To hope that if Britain leaves the Eu so we can become the 51st State.

[GreenTeaMummy]

I love American culture so much and would love to be American, I visit every year and have lots of family who live in America.

I was thinking that since we can't be alone in the world (for various reasons) we would have to join the U.S.

Aibu to think we should have a second referendum to join America.

No. A million times no. For all the many good reasons given above by pp's who also disagree with the OP.

Sorry but I couldn't think of anything worse, I can't stand America. I love being in the EU.

You can buy properly good cheese in the US if you know where to look Apart from that I would be very averse to things like chocolate, health care, TV etc.

And anyway there was a fairly acrimonious divorce in 1781 which might not be unimportant. What'd be her maj's place in the new state?

There is lots I love about America. It's given the world Mark Twain (and a million other writers), cheeseburgers, Bill Hicks, jeans, motown, rock n roll......I could go on.

Just can't get my head around the OP's thinking.

Good lord! why?

Having lived in the USA, I would say NO WAY! For all the reasons posters have stated upthread, and now because as of January this year, it is no longer the world's biggest economy since China overtook it. We don't HAVE to stay in the EU (although I think we would be better off) as long as we maintain strong trading links, but as long as we are closer to Europe we are better off. We have so much less in common with the US than we think we do.

Tony Blair behaved as if we were the 51st state, and look where that got us.

Some of these comments are veering off into pure nastiness. You all do know that there are quite a few Americans on MN, don't you?

Oh, and we do have culture. And quite a bit of it is based on the culture of the nation that colonized us.

Nope. Don't want my husband and son to be shot when out walking while black.

Some of you have really made me chuckle. Especially re: spelling.

Seneca don't take it personally. For the most part it's the government/laws we take umbrage with. As for culture, British culture has evolved greatly since the 1700s, on a very different path to the U.S.

Put any nastiness down to residual bitterness thay you gained independence unfortunately, threads like these are bound to descend into America bashing but I guarantee you we could equally fill a thread with things we hate about the UK. This is all just in direct response to the OP.

I'd be really interested to read the book a pp mentioned about this scenario!

SenecaFalls, I agree completely. It's utterly ignorant to suggest that the US has no culture. Just think what it has given the world in terms of literature, music, fashion, TV, film, journalism, education, modern art, cuisine, I could go on and on.

However, I think the batshit nature of the original post has framed the debate for the worst.

It's colonised

The idea we pay for petrol before filling our cars because of drive by shootings may well be the funniest thing I've read on here in ages!

LikeaBadSethRogenMovie The idea we pay for petrol before filling our cars because of drive by shootings may well be the funniest thing I've read on here in ages!

The idea that a brief mention of such a thing is mistaken for thinking all Americans pay for their petrol because of drive by shootings is one of the dumbest things I've read on here in ages!

It happened in a rural town in the middle of a mountain range on the west coast, in Washington State, the equivalent of which would have been in the Italian Alps or Switzerland or similar. And it was such a surprise to have to do that in such a setting. We did as why they had that policy and were told it was because of gun crime at local petrol stations. No-one was laughing, I don't think the people working there found it funny at all.

*ask why.

Wow some of the comments on here are hilarious.

I have to say my favourite comments on American bashing threads are about geography. One gets just as inane questions in the UK as an American as a Brit gets in the states.

But seriously, why would the US want the UK as the 51st state? And why would the UK want to join up? It's just wrong on so many levels.

You need to separate repudiating the silly OP from feelings about the US in general and from Americans as individuals. Some of my closest friends live in the US. They are sharp, funny and compassionate.

The U.S is too heterogeneous a place for 'feelings about it in general' to have much validity. The America I've personally experienced has been largely one of liberal rationalists. Still doesn't mean I would want us to become the 51st state!

Americans love the British.

Yeah, not reciprocated though is it!
I think this has to be the scariest Op I have ever read on Mn!!

why would the US want the UK as the 51st state?

Well, I assume that your electoral votes would be for the Democratic Party rather than the Republicans so I would welcome you for that alone.

I adore America, despite its recent path towards socialism under Obama. I am sad to say it is a more perfect democracy than Britain.

We could learn much from our cousins over the pond, in particular, the entrepreneurial attitude, the just-do-it culture, and the excellence in cutting edge research.

Of course there are some things they do awfully, including big public infrastructure. And the midwest/Boston/NY American accents do grate somewhat (though I do like the Texas drawl). But all those are forgivable sins.

Socialism? Are you having a laugh?? Or have you been watching Fox News?

Obama is a socialist.

He famously wants to 'spread the wealth around'

As I suspected, Fox News.

Redistribution of wealth through taxation and other means has been part of the US economic system for a very long time; it's a long way from socialism and, to my mind, has not gone far enough. Obama is not a socialist, unless maybe you also think David Cameron is a socialist.