[SOC] Re: [Sidebar] OZ RuleZ

[JMcAulay]

At 06:24 PM 05/24/2004 +0100, Chris G4PDJ wrote, mostly:
>
>I heard an interesting BBC radio programme last night called "what if",
>which speculated on what would have happened if the rebels had lost the War
>of Independance (which was at times a close-run thing)..
>
>Although it concluded that separation from the UK could probably only have
>been delayed - not prevented, it worked out that the only tangible results
>of a 'British' US would be:
>
>No bankrupt France, so no french revolution (so no statue of liberty)
>
>The early abolition of slavery
>
>Yet another bloody cricket team to stuff us up a thin pipe this coming
>summer :-)
>


I wonder about the Louisiana Purchase, the best bargain in Real Estate
ever.  Thomas Jefferdon's decision to buy Louisiana from Napoleon sort of
doubled the area of the US in an afternoon.  Of course the USA didn't have
that kind of money, so it was borrowed from some British Banks (at least
the banks liked us in 1804).  Not a good thing if that buy hadn't been
made: Elvis Presley singing French -- imagine Elvis trying to sound like
Edith Piaf; Lewis and Clark's trip to Oregon would've been a bust, so
Sacajawea wouldn't be on the dollar coin; Mark Twain might've become an
Apache dancer; Andrew Jackson's forces would not have fought the British at
New Orleans (after the war was over, dang those slow heliograph messages),
thus Jackson likely would not have become President; and lots of other
scary stuff.  Maybe the only thing that wouldn't be different is Pete
Fountain.  Nice Clarinet, Pete.

Think about it.

73
John  WA6QPL  SOC 263