Should Delaware annex Southern New Jersey? (Wilmington, Dover: how much, tax, live in)

[muppethammer26]

Delaware has one of the smallest populations in the US and Delaware is the 2nd smallest state in the US so I think it makes more sense for Southern New Jersey to become part of Delaware rather than Pennsylvania. That will increase population from only 897,934 people to about 3,319,975 people. Maybe Delaware could also take over Philadelphia County and Delaware County from PA as well. That will increase population even more to 5,404,960 people. I think Delaware should not be part of Maryland and instead have Delaware take over Southern NJ.

[nuts2uiam]

In post #8 I asked what the benefit to DE would be and so far I haven't heard one reason it makes any sense.

[Unsettomati]

Originally Posted by muppethammer26

Delaware has one of the smallest populations in the US and Delaware is the 2nd smallest state in the US so I think it makes more sense for Southern New Jersey to become part of Delaware rather than Pennsylvania. That will increase population from only 897,934 people to about 3,319,975 people. Maybe Delaware could also take over Philadelphia County and Delaware County from PA as well. That will increase population even more to 5,404,960 people. I think Delaware should not be part of Maryland and instead have Delaware take over Southern NJ.

Your question is like asking: "What if Ukraine annexed Russia?"

Here's a hint - when a (proposed) state of more than 3.3 million people and a state of less than 900k join, it's not the smaller state that's doing the annexing. Jersey voters would make up 79% of the electorate of the new state. Jersey's politics and economy and culture would dominate. Regardless of what you call the new entity, southern New Jersey would not become 'part of Delaware'. Rather, Delaware would become a strange extension of (the new state of) South Jersey.

That's not a debatable point - it's just math.

[muppethammer26]

Originally Posted by Unsettomati

Your question is like asking: "What if Ukraine annexed Russia?"

Here's a hint - when a (proposed) state of more than 3.3 million people and a state of less than 900k join, it's not the smaller state that's doing the annexing. Jersey voters would make up 79% of the electorate of the new state. Jersey's politics and economy and culture would dominate. Regardless of what you call the new entity, southern New Jersey would not become 'part of Delaware'. Rather, Delaware would become a strange extension of (the new state of) South Jersey.

That's not a debatable point - it's just math.

How could Jersey's politics, economy and culture would dominate? Trenton would no longer be the capital for the lower 8 counties. Instead Dover would be a new capital for the lower 8 counties of NJ (soon to be called the upper 8 counties of DE). The culture would become Delaware's culture. The economy of SNJ would become part of Delaware's economy. The politics of SNJ would be Delaware's politics as well. Cities such as Atlantic City would no longer listen to what Trenton does. Instead, they would listen to what Dover does.

If Delaware became part of the new state of South Jersey or Southern New Jersey became part of Delaware, I would still call the state Delaware because it has the Delaware Bay in the middle and there is already a New Jersey in the US. I would rather call the new expanded state Delaware rather than South Jersey. South Jersey sounds weird to me. Delaware sounds better. If Southern New Jersey ever left New Jersey, it would more likely become part of Delaware rather than a new state and the state would still mostly likely be called Delaware.

Atlantic City, SJ, Wilmington, SJ and Dover, SJ sounds awkward to me. Atlantic City, DE, Wilmington, DE and Dover, DE sounds better to me.

[nuts2uiam]

Originally Posted by nuts2uiam

In post #8 I asked what the benefit to DE would be and so far I haven't heard one reason it makes any sense.

CRICKETS. CHIRP, CHIRP.

I will assume that you agree there is no benefit to DE. or else you would have responded to my question. If you think about it, that's pretty funny, even you, who proposes it, can't give a single good reason for it for DE. Well, I guess there goes this thread.

[Kristin730]

Originally Posted by muppethammer26

Delaware has one of the smallest populations in the US and Delaware is the 2nd smallest state in the US so I think it makes more sense for Southern New Jersey to become part of Delaware rather than Pennsylvania. That will increase population from only 897,934 people to about 3,319,975 people. Maybe Delaware could also take over Philadelphia County and Delaware County from PA as well. That will increase population even more to 5,404,960 people. I think Delaware should not be part of Maryland and instead have Delaware take over Southern NJ.

Again, one of the best parts about Delaware is its small population. I don't think anyone here WANTS it to quadruple.

[huntinFF72]

I'm trying to selling New Castle to NJ or PA!

[DelawareLiz]

I like that idea, huntin

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by beachliz

I like that idea, huntin

I'll help.

[DelawareLiz]

rdlr--