This is from Kim's site regarding England's place in the world,
"Now, if we could somehow annex Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, and make them collectively the 51st state, I’d be willing to give it a shot. Hell, I’d even offer to trade Massachusetts for those counties—about the same size, geographically—which would keep us at the aesthetically-pleasing round number of 50 states (no flag redesign necessary, either)
Unfortunately the link shows counties after that traitor Heath fucked about with the historic counties, this is how they traditionally were and are still in the eyes of genuine Englishmen.
Of course, we’d have to wall off the new state of Old England from the rest of Britistan, but the distance is no greater than the average east Wyoming ranch’s boundaries, so no problems there. Hell, the locals could probably foot the bill themselves, just out of their first year’s income tax savings.
The problem would be that we would have to employ Polish bricklayers as all our yoof have been educated to expect a living from a) being a pop star. b) being a footballer c) their degree in meeja studies or d) state benefits.
What would those counties bring to the party which would make them worth the effort? Here are just a few.
1.) Bases for future airstrikes against France Frankistan. (That should be the clincher, right there.)
You are welcome to bring your own aircraft and join in but make sure that the IFF system is understood and working.
2.) Wonderful beer and some of the best pubs in the world.
You will of course have to learn to drink from a glass, proper beer is never put into bottles and locals abhor the habit of swigging from bottles like chavs , pikeys, homosexualists or londoners.
3.) A place for us Yanks to leave our guns en route if we decided to visit Londonistan.
I think you will find you will need the guns in Londonistan for there you will meet chavs , pikeys, homosexualists, londoners and worst of all, nulab supporters , and a great multitude of various nations who bring guns and violence with them as they seek refuge from violence at home.
4.) Fox hunting (which would once again be permitted, no question).
Illegal immigrants would offer a sporting alternative and are rather more numerous than foxes
5.) A new state capital, which, in keeping with our existing state capitals, would be located in the most disgusting city in the area (the locals can vote on which place qualifies). Certainly, it would not be in a beautiful city like Bath or Falmouth.
There are only, I think, a few hundred thousand locals left. We would not like the trendy second home owners, pop stars and such riffraff have a vote. We would be unanimous in our choice of Swindon as it is on the north-east extremity of the new state and furthest away from those of us who dislike government of any sort (ie a few hundred thousand of us). Swindon is not a beautiful city. Betjeman was unkind to Slough only because he had forgotten how awful Swindon was.
6.) Unfettered travel between Old England and the United States (and unfettered access for them to our job markets too).
Subject to some restrictions, you may keep Al Gore and suchlike.
7.) Two words: Wiltshire bacon.
Oh no Sir ! you go to far !, it is not to be exported to be eaten by people who hold the fork in the right hand and think pancakes breakfast food. Wiltshire bacon is to be eaten as part of a Full English Breakfast or as the filling for crusty bread sandwiches.
8.) More small-c conservatives in Old England than there are Liberal Rubbish in Massachusetts. (I’m really starting to warm to this “toss Massachusetts” idea.)
You will be confronted by familiar names here, I assure you that Chilmark and Boston and such are far different here to the ones you are used to; I was born in West Tisbury... I believe the Martha's Vinyard variant to be a bit posher than the few score of houses of the Wiltshire version.
Of course, the newly-minted U.S. citizens would have to learn to drive on the “right” (literally) side of the road, but as most of their damn country roads are single-lane affairs anyway, it shouldn’t be too difficult a change to master. Anyway, we could always replace their LH-drive Range Rovers with U.S.-made Ford Explorers and Chevy Blazers. (They would have to get used to pieces falling off after only 25,000 miles instead of after 500 miles, though. And their cars would stand much more than a 50% chance of starting every morning.)
If many of the locals here learnt to drive at all it would be good. Locals drive down the middle pretending to look at the fields over the hedge, holidaymakers take to the verge, either side, as they see fit or expedient.
They’d also have to use dollars instead of sterling, but then again, they would have had to get used to using euros anyway, sooner or later.
We used to call one of our coins a half dollar (2 shillings and sixpence in old money, 12.5 pence in new.) You colonials still refer to 'a penny' whilst our fuckwitted yoof, such as check out staff, refer to 'a one pence piece.'
Then they’d have to renounce that “allegiance to the Queen” thing, which (to their credit) may be difficult for some Bulldogs to swallow. Hmmm… maybe we could postpone the annexation until after HRH Queen Elizabeth passes away—I can’t see too many Bulldogs caring about being loyal to Green Prince Charlie. (And speaking of whom, he’d have to give up the Duchy of Cornwall: I suggest we give him, oh, Cape Cod in exchange; and serve them both right.)
As you say, I can't see much allegiance from Englishmen to that spoilt fool. I think Elizabeth may well be the last of a line. Perhaps we could make Poundbury, his twee little town into an open prison for the nulab champagne socialists and guardian readers; they would love it there. It is twee, false, pretentious and out of place in the countryside just like them
All that “title” stuff would become meaningless, of course, which may come as a wrench to some. However, the greatly-reduced tax burden should sweeten the blow.
The title stuff has become meaningless already so it would be no loss.
And of course, the new citizens of Old England could own pretty much whatever and as many guns as they wanted, without licensing. (The silencers, unfortunately, might have to go—but give us a few months to work on that one.)
Some guns may well be useful in the coming years; at one time one could rely on other people you met having a sense of values much as one's own, but no more. There is no common ground between the countryman and the heathen invaders who, until now have congregated in the cities and have been sparse in Wessex.
They’d have two Senators in Congress (I nominate The Englishman and Captain Haddock), and quite a few representatives in the House.
I do appreciate the honour of a nomination but must decline, I would not enjoy being loathed as a polititian, and have not the love of money and the desperate need to be in the spotlight required of a polititian. I imagine these characteristics would be as much a requirement if we were part of the US as they are now in Britain.
Any other issues come to mind, Readers?
His readers offer a few comments
".......annexing Lincolnshire and Norfolk.
You could also usefully add on much of Lancashire and Yorkshire"
oh no no no, I've lived in Lincolnshire, it is full of Lincolnshire folk, like Yorkies but not as modest. Yorkshiremen are best left to talk to other Yorkshiremen..... in Yorkshire...... Just think, we will be US Citizens so we can, like Yorkies, the Welsh and the Scotch, all drone on about how much better than everyone else we are.
a) This is a car driven by a harrassed parent with mewling children, buggy and assorted paraphenalia who has taken advantage of a facility provided for that purpose.
