Our beloved New England is filled with scenic coastlines, lobster pots and clam shacks, Green Mountains, White Mountains, and a long river valley filled with Yankees who take their long winters as a point of pride. We have history and culture all right here.
So, here’s a question: what if New England wasn’t a collection of tiny, picture-postcard colonies, but one, giant state? This state's economic and political power would put us in a league with New York, Texas and Florida.
Sure, we’d have fewer senators, but a lot of representatives and electoral votes. We’d consolidate one of the best tourist destinations into one unit, so we wouldn’t have to waste money competing for skiiers or gamblers.
But what’s our state flag? Our state motto and song? Even the state bird and insect?
Then there are the political and economic ramifications. Would it create enough jobs to make up for the state government jobs that would be cut? Would the extra electoral votes be worth the loss of U.S. Senators?
This episode originally aired on January 16, 2013.
GUESTS:
- Charles Monagan - Freelance writer and editor
- Ted Nesi - Covers politics and the economy in and around Rhode Island for WPRI
- Felice Belman - Editor of the Concord Monitor in Concord, New Hampshire
- Matthew Mayo - Maine resident and author of Bootleggers, Lobstermen & Lumberjacks: Fifty of the Grittiest Moments in the History of Hardscrabble New England
