What Do You Think of Balkanizing the USA?
Asked by
ETpro (
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November 3rd, 2013
Northern California appears serious about forming its own State of Jefferson. They would presumably remain part of the USA, but not part of California. It’s not just Northern California, either. There was a previous move to create a State of Jefferson out of Northern California and Southern Oregon. That drive got as far as the county commissioners involved setting up roadblocks and checkpoints to prevent anyone entering their “state” without the proper authorization. Today, there is talk of Balkanization in Maryland, the upper peninsula of Michigan and Northern Colorado as well. In fact, if all the divisionist talk came to fruit, we would be the 61 States of America.
Some states would opt out of even being a part of the United States of America, preferring to create their own countries devoid of hated rules against polluting the air and water, and free to restrict voting rights to those that vote right. Texas has strong support for forming an independent country, as does Alaska under the Alaska Independence Party. The South is at it again, with generally the same borders the slave states tried to establish when their secession triggered the US Civil War. Vermont has an Independence movement. Oregon, Washington State and part of British Columbia would split away to form Cascadia. There is even a far left movement to create a Black Belt state called The Republic of New Afrika. And there are those in Puerto Rico that yearn for it to become a sovereign nation-state.
The common threat of the Axis Powers ended talk of secession at the outset of WWII and it’s taken 70 years to really get going again, but it’s certainly back. What do you think of ideas to Balkanize the USA?
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13 Answers
Well, not looking at the whole picture but, I always believed NJ should be two states. It’s funny because the state is so small but it’s so vastly different north and south. All the Jersey jokes, that’s north Jersey. I’ve also noticed if you ask someone from north Jersey where they are from they will generally say NJ, but if you ask someone from south Jersey where they’re from they will almost always say south Jersey.
All I can say is they should make it really easy to expatriate, or I’ll be one upset Southern Liberal.
It’s fun to speculate. But it will never ever ever ever every happen. The constitution is a pretty large barrier to it, among other things.
But just for fun, I’ll play the game. None of the ‘potential’ states has the wherewithall to succeed on its own. So even if they did break away, they would be immediately deeply in debt to the government for decades to come.
That’s what’s so silly about this initiative in NE Colorado. They want to be their own state and not be responsible to Colorado, and they dislike the USGovernment too. But NE Colorado doesn’t have the industry or population to provide any services at all. So anyone living there who wanted decent governmental services would leave and move to the rest of Colorado, making the financial situation in NE Colorado even worse.
Face it, these separatists are a bunch of right wing wackos who are clueless about the real world.
Well..as a Northern California I can certainly say the division between North and South is like night and day.
Southern California: dry, ugly, polluted, insanely fast paced, overcrowded, all glam and no guts, narcissistic, hedonistic, shallow, cosmetic surgery capitol of the world, Hollywood….nuff said.
Northern California:
Beautiful, laid back, easy going, best weather around, rugged, gorgeous beaches, the Sierras, Lake Tahoe, Humboldt, the redwoods, excellent farming country, wineries, vineyards, rivers, lakes, unsurpassed natural beauty.
Yep, two different worlds entirely, count me in as a NorCal homey.
This land is MY land! lol
It could grow into city states if left unchecked. Maybe that would be a good idea.
As you made reference…It already happened in the 19th Century. The resolution of it cost lots of lives, a lot of money, and the life of a President who by all accounts probably didn’t deserve to get a bullet in the brain.
But, come to think of it, the public schools don’t really teach history anymore, so no surprise if people try to repeat it.
At the national level, the gap between Democrats and Republicans keeps getting wider. It is already like two different countries. I say we should let them all secede. They are more trouble than they are worth. The Republicans keep Congress from passing anything. If they really want to have a country with no government and no taxes, with religion being taught in school, and with discrimination against women. minorities and homosexuals, I say let them have their own country to run like that.
@uberbatman & @Coloma That’s what drives it.
@Seek_Kolinahr I hope @elbanditoroso is right, and suspect so; but should it ever come to pass I sure hope your wish is considered in the border arrangements the factions reach.
@YARNLADY Why stop at city states. There’s the downtown district, the slums, the upscale housing areas, etc., etc… Once we start looking for reasons to fracture, there is race, religion, wealth, ethnicity, geography… The list goes on and on.
@josie Argh. Too true.
@LostInParadise Sometimes I wonder…
I guess it is easier to simply break away and form your own kingdom than learn to compromise with people who don’t share your views.
Segregation occurs naturally on a local level to whatever extent the laws allow, so you can’t really stop that process. The region I live in is nearly 100% white and wealthy. Step outside the boundaries and it is a zoo in comparison. So the answer to your question, absolutely! Forcing a rich, white individual to participate in a zoo against his/her will is a recipe for disaster.
@drdoombot Easier, yes? Better idea? So far, it’s a real loser. :-)
@annabee As a relatively affluent white person living in the diversity of Boston, I know what it is you are talking about. But I also know how crudely racist that sentiment is. How sad.
@ETpro In our schools, the children segregate themselves according to their own prejudices comfort zones.
@YARNLADY True, as denoted without the line-through. But not desirable. We won’t get any better if we don’t work to get it.
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