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March 16, 2003

The 51st What?

Found this lovely item in the SMH yesterday. Apparently the Labor party is somewhat confused about the relationship between Australia, the US, and the Australian States. Quoting from the article: Opposition Leader Simon Crean said Mr Howard's evocation of Pearl Harbour suggested Australia was an outpost of the United States. "Goodness gracious, what have we become? The 51st state of the United States?" he said on ABC radio in Melbourne.

There are two problems with this. First there are officially 50 states plus the District of Columbia. I suspect that (like the Australian Territories), that DC would become the 51st State, not Australia. There are also a number of US protectorates around as well. The second error is that for Australia to become part of the US, the Australian States would make the decision and it is likely that this would disolve the Federation and we wouldn't have to listen to any more of this drivel.

I guess that would make us like the 52nd, 53rd, .... 59th States (ignoring the ACT because its just pretending to be a state).

Posted by Ozguru at March 16, 2003 06:03 PM

Comments

...cough....splutter... your lucky I'm still in NSW...

Posted by: Peskie at March 16, 2003 06:03 PM

Of course, if you were in the ACT you wouldn't be reading this.... There is a really good Slim Dusty song about it where I think the key line is something about the fact that putting all the pollies in the middle of nowhere was the best thing we had ever done.

Posted by: at March 16, 2003 06:03 PM

Stop Press The leader of the federal opposition has resigned. Whats-his-name managed to hang on during the last leadership challenge despite having absolutely no charisma and no supporters (except in the executive). Looks like it will be an open contest between h...

Posted by: GDay Mate at March 16, 2003 06:03 PM