User blog comment:Arstarpool/R.I.P. 1983: Doomsday/@comment-461469-20100719152140

@ Smallpox: Their are like a dozen different POD's, while some, like the one about Australia being granted full independence, being very implausible (but not unrealistic), especially since Canada (Confederation in 1867) had proved that some ties to Britain would be beneficial, as well as the French refusing the Louisiana Purchase; again, not unrealistic, but implausible (they would really needed the money to fight Britain), so, it is confusing that way.