American war.

Someone give this guy his medication.

If it does happen, we can keep the flag the same by taking the advice of the guy around here who says that Rhode Island is worthless as an independent state and that Connecticut should invade

[HiThereDear]

I lived in Australia for four years - they're already American. They've subverted their own culture with American culture. Although, they didn't really have any culture anyways.

[cchris]

Michael Moore will be the next President too.

Great stuff platypus

[KWSN]

It's only a matter of time before Puerto Rico becomes the 51st. Hell, Bush is listed as the "leader" there already, it's bound to happen eventually.

I think Long Island should be a state. Or better yet, a country. We'd declare war on upstate.

(AND WE'D KICK THEIR ASSES)

[Gortexfogg]

20% chance for Australia to become a state in the next 50 years? Yea right. If that's true, France has a 60% of becoming a state and have our capital moved to Paris.

[Meridae'n]

That's the biggest load of horseshit i've read in the last hour.

[Meridae'n]

I would normally bite harder at something like that, but it doesn't even give me a rise...

[denim]

Originally posted by platypus
Personally I like Australia more for the way it differs from the US, than for how it resembles it. The last thing I'd like to see is this guy's idea of US global domination come to fruition. Besides, it would fuck up our flag. ;-)

Well, it's been fucked up before. What'd it look like with 31 stars? Or with 47? That's not the issue, from my POV.

The dickhead sounds crazy. AU as one state?? That's a fucking huge state!! Think what that'd say to Texas! Which is also not the issue, from my POV. Of course, if they came into the USA in the same way Texas did, but stronger... Anyway.

To my mind, they'd be crazy to join the union in that sense. I'd like to issue a counter-proposal: let's join with them instead. From what I understand, they're less fucked in the head than we are, in some ways.

[denim]

Originally posted by MrSelfDestruct
If it does happen, we can keep the flag the same by taking the advice of the guy around here who says that Rhode Island is worthless as an independent state and that Connecticut should invade

Then Massachusetts should take the result, and Maine can invade the whole rest of New England. Much simpler. I figure that Mainers have more of a clue, anyway. OTOH, Vermont and northern New Hampshire might resist for a while.

[TIO]

Originally posted by mirevolver
I'm sure if it were put to a vote in australia, the result would be something like 5% for, 95% against. I just don't think the Aussies want to become Americans.

You've obviously never seen us write a referendum question!

Originally posted by HiThereDear
I lived in Australia for four years - they're already American. They've subverted their own culture with American culture. Although, they didn't really have any culture anyways.

And America does?

Don't be fooled by the fact that we look like America. Our brains work differently, and that's where the culture is.

Besides, there's no way Australia would ever join a country that can't play cricket.

[denim]

Originally posted by denim
Well, it's been fucked up before. What'd it look like with 31 stars? Or with 47? That's not the issue, from my POV.

Looked it up.

The flag would have had 31 stars after California joined in 1850, until Minnesota joined in 1858.

The flag would have had 47 stars for just over a month, after New Mexico joined in January 1912, until Arizona joined in February 1912.

So, where are images of those flags? Well, here's a kind of list: http://www.geobop.com/Symbols/world/...ag/1/index.htm. They'd probably just tack on a single star for Puerto Rico, but AZ?? That'd be more than one state, as would be Canada! Just keep their current internal states as "states", I figure.

[denim]

Originally posted by TIO
Besides, there's no way Australia would ever join a country that can't play cricket.

If we learned, we'd have to prevent Britain from joining! I mean, that'd be so wrong!

[Meridae'n]

Originally posted by denim
If we learned, we'd have to prevent Britain from joining! I mean, that'd be so wrong!

They can't play either...

[Meridae'n]

Originally posted by TIO
Don't be fooled by the fact that we look like America. Our brains work differently, and that's where the culture is.

Besides, there's no way Australia would ever join a country that can't play cricket.

I hate it when people say we have no culture. It's like they have nothing left they can put over us, so they just get that old chestnut out of the closet.

I'd rather have no culture if it means we get to keep what we've got. Culture is word.

Edit: Phuk i can mix my cliches...

[bundy]

little does anyone suspect, that in 50 years, it will be America becoming a part of Australia.

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!

seriously though, this isn´t insulting, its just plain stupid, and i´m thankful that no one has taken this seriously.

and platypus - there are just a few things in Australia that would be protected against everything...

the Americans would protect Pine Gap.
and the Australians would protect the Bundy distillery.

conclusion - this is guy is spouting horseshit.

[denim]

Strikes me as more likely that Mexico would join the Union, actually. I mean, they keep coming over in small numbers, right? Let's get it over with.

[crow_daw]

Well, its obviously the general feeling of this thread, so I'll just reinforce it.........theres basically NO way this will EVER happen. Thats just ridiculous I think. Let it be known that most Americans don't feel we could just push Australia's people and government out of the way and just annex you. Sorry for this fuckface.

[Meridae'n]

We know crow_daw, we just like beating our chests...

[Sleepyjack]

HiThereDear claimed
I lived in Australia for four years - they're already American. They've subverted their own culture with American culture. Although, they didn't really have any culture anyways.

wtf. That generalisation is almost as absurb as us becoming the 51st state. lol
Australia is one of the most diverse countries on the world and is comprised of many cultures, as is america. Even though the cultures are so diverse, i think there is an idea of american culture primarily being large corparation and brand names, like coke, nike, hollywood and microsoft or something. This is not the case either way. Don't reduce australia to this either.
australia is not the same as america nor is america the same as australia (culturally), although we're all people and come from the same substance.

on a side note, does anyone actually know the name or who our prime minister is?
he was sucking bush's cock during the Iraq war (metaphorically)

[Macheath]

Hey, two words:

President Murdoch.

*me runs for hills*