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  2. I Didn't Know This About Newfoundland

I Didn't Know This About Newfoundland

By mikethemadbiologist on May 8, 2010.

Newfoundland__1272660296_9717
(from here)

Occasionally, The Boston Globe isn't worthless and actually increases stuff the Mad Biologist knows. Take this piece about Newfoundland:

As recently as the 1940s, Newfoundland was a self-governing British dominion completely independent of Canada. When it became clear that Newfoundland would be better off joining a larger nation, most Newfoundlanders began looking south. They wanted to attach themselves to the United States, not Canada.

Hunh. But those damn crafty Canucks! Bastards:

Polls taken in 1947 report that 80 percent of Newfoundland's population wanted to become Americans....

So what happened? Canada played hardball. In desperation, the Canadian government orchestrated elections to ensure the outcome they wanted. The United States government, not especially interested in acquiring a new state, didn't wage a counter-campaign.

Given our shitty healthcare system, Newfoundland is probably better off....

Tags
Oh Canada!

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We can always hope that Franklin will secede from Tennesee.

Aw, nifty! We could've had another near-polar state. I wonder what it would take to get more states into the US?

But 50 is such a nice round number.

Maybe we can get Newfoundlanders to change their minds which would allow us to get rid of Texas!

Wow! American government did not rig elections in another country (this one time)

By rijkswaanvijand (not verified) on 08 May 2010 #permalink

Ummm... I'm pretty sure Labrador wasn't part of NFLD until they joined Canada. The winning strategy was telling them they'd get a cheque every month depending on how many children they had.

OK, I looked it up and I'm wrong... it was a part by then.

lol - one example means everything given the sampling error involved (think about it).

the point is that a scientist has no business overgeneralizing about normally distributed populations.

The US health care system has its problems and so does canada's, and both have their 'excellent' attributes, for you non-scientific types.

But Newfoundland still has a chance. According to the Articles of Confederation (Article XI):

Canada acceding to this confederation, and adjoining in the measures of the United States, shall be admitted into, and entitled to all the advantages of this Union; but no other colony shall be admitted into the same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine States.

So... no problem, right? :D