What other countries think about your state

see above. both you and laglen are assuming we know far more than we actually do. i bet you 50 cents that your average furriner is as likely to find new mexico on the map as your average american is likely to find bulgaria

You may be correct for the average foreigner... But the foreigners I've met on the trails of New Mexico seem to know a great deal about the areas they plan to visit, hike, ski, etc. I'm usually pleasantly surprised...

most of the eastern europeans have left now. one reason (not the main one) was the weather being so rubbish - i have no idea how someone from poland could say that with a straight face (i've lived in poland - nice summers, horrid winters] but they did. so are you standing for ukip come the election then? do you have the tan yet? ooh, i could find alaska. it's part of canada isn't it? or russia. i might have a 50/50 chance of getting new mexico too.

but what about my catapult? Cannons? missiles?

i think you're lucky we divide your country at all. some of us don't - the whole thing is just 'americaland'. and includes canada and mexico.

ahem. have a look at the rest of this discussion coffeegurl and you might realise that i was not being entirely serious. yes i know that the states have different laws. and you are completely wrong about us having identical laws that affect the whole country - the legal system in scotland is not the same as england, wales is different too. i recommend doing your homework before telling other people that they are ignorant.

I do (I think and hope) understand America's political system rather better than I have suggested in some of these responses! Where I become confused is on issues like devolution (more local power: less central power) and whether we can equate your Republicans with our Conservatives and your Democrats with our Labour parties. Actually, I think not. American politics, in general, seem to be far to the 'right' of British politics in many respects which means that 'middle of the road' Americans would seem out-and-out Conservatives to us! I would love to see how Americans would score on some of the quizzes that I've seen. Unfortunately all seem to be thinly disguised opinion polls and require you to enter your post code (so that they can gather statistics for the election and, perhaps, make a killing by betting on the result!) One is here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7541285/How-should-I-vote-in-the-General-Election-2010.html (If you are American or not from Britain, I would suggest that you enter the post code as 'SW1A 0WQ', which is the City of Westminster - where the Houses of Parliament are - this should, at least, get you into the main quiz/poll and allow you to answer the questions. Yes, Election Day is the 6th May for us. It's a particularly critical election, I think, because, as we are coming out of this recession, we need direction. Clear leadership (in whatever direction) doesn't come out of a parliament with no clear majority - you are seeing this in the US right now. I think that it's possibly as critical for the USA (and the rest of the world) as your Presidential Election was for us (and the rest of the world).

Owlwings, I figured when I saw this map that it had more info than a usual tourist would have. I can certainly understand why most people would not pay much attention to our states sovereignty. I have to agree with Hofferp. State Government is very important to our method of governing.

If we didn't have the states/state lines, we couldn't very well call it the United States of America, could we? If we didn't have states, the USA would have never been formed. States and states' rights were fundamental to the founding of the country. The Federal Government is "suppose" to have specific functions it performs -- protection. But the Federal Government has continued to grow since F D Roosevelt. And many people are opposed to the increasing growth of the Feds. Under this President, the growth has continued, and sped up. I'm one of those who wants a limited Federal Government and for the States to provide for their people. If you don't like what a State is doing, you can move. If you don't like what the Feds are doing, do you find another country? I haven't threatened leaving like some. I can't think of a place I'd rather live. So my option is to vote in November for the candidates who think like I do -- States rights; small Federal Government. Your election is coming up in May, right? What day? Do you know how you're going to vote yet? I wish you the best in your elections.

your welcome, I enjoyed it and I am glad you did too.

I am sorry it upset you. I thought a lot of the states were pretty close in stereo type.

Ok number 1, I am an American and I LOVE my country the way it is. But some liberal nut jobs want to make us Europe. If I wanted European ways, I would move there. Second of all, this was for fun, I am very sorry you cant see it. Third, I think most of us knows where Mt Rushmore is. They just listed both Dakotas together. Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can. ~ Elsa Maxwell

okay we just agree to disagree. I love my country and would not live anywhere else so make fun all you want, seems to be a whole lot of you like to make fun of the Us so have fun, I just do not see it that way. I think my country is pretty damned good myself. And for your information MtRushmore is in South Dakota and there are a lot of wondeful people who do not deserve being made fun of in that state.