How do I write Britain becoming a US State for this general fiction?

Discussion in 'Plot Development' started by Bobby Burrows, Oct 4, 2018.

  1. Nariac

    Nariac Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2018
    Messages:
    537
    Likes Received:
    778
    Location:
    England
    I'm not sure the U.S.A would ever want Britain to become the 51st state. Not because they hate us or anything, but because Britain as the 51st state would be far too dominant compared to the other states except California in terms of wealth, and none in terms of population. You can't just add 60 million people to 300 million, where the 60 million are one state, and the 300 million are the other fifty. Especially considering the House of Representatives is divvied up based on population, the hypothetical British state would basically decide the House forever.
     
  2. rincewind31

    rincewind31 Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2008
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    143
    I thought we already were the 51st state.
     
    Mckk and Alan Aspie like this.
  3. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2015
    Messages:
    18,851
    Likes Received:
    35,471
    Location:
    Face down in the dirt
    Currently Reading::
    Telemachus Sneezed
    True, but if you break it up into England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland you can assure yourself there will never be bloc voting :)
     
    Nariac likes this.
  4. Alan Aspie

    Alan Aspie Banned Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2018
    Messages:
    2,641
    Likes Received:
    3,358
    Scots joining USA?

    "Do you want to join the country that uses corn to make Whiskey?"
     
  5. Edward M. Grant

    Edward M. Grant Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2012
    Messages:
    711
    Likes Received:
    348
    Location:
    Canada
    Pretty much everyone I know in the UK wants the BBC abolished. So a lot of people would applaud it.

    BTW, don't forget that everyone will have to learn to drive on the wrong side of the road.
     
  6. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    Messages:
    23,826
    Likes Received:
    20,815
    Location:
    El Tembloroso Caribe
    I'm late to the party, but I would suggest a little research into how La República de Tejas (The Republic of Texas) came to be part of the United States. Clearly very different history - no one is drawing any kinds of parallels other than that it was a sovereign state for a period of time and was absorbed as a whole into the Union. But there may be some meat there for you.
     
    Bobby Burrows likes this.
  7. Lew

    Lew Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Messages:
    1,667
    Likes Received:
    1,527
    I think that there could be security reasons for this. As the UK becomes disunited, perhaps with Wales, N. Ireland and Scotland going their own way, England (by then, having come full circle) might not be able to support a credible defense establishment. The Navy is already smaller than that of France for the first time since Trafalgar, and if some peer adversary were on the horizon, it might make sense. For example, mainland Europe is wholly dependent on Russian oil and gas, and they don't have much of a defense establishment either, and might be willing to not curb a resurgent Russia. England I think is much less dependent on that, and has a strong sense of independence, and they may prefer to be a close partner to a fellow English-speaking (all right, American-speaking) and powerful country who shares a lot of their values. And we gain a base of operations, if needed, close to the continent as in WWII. Beats being subservient to Moscow, anyway. That kind of lines up both American and British interests in the union, with the understanding we are not going to remake England in our image. After all, you can't drive to England, so no need to change to US rules, and the two grids don't connect, so no need to change that. And Wales, N. Ireland, and Scotland might feel better sheltering from Russia under the same US federal system as truly equals with London, and join as states 52-54.

    This could be an interesting story!
     
    Iain Aschendale likes this.
  8. Edward M. Grant

    Edward M. Grant Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2012
    Messages:
    711
    Likes Received:
    348
    Location:
    Canada
    I've seen a few people in the UK say they're hoping America might decide to 'regime change' them and save them from their politicians.

    But I wouldn't see them taking on the UK as a new state or states. It would likely be a Puerto Rico arrangement at best, or Iraq at worst.
     
  9. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2010
    Messages:
    6,541
    Likes Received:
    4,776
    I must say, the very concept of such a novel offends and horrifies me. At the same time, it sounds highly relevant. I shall assume your inspiration was Brexit. Talks of America swallowing the UK are already reality. The Brits don't wanna become American - they're too proud for that - it's why they're kicking up a tantrum with the EU. But that's why the result of being swallowed up will be genuinely terrible for them - what they want is their glorious days as a world empire that got to call the shots, and they think by leaving the EU they will get their sovereignty, and their dignity, back. Only it's pure naviety to think they can retain their dignity by partnering up with Trump's US.

    I'd probably read your novel with morbid fascination.
     
    Iain Aschendale likes this.
  10. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2010
    Messages:
    15,262
    Likes Received:
    13,084
    I suddenly have a fantasy of the British somehow managing to find the way to simultaneously flatter and suppress Trump so that he goes off to play with his toy trains and the British run the country.
     
    Mckk likes this.
  11. Nariac

    Nariac Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2018
    Messages:
    537
    Likes Received:
    778
    Location:
    England
    Sadly, Trump is British already due to the fact his mother was Scottish, so ... I guess we already do rule the country. :p
     
    Alan Aspie likes this.
  12. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2010
    Messages:
    15,262
    Likes Received:
    13,084
    So we can blame you, instead of stewing in our own private shame?
     
    Alan Aspie likes this.
  13. Nariac

    Nariac Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2018
    Messages:
    537
    Likes Received:
    778
    Location:
    England
    We're your mummy, you can always blame us. :love:
     
    Alan Aspie likes this.
  14. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2010
    Messages:
    6,541
    Likes Received:
    4,776
    That's a very American way of looking at one's national identity. You sure you're not secretly American?
     
    Alan Aspie likes this.
  15. Nariac

    Nariac Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2018
    Messages:
    537
    Likes Received:
    778
    Location:
    England
    In our hearts, we're all secretly American.
     
    matwoolf likes this.
  16. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2010
    Messages:
    6,541
    Likes Received:
    4,776
    I don't follow...
     
  17. Bobby Burrows

    Bobby Burrows Banned Contributor

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2018
    Messages:
    1,079
    Likes Received:
    637
    Location:
    London
    And London...

    If the UK breaks up, I'd want London to be its own country.

    We voted to remain in the EU referendum as a region.
    London predates England by a couple hundred years.
    London is the pulse of the UK etc... (Citation needed);
    But in the event the UK does break up, don't forget about London being an independent country too!.. Just saying.
    I love the UK but why should London not be treated any different than other places?


    In case people wonder what I mean; I mean this:
     
    Mckk likes this.
  18. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2015
    Messages:
    18,851
    Likes Received:
    35,471
    Location:
    Face down in the dirt
    Currently Reading::
    Telemachus Sneezed
    Well, there was a quote attributed to non-specific Vietnam-era US military personnel (and quoted in the film Full Metal Jacket) to the effect that every [Asian] had an American inside them trying to get out. It uses some offensive language, but from what I remember of my American school geography classes, the Great British Republic of Londen and Whales is somewhere in Asia....
     
    Mckk and matwoolf like this.
  19. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2012
    Messages:
    6,631
    Likes Received:
    10,135
    Location:
    Yorkshire
    Well definitely in such a fictional situation I'd raise a rabble army. You see we had such troubles quelling the Scots, I think it was at Stamford Bridge, that when we swung south to loot the tower, trample over Hampstead and such-like we were simply exhausted. Anyway I sent a detachment to harry Cornwall, those bores.

    London, definitely sacked and burned in a month or so, due entirely to your post. God save America.
     
    Iain Aschendale likes this.
  20. Bobby Burrows

    Bobby Burrows Banned Contributor

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2018
    Messages:
    1,079
    Likes Received:
    637
    Location:
    London
    Texas has been on my mind in this 'what if' scenario and no doubt, Texas and Britain if both were US states would be kin in that regard of both states (in this scenario) will have both been countries once.

    Let's just say, I can picture the UK still being proud of it's UK history like Texas is proud of theirs.
     
  21. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2012
    Messages:
    6,631
    Likes Received:
    10,135
    Location:
    Yorkshire
    London 2030
    [​IMG]
     
    Alan Aspie likes this.
  22. Bobby Burrows

    Bobby Burrows Banned Contributor

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2018
    Messages:
    1,079
    Likes Received:
    637
    Location:
    London
    Yeah, nah, Yorkshire in my story of a UK break up (not this story, a story of UK becoming a US state), but in any UK break up story that I write, there might be war, and, London will try it, and Yorkshire will be in England.
    So, it's like England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland, London - and make the M25 the border - in my story/scenario about that...

    The Cornish/Cornwall can do what they want!
    Might even have to mention that in any story about this matter if I write it come to think of it, so, thank you.
     
  23. Bobby Burrows

    Bobby Burrows Banned Contributor

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2018
    Messages:
    1,079
    Likes Received:
    637
    Location:
    London
    About London being and... England and Cornwall going to war?
    So, assume what I want, and make it a story of a broken UK about Cornwall and England going to war and tell this story from London's point of view,
    *If I wrote it.
     
  24. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2012
    Messages:
    6,631
    Likes Received:
    10,135
    Location:
    Yorkshire
    @Bobby Burrows - you are typing too fast for my little brain. Yorkshire - in or out?


    Definitely, always something unsavoury aboutany rabid anti-Americans. One of several wide ranging definitions of the 'fascist,' Quisling or maybe Joyce?
     
  25. Bobby Burrows

    Bobby Burrows Banned Contributor

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2018
    Messages:
    1,079
    Likes Received:
    637
    Location:
    London
    Your location says Yorkshire on this forum but you're talking about Cornish independence and ransacking London lol.
    So I'm getting inspired thinking about London prospering with sorrow that London being a city state started this war, so it's happy but concerned? IDK.
    But in my mind, it'll be a story of, London being independent and knowingly declared neutrality for this war Cornwall started when London became its own country.

    So, IDK, a story of war, and trust and money and power etc, set in a broken UK.
     
    matwoolf likes this.

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice