The Complicated Relationships of the American States

[MysticDevice]

Before the Civil War of 1861-1865 people would say "The United States are.". After the war they would say "The United States Is." This was to make the US appear as a more unified, more singular entity. But don't let that fool you. America is huge. The states are big enough to be their own countries. Some of them even were at one point.

Driving between states is like driving between countries. Each state is essentially self-governing under the watchful eye of Uncle Sam. As such there is a LOT of room for both close ties and animosity.

The Toledo War of 1835. Ohio and Michigan couldn't agree on where the border between them was supposed to be. Militias from each state were called up and confronted each other resulting in a few shots being fired, no deaths, and one person being injured.

In 2023, the biggest state rivalry is that of Texas and California. Existing on opposite sides of the political and economic spectrum the mutual dislike is obvious. To the Texans, California is a Chinese style communist dictatorship. To the Californians, Texas is an untamed wild west heap of Ten Gallon Hat wearin' gun totin, angry "we need more prayer in school" republicans. California has, objectively, insanely high taxes and regulations. Texas has no personal income tax and very relaxed regulations. Texas and California simply do not like each other at all.

Oh jeez, aw shucks, it's da Midwest. The land of beer, cheese, Football, and more beer. Hierarchy in the Midwest is determined by one of two ways: NFL Superbowl wins, and alcohol consumption. By both metrics Wisconsin is the reigning champion of both. With the Greenbay Packers holding 4 Superbowl wins (including the very first one of 1967 where they beat Kansas City 35 to 10), The Chicago Bears with 1, The Minnesota Vikings with Zero and the Detroit Lions with zero and never even competing in a Superbowl.

The midwest was primarily settled by Germans so beer is a holy object of worship. In that regard Wisconsin outshines it's neighbors once again with 12 of the nation's 20 drunkest cities within it's borders.

Wisconsinites love Minnesota, Minnesota hates Wisconsinsites, Wisconsinites and Minnesotans hate Illinois, Missouri and Indiana hate Illinois, Illinois hates Illinois, and Iowa. Iowa is Iowa. Oh yeah, Michigan and Ohio are still there too. Overshadowed by the noise coming from Green Bay, Chicago, and Minneapolis.

Then we have the City folks and the Country folks. Hoooooo boy. With City dwellers primarily liberal and country folks primarily conservative the mutual animosity can be seen from space. Almost literally.

The rural area controls all the food production and, lets face it, all of the privately owned weapons. The City folks control the logistics, distribution, financial, and power generation. City and Rural people need each other and its up to the Sub-Urban people to facilitate a functioning society. When they're not busy watching Football and having cook-outs in the driveway.

Alaska. Alaskans are too busy not freezing to death and not starving to death to care about what happens in the Lower 48. You want to go tell an Alaskan what to do? Feel free to go up there and tell them. If you even make it there... alive...

The American West is still Wild and West. With so few people and so much space you could and can go days without seeing another human. Or signs that humanity ever existed at all. As such, as far as I know, These States all get along. Lets face it, the time it takes you to get from one state capital to another, you'd forget why you were upset in the first place.

Hawai'i. Too busy surfing, watching for sharks, dealing with hurricanes and Aliens to worry about what the rest of us are doing.

That is all.

[m33ladEmjay]

I moved from Asia to Texas.. I went from dating a few girls (Which were average or good-looking girls in Asia) to different girls at least each month.

To ZERO DATES in Texas.

U. S and Canada is the worst place in the world for any man with standards to date. Outside of LA, Miami, NYC most guys are out of of shape or huge, with 19 kids and blue hair. Thats my option? When in the east I can date skinny girls without k1lling myself. And most of them have low body counts and no kids.

[m33ladEmjay]

most girls are are out of shape or huge***

[AnusNdaPainus]

Most Americans are fat as hell to be fair

[m33ladEmjay]

@AnusNdaPainus yah but I do think a lot of guys are into big girls or else they wouldn't look like that.

[strateguy632]

self governing? no way! they can make local laws but submit to federal laws, because/ever since joining the union. and no "border" in contrast to Canada. i wish i could say the same for texas with mexico. ouch.

[MysticDevice]

"Under the watchful eye of Uncle Sam" was easier to say than actually explaining the entire system of state vs federal governance.

[Anonymous]

That's what amazes me about living in America. Every city and state are practically different countries to each other in terms of culture, climate and food.

[AnusNdaPainus]

More like tribes than countries

[jaskin777]

Damn I never knew that

[exitseven]

The northeast is turning into a liberal cesspool. It is spreading through the region like a disease. Maine and New Hampshire used to be very conservative. Now both are turning blue. I never thought I would ever see tent cities in Maine but here we are. Southern New Hampshire has the same crime they have in northern Massachusetts. It is too bad.

[lightbulb27]

Im glad you didn't use the buckeys name in vein or there's be hell to pay


You know what holds it all together? Taco bell.

[RavVid]

Amusing - thanks