Quote: Sandy Springs Rep. Originally Posted by Because it easily COULD be a nation of its own, and would be one of the most populous, as this article points out. Not many states can say that.



And population is nothing but a number. Look at standard of living. Brazil has more people than Belgium. Which enjoys a higher standard of living?



Coincidentally, as I write this, Lou Dobbs is doing a story on the TV about people actually fleeing California due to failing state government, economic crisis, illegal immigration, and unemployment. 135,000 residents have left the state in the past year, while over 200,000 immigrants have arrived, most of whom are illiterate, giving California the highest illiteracy rate in the nation. I quote directly from the broadcast: "The wagons are moving east." In my eyes, this basically contradicts many posts on this forum about people from the east moving to California in great numbers to escape our cold climate and dirty cities.



I know that last paragraph may sound like I'm bashing, but it was just something I happened to see on CNN as I was writing this.



Source: Every state can say it could easily be a nation of its own. Even Vermont, which has the smallest economy of U.S. states, has a GDP similar to that of Lithuania. If Lithuania can be its own nation, why can't Vermont?And population is nothing but a number. Look at standard of living. Brazil has more people than Belgium. Which enjoys a higher standard of living?Coincidentally, as I write this, Lou Dobbs is doing a story on the TV about people actually fleeing California due to failing state government, economic crisis, illegal immigration, and unemployment. 135,000 residents have left the state in the past year, while over 200,000 immigrants have arrived, most of whom are illiterate, giving California the highest illiteracy rate in the nation. I quote directly from the broadcast: "The wagons are moving east." In my eyes, this basically contradicts many posts on this forum about people from the east moving to California in great numbers to escape our cold climate and dirty cities.I know that last paragraph may sound like I'm bashing, but it was just something I happened to see on CNN as I was writing this.Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_between_U.S._states_and_countries_by_GD P_(PPP)