posted on Mar, 26 2012 @ 04:45 PM
reply to post by petrus4
This is nothing more than a thought experiment. There's no reason for anyone to get upset about it or take it seriously. The people of a place have
to petition to become a state, first of all. A good example is Puerto Rico, which has been a US territory since 1898, ceded by Spain to the US after
the Spanish American War. Since 1951 it has been a "Commonwealth." Statehood has been proposed many times for Puerto Rico and each time, the US has
said that the decision remains with the residents whether it wants to remain as it is, become completely independent, or become a state. No one has
forced them to either path. There are some residents who very much want statehood and some who very much want independence.
Just on that basis alone, without bringing up issues of history and geography, Australia will not become, nor want to become a state. The only reason
to bring the issue up is to enflame nationalistic rhetoric, which is unnecessary.