[Swansen]

OK, title pretty much says it all, but really, most people in the LP talk garbage about the people in the UP and vise versa. The LP has supported the UP for a good while now, and things are starting to turn the other way since MI's economy has left. Just with those few points, its clear that even though we are the same state, we are EXTREMELY different in almost every regard. Having our economies conjoined puts an unneeded strain on both of us, i think only positive things would come of us being separated. Thoughts?

[Bydand]

I don't hear anybody talk garbage about the UP, who you been talking to? When I lived in the UP I heard more smack talk about the LP than the other way around.

I don't think it is a good idea, plus it has only been talked about for decades with nothing more than lip service whenever economy turns one way or the other. Just another "what-if" question that is unproductive and will never happen.

[michmoldman]

I have never heard of bad talking about the UP in all my years. Everyone I know loves the U.P! I would think any U.Pers talking bad is because of all the tourists coming up to visit, but even then... people from LP or outsiders, do come up there and spend money.

[mhouse2001]

The new state of "Superior" would be pique the curiosity of travelers for a while but its economy would not be able to support itself even with the short-lived bump in tourism. I don't think there's enough industry and population to support so vast an area. Geographically, it makes sense to split the state in two. There really are two different cultures and the UP does feel isolated from everything else. The connection to Wisconsin is more immediate than to Lansing, I mean, don't they root for the Packers and Vikings instead of the Lions? If there is a division, I'm sure Wisconsin would love the extra land and resources. It would make WI the biggest state east of the Mississippi, surpassing GA which only barely surpasses Michigan now.

[alliteration]

I still don't understand why just because there are differences between the two that means that they can't be the same state. Norcal and Socal are both very different, yet are still in one state and I've never heard any talk of succession there. Not all states are or have to be homogenous to be considered a state. Thats not how or why they were created anyhow.

[mhouse2001]

I think there should be some unifying feature to define a state. Our current political boundaries were created as lines across a landscape before we really established ourselves. They didn't acknowledge economic realities or social disparities.

I'd love to devote some time to dividing up a map of the US into new states, ones that have the best chance for success by having the right amount of population and resources. Perhaps that's another thread...

FYI: I lived in the UP and I love it. Lake Superior is like an ocean with big waves and storms. It's all good. But it's really just Wisconsin North with almost no discernible connection to Detroit, Ann Arbor, or Lansing.

[Driller1]

That would be a silly thing for the UP to do. IMO, one the the biggest employers in the UP is the State of Michigan. What would they do if Michigan closed the prisons up there??

[timeofseasons]

Originally Posted by Swansen

OK, title pretty much says it all, but really, most people in the LP talk garbage about the people in the UP and vise versa. The LP has supported the UP for a good while now, and things are starting to turn the other way since MI's economy has left. Just with those few points, its clear that even though we are the same state, we are EXTREMELY different in almost every regard. Having our economies conjoined puts an unneeded strain on both of us, i think only positive things would come of us being separated. Thoughts?

No, UP and LP should both be apart of Michigan.

[jeeg]

I would vote for the split. It doesn't make sense to have Lansing & Detriot deciding what's best for us when most of them have never even been here.

Originally Posted by Driller1

What would they do if Michigan closed the prisons up there??

Continue operating some of them. There's only roughly 260,000 residents in the entire U.P. many of whom are semi-retired. How much industry do we need? We don't have all of the paved roads and such that other places have. For example there's really only two ways to get from one end of the U.P. to the other. Not much to take care of in comparison to down state.

We have the mines, the schools, the prisons, the hospitals, and tourism. There are other various manufacturing sectors that exist here.

But NO, I don't think it'll ever happen.

Anyhow my wife and I certainly got a lot of trash talk about the residents here when we announced our plans to move up here (they're backwards, uneducated, extremely depressed, very unfriendly, blah blah, blah). It's been so funny to see various family members reactions (these are well educated people, my MIL teaches at WMU). My mom was amazed that the roads were paved all the way up here (guess she thought she would be driving through hundreds of miles of wilderness with no sign of mankind). My in-laws were amazed that Marquette had so many stores and restaurants they recognized. Everyone is amazed we even have a Pier 1 here!
We love all the friendly warm people we've found up here

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by alliteration

Norcal and Socal are both very different, yet are still in one state and I've never heard any talk of succession there.

I grew up in San Diego and still have several family members in CA. I've certainly heard talk of a split especially lately (no that won't get anywhere either). Do a search on the CA forums here, I know I've read about it here too.
The problem was no one could agree (even in fun) where to split it. Santa Maria? Salinas? Even Santa Rosa?? I believe someone from eastern CA even voted for divding CA along the San Andreas fault since it may happen anyways