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Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 4, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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If Trump tomorrow conquers Greenland and says it is US territory - do you think that future 2028 democratic president will return it or the usg will drag their feet for the next couple of centuries on the matter?

That would depend largely on what Denmark had to say about it, I think.

And also what the locals would say about it too. I mean, maybe Trump gets them the deal so good they don't want to go back to Denmark?

They don’t want to be part of Denmark now, they might want independence instead of being the 51st state but they wouldn’t want to be a danish territory instead.

They don’t want to be part of Denmark now

But how can Greenland make noises about independence with a straight face when its economy would collapse without the huge subsidies that Denmark sends to it? That's what confuses me about this topic. Does self-determination even make sense for a territory that is not self-sufficient?

But how can Greenland make noises about independence with a straight face when its economy would collapse without the huge subsidies that Denmark sends to it?

The same reason many people in Scotland and some in Wales want independence. The emotional allure of self-determination overrides economic concerns.

Considering the history of mistreatment at the hands of danish authorities, they may not care very much.