Poll of the Day > Will we see any new states added to the United States of America in our lifetime

(+) Yeah! (+)

I was initially going to add more options like "Yes, PR" "Yes, DC" "Yes, Both" "Yes, different territory" but I think the data is more interesting if there are simpler options.

I could see Canada begging to become part of the United States and us reluctantly agreeing eventually.

Almost certainly

MartianManchild posted...

I could see Canada begging to become part of the United States and us reluctantly agreeing eventually.

Wow now that is an incredibly dumb thing to think

---

No. way. The two most likely additions would be Washington, D. C. and Puerto Rico, and those aren't happening.

---

Very doubtful as long as the Republican party exists in its current state and ~40% of the country blindly follow said party.

---

I could definitely see Puerto Rico becoming a state.

I could also see it getting rejected because 51 doesnt sound as good as 50 to some people.

There's a chance that the southern border and some of the north of mexico might get turned into a jointly owned autonomous zone

---

No, because they more than likely would be blue and the GOP would fight tooth and nail to deny them.

---

Zareth posted...

No, because they more than likely would be blue and the GOP would fight tooth and nail to deny them.

They fought like hell to keep gay marriage illegal, keep welfare from being implemented, make abortion a crime, and repeal Obamacare. All theyre good for is slowing down progress.

---

No, because of the political ramifications. Democrats won't want to admit right-leaning areas, Republicans won't want to admit left-leaning areas, and nobody will sell us Greenland (and the US apparently keeps looking into it). Beyond that, adding doesn't necessarily make sense anyway because we'd likely be stuck with non-contiguous locations unless either Mexico or Canada gives up a portion of their land.


---

Yea.

Puerto Rico is the obvious choice.

We may also see parts of the North West US form their own state. I don't know how successful they'll be or if they'll simply join pre-existing stats but that's certainly possible.

DC's been vying for state-hood for a while but I doubt that will happen and, if it does, that could lead to a cascade of cities declaring themselves states which would be... interesting... to say the least.

Beyond that it's hard to say. We may see Guam and a bunch of smaller US Islands try to become states as a joint thing but that's really the only other possibility with current territorial bounds.

The Phillipeans has a VERY tiny chance of trying for state-hood but it is extremely unlikely at this point as they are a sovereign nation now. Only way I can see it realistically happening is if WWIII breaks out, they side with China, then get occupied by the U.S. again and decide to go state-hood following the war instead of independent nation.

Trump offered to buy Greenland and, had it gone through, you can bet he would have pushed to make it a state ASAP if only because it would help to enforce U.S. dominance over northern shipping; but that didn't work out. I can see Biden, a possible second Trump presidency, or another U.S. president in the future trying again with different terms but I'd say it's low.

Hong Kong is, surprisingly, possible but would require firstly wresting it from the CCP control (not likely) and even if successful it likely wouldn't become a STATE so much as a territory. If it does become one it will be for military and propaganda purposes.

After that I don't see anything likely. If Canada, for some insane, reason, declared war on the U.S. I can't see the U.S. keeping any territory gains. If Mexico did you might see some southern annexations but even then I doubt it would take. Cuba might be possible but extremely unlikely and would likely not work out well for anyone involved.

Anything further would be dependent on the U.S. claiming land it currently does not own. While I could say 'they'll make Iraq a state in the future cause of how much military presence they have' or some random thing it would be about as founded as saying 'I predict South Korea will beg to join the U.S. for protection from the North' or 'You know, the French flag has identical colors to America; clearly they want to join'; which is to say, little more than speculative wishing.

---

according to fallout, we eventually annex canada
---

Krazy_Kirby posted...

according to fallout, we eventually annex canada

Yea. The U.S. annexed it to gain more access to resources and it's implied it wasn't exactly 'peaceful'.

---

Unbridled9 posted...

Hong Kong is, surprisingly, possible but would require firstly wresting it from the CCP control (not likely) and even if successful it likely wouldn't become a STATE so much as a territory. If it does become one it will be for military and propaganda purposes.

ell oh fucking ell

---

Blightzkrieg posted...

ell oh fucking ell

What? I don't think it's likely at all since it would require first wresting control over Hong Kong from China. However if that DID, somehow, happen, I can certainly see that situation or something similar happening.

It's incredibly unlikely, yes, like, 0.1% chance, but when we're talking about things that aren't Puerto Rico becoming a state or maybe D.C. or some internal sub-division of states 0.1% is extremely high compared to all other options.

The simple fact is, though, that the only way the U.S. is likely going to get some more states beyond sub-divisions or Puerto Rico is gaining control of territory it currently does not possess.

---

I find it unlikely.

---

Krazy_Kirby posted...

according to fallout, we eventually annex canada

That was in 2072, which is outside of my statistical lifetime at least.

Unbridled9 posted...

What? I don't think it's likely at all since it would require first wresting control over Hong Kong from China. However if that DID, somehow, happen, I can certainly see that situation or something similar happening.

It's incredibly unlikely, yes, like, 0.1% chance, but when we're talking about things that aren't Puerto Rico becoming a state or maybe D.C. or some internal sub-division of states 0.1% is extremely high compared to all other options.

The simple fact is, though, that the only way the U.S. is likely going to get some more states beyond sub-divisions or Puerto Rico is gaining control of territory it currently does not possess.

The US is more likely to make Mars a state than Hong Kong

---

Blightzkrieg posted...

The US is more likely to make Mars a state than Hong Kong

Maybe; but Mars isn't currently colonized. There's a lot of questions regarding non-earthly bodies that will need to be answered before that can even be considered. Hong Kong just needs to be, somehow, taken from China by the U.S. for it to be an option.

---

Unbridled9 posted...

What? I don't think it's likely at all since it would require first wresting control over Hong Kong from China. However if that DID, somehow, happen, I can certainly see that situation or something similar happening.

It's incredibly unlikely, yes, like, 0.1% chance, but when we're talking about things that aren't Puerto Rico becoming a state or maybe D.C. or some internal sub-division of states 0.1% is extremely high compared to all other options.

The simple fact is, though, that the only way the U.S. is likely going to get some more states beyond sub-divisions or Puerto Rico is gaining control of territory it currently does not possess.

It's highly unlikely that HK would choose to become an American territory, considering its long history with *other* countries.

Blightzkrieg posted...

The US is more likely to make Mars a state than Hong Kong

And I for one welcome the Martian state!

---

And I for one welcome the Martian state!

Oh give me a home, where the buggalo roam, and the ground is red and rusty all day!

Just be careful about how you handle the native Martians. They can be a troublesome lot.

---

Absolutely astounding to me that people think the Philippines, Hong Kong, Greenland, parts of Mexico, parts of Canada have even a remote chance of becoming part of the United States. Like completely sovereign nations on the other side of the planet would give up their independence to become a part of some country with diminishing influence that cant even seem to get its own political or social house in order.

Some of you guys have an insanely inflated sense of yourselves lol

---

New York City is not accepting new applicants at this time so no.

nyc = America.

---

Conner4REAL posted...

New York City is not accepting new applicants at this time so no.

nyc = America.

did you take a pill of unknown origin?

---

FatalAccident posted...

Absolutely astounding to me that people think the Philippines, Hong Kong, Greenland, parts of Mexico, parts of Canada have even a remote chance of becoming part of the United States. Like completely sovereign nations on the other side of the planet would give up their independence to become a part of some country with diminishing influence that cant even seem to get its own political or social house in order.

Some of you guys have an insanely inflated sense of yourselves lol

It's not like I just randomly picked those things. Philippines used to be a U.S. colony for example. Hong Kong has suffered immensely under CCP rule and having another western nation back them up would almost certainly be a major step up for them (seriously, look in to how bad the situation for their rights has gotten there). There was an offer to buy Greenland from Trump and it wasn't some idle thing as it is going to be very valuable in the near future most likely due to the opening of the Northwest Passage (hence why I expect Biden or some future president to try to buy it from Denmark again).

However, and I think this is important to note, I'm referring to situations RELATIVELY likely to happen in regards to each other. The odds of, say, the US invading Canada, annexing a sizable chunk of their land, and turning it into the 51st state are INSANELY low and would effectively require insane premises to even be possible. I suspect that there is a 99% chance that, by 2100, the U.S. will own exactly 0% more of Canada for example. Even if that 1% chance happens it's still a 99% chance that America would just return it once things settled down or only took a token-esque bit of land (not enough to be a state for certain). Even if THAT 1% chance happened then it's still highly debatable if they'd try to make it a state or not (especially 'in our lifetime').

We're talking fractions of a percent of fractions of percents here. It's just that these fractions of fractions are ever so slightly bigger than other fractions of fractions making them relatively more likely.

In truth while I suspect Puerto Rico will become a state before too long unless there's a major internal reorganization or Guam and a lot of the minor pacific isles try to get in as a group, we'll be at 51 state for the foreseeable future. Only way that changes is if a war happens and the U.S. seizes land which is too unpredictable to really discuss.

---

Unbridled9 posted...

Philippines used to be a U.S. colony for example.

lol why would that make them want to become a state

what even is the logic there

---

FatalAccident posted...

Absolutely astounding to me that people think the Philippines, Hong Kong, Greenland, parts of Mexico, parts of Canada have even a remote chance of becoming part of the United States. Like completely sovereign nations on the other side of the planet would give up their independence to become a part of some country with diminishing influence that cant even seem to get its own political or social house in order.

Some of you guys have an insanely inflated sense of yourselves lol

Lol.
---

Hong Kong was happy to be independent from the UK, and has no interest in being owned by China. What makes you think Hong Kong would want to be owned by anybody else given its history?

The Philippines being a former colony of the US would make it want to be the 51st states of the present day United states? I dont really follow what youre saying here? Makes no sense, and again given the Philippines history and current social and political landscape its unlikely this will ever happen

If Greenland is going to be so valuable in the future, why on earth do you think Denmark would be so happy to relinquish it? Just because America demands it? Not to mention how both Greenland and Denmark were incensed at the idea of selling Greenland to the US in the first place, are we just going to ignore what they want? Nothing has changed.

Its beyond me how you people think the world is just clamouring to be owned by the US.

---

FatalAccident posted...

Absolutely astounding to me that people think the Philippines, Hong Kong, Greenland, parts of Mexico, parts of Canada have even a remote chance of becoming part of the United States. Like completely sovereign nations on the other side of the planet would give up their independence to become a part of some country with diminishing influence that cant even seem to get its own political or social house in order.

Some of you guys have an insanely inflated sense of yourselves lol

1) Mexico and Canada aren't "on the other side of the world." And, because you probably never picked up a history book, you aren't aware that the US was built on MULTIPLE land purchases from other nations including buying land from, and this is true, MEXICO.

2) Greenland isn't a "completely sovereign territory" and technically could be sold. The same is true for Hong Kong which is part of China (which, as mentioned, if it did break from China and choose to become part of another nation, would likely choose to become a British territory; otherwise technically China could sell it to another nation, but right now the ultra-nationalist CCP is very unlikely to do that).

3) lol @ the diminishing influence remark or the implication that any nation really has things in order because every nation with people have its own set of problems. If you're looking for political solidarity, the nations that have the most unified governments include China, NK, and other authoritarian nations.

Unbridled9 posted...

In truth while I suspect Puerto Rico will become a state before too long unless there's a major internal reorganization or Guam and a lot of the minor pacific isles try to get in as a group, we'll be at 51 state for the foreseeable future. Only way that changes is if a war happens and the U.S. seizes land which is too unpredictable to really discuss.

That's very unlikely for countless reasons.

FatalAccident posted...

Hong Kong was happy to be independent from the UK

lolwut? The population was worried what would happen once the UK's deal ended.

FatalAccident posted...

and has no interest in being owned by China.

Which is also completely untrue. However, it's worth noting that parts of the US have no interest in being owned by the US, but that's not doing them much good either.

FatalAccident posted...

If Greenland is going to be so valuable in the future, why on earth do you think Denmark would be so happy to relinquish it?

There have been repeated inquiries into buying Greenland that haven't worked out but, in all honesty, its "value" (as it pertains to why the US wants it) doesn't really help Denmark. And it's not a matter of "relinquishing" land, it would involve compensation.

---

The inflated view of yourselves is laughable

---

FatalAccident posted...

The inflated view of yourselves is laughable

So you don't deny that you were wrong on everything else, but instead choose to dispute the indisputable? The USA is still recognized as the world's strongest and most influential power by pretty much every reasonable metric. But if it's not America, who are you claiming is in that position?


---

I mean whats indisputable is the levels of absolute delusion and the obscenely inflated sense of self importance I see from a lot of Americans on this board, yourself included mr America should be the one to colonise the moon first

Idk why youre so emotionally invested in this, all Im saying is the idea that you people think the whole world is just waiting to sell off their territory or independence to the US is laughable. You dont need to go all menstrual on me

By all means feel free to keep believing that Philippines Hong Kong Greenland Canada and Mexico are all gonna agree to become part of the US, genuinely doesnt bother me lol

Im just trying to tell u they wont lol

---

Hong Kong was happy to be independent from the UK, and has no interest in being owned by China. What makes you think Hong Kong would want to be owned by anybody else given its history?

Have... you been paying attention... at all? To what's happening in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong IS owned by 'somebody else'. That somebody else being China who has openly violated the treaties and deals it had with Hong Kong and the UK for its re-acquisition and proceeded to engage in brutal and violent oppressive measures to remove what rights its citizens had to force them to heel to the CCP. I think it's safe to say that almost any western power would be better off for HK to be under as well as the majority of second-world nations and even a few dictatorships.

The Philippines being a former colony of the US would make it want to be the 51st states of the present day United states? I dont really follow what youre saying here? Makes no sense, and again given the Philippines history and current social and political landscape its unlikely this will ever happen

You might wanna pull your head out of your butt. It was actually very likely for a long time that it would join the U.S. Only reason things changed was WWII. As recent as 2004 it was still a political talking point. While it isn't LIKELY it is distinctly MORE likely than plenty of other options.

If Greenland is going to be so valuable in the future, why on earth do you think Denmark would be so happy to relinquish it? Just because America demands it? Not to mention how both Greenland and Denmark were incensed at the idea of selling Greenland to the US in the first place, are we just going to ignore what they want? Nothing has changed.

Because Greenland's been an eternal albatross around Denmark's neck costing them a sizable amount and plenty of other issues I, as someone not part of either location, don't feel qualified to talk on. Denmark lacks the military ability and incentive to capitalize on the situation. And yes, I am well aware of the fact that they were incensed at it. Doesn't mean the offer won't happen again likely with different terms and/or circumstances.

Its beyond me how you people think the world is just clamouring to be owned by the US.

I don't. But the whole topic is about if any new states might be added in our lifetime. As I said before, most likely it will be Puerto Rico with maybe a Guam/islands conglameration, possibly something from either DC becoming a city-state or re-organization of states (especially along the west coast). After that you're looking to external sources and what I listed are the situations I think are most likely. Doesn't mean they're likely to happen, just the most likely of the possible, predictable, outcomes.

I mean whats indisputable is the levels of absolute delusion and the obscenely inflated sense of self importance I see from a lot of Americans on this board, yourself included mr America should be the one to colonise the moon first

What I find funny is that this whole time I've been talking about other nations, looking into their political situations, popular opinions, history, and international relations before giving an honest opinion which said nothing positive or negative about the U.S. beyond that they're better than China. I even outright stated that we're talking fractions of fractions in terms of likelihood. I don't know how I could possibly be even more neutral while remaining on the whole point OF this topic.

Yet you've come in and started lamblasting the U.S. while showing 0 understanding of what actually happened, the reasons why I picked the things I did, not even a wiki search, and are acting like I'M the deluded one. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's not from a lack of both trying to understand these other nations, an overinflated ego, or anything of the sort. You, on the other hand, while we have something like a 99.9999% chance of not seeing any of the scenarios I listed play out, are speaking from sheer ignorance and self-righteousness.

---

Unbridled9 posted...

Have... you been paying attention... at all? To what's happening in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong IS owned by 'somebody else'. That somebody else being China who has openly violated the treaties and deals it had with Hong Kong and the UK for its re-acquisition and proceeded to engage in brutal and violent oppressive measures to remove what rights its citizens had to force them to heel to the CCP. I think it's safe to say that almost any western power would be better off for HK to be under as well as the majority of second-world nations and even a few dictatorships.

None of this actually leads to Hong Kong becoming US territory, much less a state. The fact that Hong Kong is under such tight control means that the States are completely unable to exert any real influence over it. Moreso they have shown absolutely no interest in doing so, the Trump administration repeatedly rolled over to Chinese talking points on Hong Kong in the interest of fostering a trade deal.

You're drawing a line between two points that are completely unrelated.

---

Blightzkrieg posted...

None of this actually leads to Hong Kong becoming US territory, much less a state. The fact that Hong Kong is under such tight control means that the States are completely unable to exert any real influence over it. Moreso they have shown absolutely no interest in doing so, the Trump administration repeatedly rolled over to Chinese talking points on Hong Kong in the interest of fostering a trade deal.

You're drawing a line between two points that are completely unrelated.

Wow... It's almost like you didn't read what I said earlier. But noooo... That would be ridiculous, no?

---

I think most people have porto rico in mind when they talk about a 51st state
---

Unless D.C. is added or an existing state breaks up, I don't think so.

---

I already have

---

Krazy_Kirby posted...

porto rico

oh my heavens

---

I think DC and PR statehood is almost inevitable at this point. Guam and the other territories probably wouldn't be far behind.

MartianManchild posted...

I could see Canada begging to become part of the United States and us reluctantly agreeing eventually.

Funniest comment in the thread. What exact do you guys have to offer us for joining? Shittier healthcare, sky-high COVID numbers, pants-on-head stupid politics, soaring murder/crime rates, and a mountain of debt?

Zeus posted...

lol @ the diminishing influence remark

That the US's influence is diminishing and has been for some time is almost unarguable. Given that you spent the last four years supporting the most isolationist US government since the end of WW2, I'd figure you would understand that. Isolationist governments, by design, have no influence. You have to be willing to get involved in world affairs if you want to have influence.

US influence was at its nadir in the 80s and 90s when US governments were fully willing to step in and throw their military and economic causes around, both for good reasons (Bush interceding to halt the Iraqi invasion/annexation of Kuwait) and bad (Reagan overthrowing democratically-elected socialist governments in South America and replacing them with right-wing dictators who consequently committed horrific human rights atrocities). The influence started to wane in the Bush Jr. years due to his misadventures in the Middle East, continued declining through the Obama admin thanks to a delay in recognizing the rising power of China, and plummeted in the Trump years thanks to enforced isolationist policies (including a removal of funding for several international bodies that had bought the US considerable influence abroad) and an almost universal drop in foreign opinion of the US. Currently, US influence is probably at its lowest point in the last 40 years at least and with the rise of China as a legitimate global superpower, gaining that influence back will be a tall order.

---

Lol u mfs so mad right now

---