7 ms·

I wonder what would happen if the USA offered to pay $1,000,000 to every Greenlander if Greenland becomes part of the USA. That would be just $50B - a pretty c

by mg 9mo ago

I wonder what would happen if the USA offered to pay $1,000,000 to every Greenlander if Greenland becomes part of the USA. That would be just $50B - a pretty cheap way to increase the size of the USA by 20%.

throw8892 9mo ago
And then their children have to put up with racist Americans forever
nephihaha 9mo ago
There was a similar argument some years ago about the Falkland Islands, that every single local could be bought off by Argentina. I think most Americans are much more mobile and not used to the idea that someone could be strongly attached to an area as their home.
- cmrdporcupine 9mo ago
  Canadian perspective: it seems like many (not all) Americans are also explicitly brought up with, and heavily absorb, "greatest country in the world" rhetoric that also leaves them incapable of understanding that this is not necessarily how people outside of it see the USA. Trying to be diplomatic? I've seen a lot of really insane shit in comment sections -- and even more insane shit from public officials -- over the last year since these "topics" came up. Belief in or unconscious absorbance of the concept of "manifest destiny" and American exceptionalism seems to run deep in a portion of the American psyche. No, it's not "their" continent to take. Might doesn't make right. And it certainly doesn't make for superiority in anything but brawn and bravado. I'll also add this: the (imho encouraging) trend in the north and with the indigenous populations there has been in the opposite direction from what the Trump regime is proposing: sovereignty and autonomy for the Inuit to run their own lands. Canada carved out new Inuit administered territories, trying in some respect (and inconsistently) to rectify over a century of mis(mal?)governance and exploitation and mistreatment. From the polls I see the Inuit in Greenland want more self governance, not a new external boss.
  - nephihaha 9mo ago
    My perspective is from Scotland, and what annoys me is the vanilla press continually going to the Copenhagen government and even the Danish royal family for quotes. Greenland is a Danish colony/overseas territory (delete according to view), and I'd prefer to hear from Greenlanders. I'm sure the average Dane rarely thinks about Greenland, or didn't until recently. (Much like most British never thought about the Falkland Islands until Argentina invaded.) We had a similar scenario during the Scottish independence referendum with the international media going to London to talk about the matter. As for the Manifest Destiny thing, maybe I'm wrong here, but I'm thinking more Monroe Doctrine. Manifest Destiny was heading westward, and grabbing Greenland, or even Venezuela, seems more aimed at those who would influence them from outside the Americas.
    - cmrdporcupine 9mo ago
      Monroe Doctrine I think has always been considered to apply to Latin America. But probably mainly because the US has almost always (in the 20th century) had a subservient "partner" here in Canada. But we were invaded (twice) here in Canada (or what became Canada) by the US. The only people to have ever invaded us. And when they did so, their leaders at the time were definitely flying the Manifest Destiny rhetoric. So much so they could not even imagine why the Quebecois and others didn't just welcome them with open arms. So, no, I think it definitely applies northward too, not just westward. Or at least some of the ideological underpinnings of it.
      - nephihaha 9mo ago
        Greenland, and Canada are in the Americas, as are Venezuela and Cuba. Three of these are independent nations while one is more or less a European colony. Venezuela and Cuba have strong ties with Russia that the USA resents. Yes, I'm aware of the US attempts on Canada. I think US pop culture, and TV has done a better job of Americanising Canada than the military... Same with Europe.
        cmrdporcupine 9mo ago
- hearsathought 9mo ago
  The big difference is the falkland islands are populated by brits loyal to britain whereas Greenland is populated by greenlanders who hate denmark because the danes committed many acts of genocide against greenlanders. > I think most Americans are much more mobile and not used to the idea that someone could be strongly attached to an area as their home. You think the people in the falklands are "native" to the falkland islands?
  - nephihaha 9mo ago
    There are people who have been born and brought up in the Falkland Islands and have connections going back generations. They have been there longer than anyone else, and the islands had no previous indigenous population before France first colonised them. As to whether they are native, that is a whole other can of worms, but they are more rooted to there than people who live in continental South America. Geographically they can't claim to be British but by sympathy they are. Things were shifting in Argentina's favour until the invasion. By the way, this does apply to a certain percentage of Greenlanders. There are a few European Greenlanders, or people of recent mixed heritage so we could make similar arguments about them.
luke5441 9mo ago
Is it 1 million USD plus statehood? Or 1 million per head to become a US colony?
Grikbdl 9mo ago
> polls also consistently show that Greenlanders do not want independence if the price is the collapse of the Greenlandic welfare state. Even replacing independence with becoming part of the US - any one time payment couldn't ensure the continuation of the welfare state. That is, free healthcare, free higher education, access to social support, etc.
- JumpinJack_Cash 9mo ago
  > > Even replacing independence with becoming part of the US - any one time payment couldn't ensure the continuation of the welfare state. That is, free healthcare, free higher education, access to social support, etc. Yes if the one time payment is then invested in a big fund like Norway has, or considering the outcome that is at play here...more like California has with its CalPers Of course it means that the actual money would be invested in US companies , hence subject to expropriation of the stock And even the actual money if in dollars they can be taken away at any time
victorbjorklund 9mo ago
How much could China pay to every resident in Purto Rico to size it from the US? How much for Alaska?
- Ekaros 9mo ago
  Wyoming or Vermont at 1 million each would be sub trillion range. Seems like reasonable. Technically they could just transfer all the debt they hold to residents there and get deal done. Maybe they should try this one.
  - morkalork 9mo ago
    The thought of the USA losing a state over debt collections is rather humerous.
    - seanmcdirmid 9mo ago
      US treasuries redeemable for states rather than cash?
- nephihaha 9mo ago
  The USA does pay rent for Guantanamo Bay but Cuba refuses to accept the payment. Foreign relations are bizarre.
echoangle 9mo ago
Even if every person on Greenland wanted to join the US, could they? Isn't the Land property of every Dane, not just the people currently living there?
- xiphias2 9mo ago
  In theory Greenland is independent, but Danish government doesn't treat it as independent
  - rvnx 9mo ago
    If Greeland declares independence, Danish army would arrest all the local resisting people for terrorism, unlawful orders, etc (or shoot at them if needed). They don't have a choice, they can't split away from Denmark right now, they are like in jail. If someone tells you that Greenland can declare independence tomorrow without consequences from Denmark this is not true. They would first need to do great PR "we want freedom" and spread in the news that Denmark is evil and forgot about them, etc.
    - skdkbdjdbd 9mo ago
      You are insane
      - deleted 9mo ago
        [deleted]
    - T-A 9mo ago
      If you had read the article, you would know that In 1979, Greenland achieved Home Rule, which included the formation of the Greenlandic Parliament, and it gained self-rule in 2009 through the passage of a law that included a ‘blueprint’ for seeking independence. The 2009 law firmly established that the decision to go for independence from Denmark would now rest with the Greenlandic people. There is no doubt that the majority of Greenlanders want to use this option eventually. Polls show this. Independence has been accepted in Denmark as well. However, polls also consistently show that Greenlanders do not want independence if the price is the collapse of the Greenlandic welfare state.
wiseowise 9mo ago
Greendland People's Republic? Actually they were American all along, USA needs to save them from nazi Denmark. Grab it quick, before Russia does its usual scheme.
teemur 9mo ago
I'm too lazy, but I hope someone is less lazy and would set up a Kickstarter and collect funds to be given to every resident of US Virgin Islands once they rejoined[1] Denmark. Would happily chip in a hundred or two for a good cause. [1] Just learned that US Virgin islands are ex Danish colony US bought from Denmark about a century ago. In that agreement United States recognized Denmark's control over Greenland. Funny that.
bojan 9mo ago
They would have declined, as it's obviously a bad deal. European TV channels are interviewing Greenlanders these days asking the same question. They don't want it. Furthermore, what you are suggesting is literally a mafia practice - sell us your business/property for an unfair price or we'll take it by force anyway.
- FuckButtons 9mo ago
  I’m not sure why anyone is surprised that trump is acting like a mafia boss trying to shake down the rest of the world. This is who he has always been, the first time around there were just more people to say no to him.
T-A 9mo ago
https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idRW556309012026RP1/ https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idRW556309012026RP1/
didntknowyou 9mo ago
it would be a million times more probable that they would throw money to their friends in the military complex to take things by force, than to give money to strangers.

by mg 9mo ago

throw8892 9mo ago

And then their children have to put up with racist Americans forever

nephihaha 9mo ago

There was a similar argument some years ago about the Falkland Islands, that every single local could be bought off by Argentina. I think most Americans are much more mobile and not used to the idea that someone could be strongly attached to an area as their home.

cmrdporcupine 9mo ago
Canadian perspective: it seems like many (not all) Americans are also explicitly brought up with, and heavily absorb, "greatest country in the world" rhetoric that also leaves them incapable of understanding that this is not necessarily how people outside of it see the USA. Trying to be diplomatic? I've seen a lot of really insane shit in comment sections -- and even more insane shit from public officials -- over the last year since these "topics" came up. Belief in or unconscious absorbance of the concept of "manifest destiny" and American exceptionalism seems to run deep in a portion of the American psyche. No, it's not "their" continent to take. Might doesn't make right. And it certainly doesn't make for superiority in anything but brawn and bravado. I'll also add this: the (imho encouraging) trend in the north and with the indigenous populations there has been in the opposite direction from what the Trump regime is proposing: sovereignty and autonomy for the Inuit to run their own lands. Canada carved out new Inuit administered territories, trying in some respect (and inconsistently) to rectify over a century of mis(mal?)governance and exploitation and mistreatment. From the polls I see the Inuit in Greenland want more self governance, not a new external boss.
- nephihaha 9mo ago
  My perspective is from Scotland, and what annoys me is the vanilla press continually going to the Copenhagen government and even the Danish royal family for quotes. Greenland is a Danish colony/overseas territory (delete according to view), and I'd prefer to hear from Greenlanders. I'm sure the average Dane rarely thinks about Greenland, or didn't until recently. (Much like most British never thought about the Falkland Islands until Argentina invaded.) We had a similar scenario during the Scottish independence referendum with the international media going to London to talk about the matter. As for the Manifest Destiny thing, maybe I'm wrong here, but I'm thinking more Monroe Doctrine. Manifest Destiny was heading westward, and grabbing Greenland, or even Venezuela, seems more aimed at those who would influence them from outside the Americas.
  - cmrdporcupine 9mo ago
    Monroe Doctrine I think has always been considered to apply to Latin America. But probably mainly because the US has almost always (in the 20th century) had a subservient "partner" here in Canada. But we were invaded (twice) here in Canada (or what became Canada) by the US. The only people to have ever invaded us. And when they did so, their leaders at the time were definitely flying the Manifest Destiny rhetoric. So much so they could not even imagine why the Quebecois and others didn't just welcome them with open arms. So, no, I think it definitely applies northward too, not just westward. Or at least some of the ideological underpinnings of it.
    - nephihaha 9mo ago
      Greenland, and Canada are in the Americas, as are Venezuela and Cuba. Three of these are independent nations while one is more or less a European colony. Venezuela and Cuba have strong ties with Russia that the USA resents. Yes, I'm aware of the US attempts on Canada. I think US pop culture, and TV has done a better job of Americanising Canada than the military... Same with Europe.
      - cmrdporcupine 9mo ago
hearsathought 9mo ago
The big difference is the falkland islands are populated by brits loyal to britain whereas Greenland is populated by greenlanders who hate denmark because the danes committed many acts of genocide against greenlanders. > I think most Americans are much more mobile and not used to the idea that someone could be strongly attached to an area as their home. You think the people in the falklands are "native" to the falkland islands?
- nephihaha 9mo ago
  There are people who have been born and brought up in the Falkland Islands and have connections going back generations. They have been there longer than anyone else, and the islands had no previous indigenous population before France first colonised them. As to whether they are native, that is a whole other can of worms, but they are more rooted to there than people who live in continental South America. Geographically they can't claim to be British but by sympathy they are. Things were shifting in Argentina's favour until the invasion. By the way, this does apply to a certain percentage of Greenlanders. There are a few European Greenlanders, or people of recent mixed heritage so we could make similar arguments about them.

luke5441 9mo ago

Is it 1 million USD plus statehood? Or 1 million per head to become a US colony?

Grikbdl 9mo ago

> polls also consistently show that Greenlanders do not want independence if the price is the collapse of the Greenlandic welfare state. Even replacing independence with becoming part of the US - any one time payment couldn't ensure the continuation of the welfare state. That is, free healthcare, free higher education, access to social support, etc.

JumpinJack_Cash 9mo ago
> > Even replacing independence with becoming part of the US - any one time payment couldn't ensure the continuation of the welfare state. That is, free healthcare, free higher education, access to social support, etc. Yes if the one time payment is then invested in a big fund like Norway has, or considering the outcome that is at play here...more like California has with its CalPers Of course it means that the actual money would be invested in US companies , hence subject to expropriation of the stock And even the actual money if in dollars they can be taken away at any time

victorbjorklund 9mo ago

How much could China pay to every resident in Purto Rico to size it from the US? How much for Alaska?

Ekaros 9mo ago
Wyoming or Vermont at 1 million each would be sub trillion range. Seems like reasonable. Technically they could just transfer all the debt they hold to residents there and get deal done. Maybe they should try this one.
- morkalork 9mo ago
  The thought of the USA losing a state over debt collections is rather humerous.
  - seanmcdirmid 9mo ago
    US treasuries redeemable for states rather than cash?
nephihaha 9mo ago
The USA does pay rent for Guantanamo Bay but Cuba refuses to accept the payment. Foreign relations are bizarre.

echoangle 9mo ago

Even if every person on Greenland wanted to join the US, could they? Isn't the Land property of every Dane, not just the people currently living there?

xiphias2 9mo ago
In theory Greenland is independent, but Danish government doesn't treat it as independent
- rvnx 9mo ago
  If Greeland declares independence, Danish army would arrest all the local resisting people for terrorism, unlawful orders, etc (or shoot at them if needed). They don't have a choice, they can't split away from Denmark right now, they are like in jail. If someone tells you that Greenland can declare independence tomorrow without consequences from Denmark this is not true. They would first need to do great PR "we want freedom" and spread in the news that Denmark is evil and forgot about them, etc.
  - skdkbdjdbd 9mo ago
    You are insane
    - deleted 9mo ago
      [deleted]
  - T-A 9mo ago
    If you had read the article, you would know that In 1979, Greenland achieved Home Rule, which included the formation of the Greenlandic Parliament, and it gained self-rule in 2009 through the passage of a law that included a ‘blueprint’ for seeking independence. The 2009 law firmly established that the decision to go for independence from Denmark would now rest with the Greenlandic people. There is no doubt that the majority of Greenlanders want to use this option eventually. Polls show this. Independence has been accepted in Denmark as well. However, polls also consistently show that Greenlanders do not want independence if the price is the collapse of the Greenlandic welfare state.

wiseowise 9mo ago

Greendland People's Republic? Actually they were American all along, USA needs to save them from nazi Denmark. Grab it quick, before Russia does its usual scheme.

teemur 9mo ago

I'm too lazy, but I hope someone is less lazy and would set up a Kickstarter and collect funds to be given to every resident of US Virgin Islands once they rejoined[1] Denmark. Would happily chip in a hundred or two for a good cause. [1] Just learned that US Virgin islands are ex Danish colony US bought from Denmark about a century ago. In that agreement United States recognized Denmark's control over Greenland. Funny that.

bojan 9mo ago

They would have declined, as it's obviously a bad deal. European TV channels are interviewing Greenlanders these days asking the same question. They don't want it. Furthermore, what you are suggesting is literally a mafia practice - sell us your business/property for an unfair price or we'll take it by force anyway.

FuckButtons 9mo ago
I’m not sure why anyone is surprised that trump is acting like a mafia boss trying to shake down the rest of the world. This is who he has always been, the first time around there were just more people to say no to him.

T-A 9mo ago

https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idRW556309012026RP1/ https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idRW556309012026RP1/

didntknowyou 9mo ago

it would be a million times more probable that they would throw money to their friends in the military complex to take things by force, than to give money to strangers.