OT: And now for something completely different. The Upper Peninsula
Before the recent debacle, a debate of interest was discussed in my area.
I work with a guy who lived in the U.P. for many years, and he mentioned that there is still talk (how much I don't know, but he made it out to be something more than just a few people) that many up there still want to make the U.P. an entirely different state from Michigan.
I remember this being talked about as a kid, but I didn't realize it was still a topic up there (or down here, apparently).
So... Funny question for you guys (and especially any of you who live up there): would you want the U.P. to become its own state?
It would be a very poor state money-wise.
Not if it scheduled its presidential primary elections in January. Watch the federal subsidies flow. Flow, my pretties.
We’d have to name it North Virginia. Or Northeast Dakota
I drove up to Michigan Tech for a college hockey weekend a few years ago and had so much fun. Proud to call our strange attic dwellers family.
Calling us “strange attic dwellers” really scores a lot of points with us.
Get back to me when you stop calling us trolls and until then let’s have some fun. ????
We call you more than “trolls”.
I'm guessing that there was beer!
Double post.
For all the years I lived in Michigan, I really havent spent time up there other than a day trip to Tahquamenon Falls from Mackinaw. You guys can be your own state if you want, just as long as you let this troll come visit sometime
No, because Michigan might have to get Toledo.
No, I like that Michigan has the U.P. It makes us unique.
I live in the UP and Yes I think it should become the 51st state
I've lived in Michigan for my entire life, and the last time I was in the UP was when I was a small child, probably around 1959 or so.
I'd rather drive 24 hours to Colorado than 4 hours to St. Ignace.
b.c. or a.d.?
Thinking St Ignace represents the UP...yeah we'd prefer you went to Colorado as well.
It’s changed a bit since then. For one, the roads are paved.
Colorado is closed.
Too many Californians have fucked it up for everyone else.
The only way da yoop could be a state is with westward expansion. Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota would be absorbed. Duluth would be the capital. The great mining state of Superior would be formed.
Marquette’s got to be the capital. UPers already refer to it that way.
Regarding problems in urban vs rural areas, there may be more problems in rural areas than most are aware of. About 20 years ago, one of my students was the sherrif of a rural county in Oklahoma (total county population fewer than 50,000, largest city population about 10,000). I asked him after class one day what the biggest problem was that he had to deal with, and he said meth--not just the production and sales, but also all the other crimes driven by the addictions.I'm not sure if the problem is the same across the country or just like it was 20 years ago, but being lightly populated is no guarantee of peace and safety.
A state just can't become its own state. And we don't need more anyway, as least as long as the senate remains as is. The system is already broken because states like North Dakota and Nebraska, which have about 12 citizens between them, gets as many senators as California or New York.
Have never lived in the U.P. but it would seem if they wanted to leave Michigan they might prefer to go to Wisconsin instead. Seems kind of crazy to me.
Oh no, they don’t identify with Wisconsin at all. Some will cheer for the Packers but that’s as far as it goes. (Otherwise they cheer for Detroit/Michigan teams.)
What? We identify closer to people from Wisconsin than trolls any day (I’m not talking sports). The fact you called yoopers “they” confirms you have no basis for your explanation.
I say “they” because I personally live below the bridge ... but I have a lot of family in the Copper Country and they would never identify with Wisconsin.
they can take our lives, but they can never take our freedom!
I lived in the copper country for 4 years. That’s an entirely different world up there. They don’t identify with anyone but themselves.
Talked to an old timer from Laurium. Told me he'd never been below the bridge. I said eh you're not missing much down state anyways.
He said he meant the Houghton-Hancock bridge.
so few people will get what you wrote. classic.
March 23rd, 2020 at 12:13 PM ^
I believe it 100%.
I personally know at least a few people in the Western UP that cheer for the Brewers.
I have family in the U.P. People will grumble sometimes about being neglected by the state government and say “It’d be different if we were our own state” - but most aren’t very serious about that. It would be the smallest state by population and quite poor overall. Also, a lot of people (like my relatives) have family ties to the Lower Peninsula.
the UP doesn’t have enough of a tax base to make it as a state.
also, its population of 200-250K is less than half of that of Wyoming & VT. No way will Congress allow that few people to become a state & have 1 Rep + 2 senators.
Sometimes the talk is that it forms a state with Northern WI. But I doubt that even that will increase the population into the 600k range of our 2 smallest states.
Include the U.P., the northern lower peninsula, and all the farmland in the lower as a new state.
Not before the Dakota’s merge into one state.
Puerto Rico should be in line ahead of the UP.
DC should too.
Don't live there but my kid goes to school there. The UP is fine where it is. And it couldn't support itself economically if they separated.
U.P. residents would no longer get in-state tuition to Michigan. That, to me, ends the argument.
it should join wisconsin, they talk the same funny way
I lived in the UP for a good few of my formative years (Kinross). I would seriously consider living there now if the Mrs wasn't a born and bred Okie with snow aversion syndrom. I vacation every year in Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park and love the outdoors and feel of the small community. As to statehood, not sure it's a good idea, but....shrug....
March 22nd, 2020 at 11:58 PM ^
My dad grew up there and I have close family in Curtis and Newberry but haven't, regrettably, been there in many years. The UP is a vast wilderness of amazingly beautiful nature and has a special place in my heart but I think it would not survive as its own state. Just not enough cash inflow -- people, industry, tourism. It should remain the upper peninsula of Michigan, IMHO.
March 23rd, 2020 at 12:40 AM ^
No I wouldn't.
I believe the UP as a State would instantly become one of the poorest states in the union. They shouldn't want it either.
March 23rd, 2020 at 12:40 AM ^
I’m from there but haven’t lived there in 20 years. The U.P. Doesn’t have enough business or people / tax base to be a state. And I don’t think it’s citizens want to be a separate state.
They also seem to be the last place on earth without Covid-19