h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One might wonder what the US would look like today if they hadn't annexed Texas.

Side note, I just got a new neighbour in the office as they dumped big plants on half the office cupboard. Finally someone I can talk to...

Without Texas (or taxes), JFK might have lived, space exploration would have been different ('Baton Rouge, we have a problem' feels less urgent), politics would probably shift towards democrat.

Just looking into it, it appears that it wasn't just about Texas. They also bought the whole West Coast in the process, so no Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson and Nixon. (The list is shorter than I expected).

A good summation, there. Yes, the whole Southwest and California were involved. As to the aftermath, look up Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

I read about that treaty. I wonder if the offer still stands at that price... If all the Dutch put in one dollar, we could buy the Southwest off you. That would make the highest point in the new Netherlands about five times higher than is currently the case (more than ten times if you discount overseas territory)

That might be interesting. And Mexico might appreciate a new neighbour.

I guess overhauling the political system would be too much of a problem. In three weeks time we have general elections here, with a choice from 16 parties. Three or four are polling similar numbers. The previous cabinet consisted of ministers from four different parties.

Another problem: Buying the Southwest would have us original Dutch greatly outnumbered, which could be a problem when the next elections come round. Even our most right wing parties would probably count as moderate republican to American standards...

True. On the other hand, if you got Colorado we would be rid of Lauren Boebert.

My point exactly for why we shouldn't do that kind of stuff. On the other hand, it would be nice to have a truly rectangular province that is higher than the Netherlands in its entirety. (in case the sea levels rise higher than expected)

Just found out that there is actually a Nederland, Colorado... (close to Boulder)

If you look at a US map long enough you're likely to find anything in the place names.

I know. All of my family members have at least one lake with their first name.

You can calibrate your Square tool at the four corners monument.

Well, they had to call where they put the cabin something. Some of them - especially the refugees up in the eastern mountains - learned the local language enough to use that. Everybody else just made something up, or used old place names somebody remembered from somewhere, or saw in a book....

Which is why we have so many Spartas and Athenses and Troys.