41–50 of 165 posts
The author compares Greenland to Puerto Rico, seeming to make the assumption that if somebody made a good offer, America would happily sell Puerto Rico. Can any other Americans speak to the truth of this? It seems absurd to me that a country would happily sell off a territory and make a whole bunch of citizens non-citizens just for the financial benefit. Are Puerto Ricans not Americans? Do americans really view Puert…
The author compares Greenland to Puerto Rico, seeming to make the assumption that if somebody made a good offer, America would happily sell Puerto Rico. Can any other Americans speak to the truth of this? It seems absurd to me that a country would happily sell off a territory and make a whole bunch of citizens non-citizens just for the financial benefit. Are Puerto Ricans not Americans? Do americans really view Puert…
If they want out I'm sure they could have out.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So far Greenland is a relatively poor and miserable place, with a population of only 56,674. Comparatively, Alaska offers a much better role model for arctic governance.
Alaska is much warmer. Only a few sheltered coastal bays on Greenland can sustain any trees at all. Meanwhile, Sitka and Ketchikan often enjoy snowless winters. This is due, I believe, to the Aleutian ridge blocking the transport of cold water from the Arctic (contrast with the Labrador current).
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah. As much as I respect gwern, I think here they’re underestimating the importance of the human aspects like national pride.
Especially following WWII, in which Denmark offered no resistance.
I heard that some Danes are proud of having the largest country in Europe. Selling Greenland would certainly change that. But as I am not a Dane myself, take it with a grain of salt (and it might not be true either, depending on how you measure other countries e.g. Russia).
I’m sorry to be the classic HN “but wait” guy, but wait: technically isn’t Greenland in America? The tectonic plate separating North America from Europe goes right through Iceland (the only place the Mid-Atlantic ridge is above water), making Iceland a “country on two continents”. If a European country can count off-continent lands in its “biggest country” argument, don’t all overseas territories get that considerati…
The author compares Greenland to Puerto Rico, seeming to make the assumption that if somebody made a good offer, America would happily sell Puerto Rico. Can any other Americans speak to the truth of this? It seems absurd to me that a country would happily sell off a territory and make a whole bunch of citizens non-citizens just for the financial benefit. Are Puerto Ricans not Americans? Do americans really view Puert…
Well... sort of? The short answer is yes, of course they are. But I don't think they quite view themselves as the same as other US citizens exactly. Both US and Puerto Rican courts have repeatedly recognized Puerto Rican citizenship as distinct from US Citizenship, as does the EU. Spain, for an example, allows Puerto Rican citizens to become Spanish citizens after living in Spain only two years (as opposed to ten years for other US citizens). The CIA World Fact Book defines the people of Puerto Rico as "Puerto Rican (US Citizenship)", as opposed to the entry for the US which defines the people as "American".
Considering that statehood movements in Puerto Rico have historically been dismal, I suspect they like to be straddling the line of being "American".
I'm not sure who would find financial or other benefit from acquiring Puerto Rico from the US, and independence votes there have been even more unpopular than statehood votes. So I don't think they'll be separating from the US any time soon. But after much rhetoric from Trump and other Republican politicians, I'm sure there are plenty of right wing folks that would delight in seeing them go.
I heard that some Danes are proud of having the largest country in Europe. Selling Greenland would certainly change that. But as I am not a Dane myself, take it with a grain of salt (and it might not be true either, depending on how you measure other countries e.g. Russia).
I’m sorry to be the classic HN “but wait” guy, but wait: technically isn’t Greenland in America? The tectonic plate separating North America from Europe goes right through Iceland (the only place the Mid-Atlantic ridge is above water), making Iceland a “country on two continents”. If a European country can count off-continent lands in its “biggest country” argument, don’t all overseas territories get that considerati…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Buying and selling of large territories between countries has been very common throughout history, so a blanket statement like this doesn't hold much weight. Much of the United States was bought rather than conquered, and China is doing the same today.
China is doing the same today? How so?
I think, in hindsight, it will turn out to have been an exceptionally good call to retain Greenland. They have an interesting setup - there is no land ownership other than by the state, and you can only get permission to build by winning a lottery. There are minor exceptions for building small hunting cabins in the fjords, but this is negligible. The reason is to prevent private ownership from hindering possible oppo…