Should the USA split?

[LoneMateria]

USA should become more like Britain, separate countries, but still united.

Thats essentially what the U.S. is.  Separate states united as one nation.  Each state has its own laws but their laws can't contradict our federal (national) laws.

[SSY]

USA should become more like Britain, separate countries, but still united.

All that happens is England ends up subsidising the other countries with tax money. Great for Scotland, not so much England, I can't wait for devolution. I would prefer it if London was made a Micro State like the Vatican, that would be badass.

On a side note, I wish just once some independent would be taken seriously; someone who had the fiscal responsibility of a conservative, and the social policies (religion, homosexuality, abortion, etc.) of a liberal. Seems like the best of both worlds to me. Agree? Disagree?

You have literally just described my perfect Prime minister, I would do anything for such a party to emerge from the wreckage of Parliament, or the Conservatives throw off all their "Family Values" crap, either way, I'm good.

[HandsandDreams]

You have literally just described my perfect Prime minister, I would do anything for such a party to emerge from the wreckage of Parliament, or the Conservatives throw off all their "Family Values" crap, either way, I'm good.

Let's start a grassroots campaign called "Can the Crap."  

Seriously, Republicans, you take a "live and let live" stance on money, why not take it on social issues?  I realize I'm stereotyping, so please, if you're a Republican who already does this, don't smack me, smack your bible-thumping colleagues.

[McQ]

Let's start a grassroots campaign called "Can the Crap."     See? Happy!

2. Rational arguments fly. Name calling, blatant falsehoods and name calling don't.

3. See numbers 1 and 2.

[Will]

Maybe it's time to take a break... you know, see other governments. If, in a few election cycles, we decide to get back together, we'll be all the stronger because of it.

[Ultima22689]

Maybe it's time to take a break... you know, see other governments. If, in a few election cycles, we decide to get back together, we'll be all the stronger because of it.

Jesusland will be begging to have us back.

[Will]

"Sorry, I'm with Canada now."  

[Recusant]

I was really hoping this thread was a joke of some kind...

I think it is, even if unintentional, and most of the posts seem on the light-hearted side.  It does however serve to highlight a fairly strong tendency in the USA right now to allow ourselves to become polarized and stand on one side or the other of an idealogical divide yelling foolish epithets.  This thread reminds me of a fascinating book I read a long time ago, called The Nine Nations of North America, by Joel Garreau.  (Wiki here.) Things have changed some since he wrote it, but I think his analysis is still valid and I recommend it.  Exploring the "what-ifs" created by this question is an interesting subject.  Most of the scenarios mentioned here, and those that I've come up with myself, seem negative, but the way the USA is going right now (in the sense of becoming strongly divided idealogically, and therefore somewhat schizoid) is already pretty negative.  I can't see the USA actually splitting into more than one nation happening any time in the near future, though, for better or worse.

[McQ]

I was really hoping this thread was a joke of some kind...

I think it is, even if unintentional, and most of the posts seem on the light-hearted side.  It does however serve to highlight a fairly strong tendency in the USA right now to allow ourselves to become polarized and stand on one side or the other of an idealogical divide yelling foolish epithets.  This thread reminds me of a fascinating book I read a long time ago, called The Nine Nations of North America, by Joel Garreau.  (Wiki here.) Things have changed some since he wrote it, but I think his analysis is still valid and I recommend it.  Exploring the "what-ifs" created by this question is an interesting subject.  Most of the scenarios mentioned here, and those that I've come up with myself, seem negative, but the way the USA is going right now (in the sense of becoming strongly divided idealogically, and therefore somewhat schizoid) is already pretty negative.  I can't see the USA actually splitting into more than one nation happening any time in the near future, though, for better or worse.

I like the sound of that book. Guess what I'll be looking for today?    Thanks for the links on it. If I don't find it at B&N, I'll be on Amazon. This topic is a good one and I'd like to see some serious writing on it, so thanks!

[skurry]

I am all for the democratic ideal that the US is about, the problem is that, no matter what people's actual views are, religion seems to get in the way. Most of the RIGHT is made up of people who follow it merely because it matches with their religious values, not their economic, legislative, or governing views, it is all about their religious views. (I have much more respect for non-religious Republicans because at least then I know that they know what they are following). So I'm tired of fighting it!

The idea is give them that world that shall not be struck down by zombies with wings! To me they are holding back our economy, our society and our science (read: education). So I don't know what is to be done.

I like the idea of Britain, where we could have 2 separate governments, but under the same umbrella. Maybe one military, one treasury, one intelligence agency, one space agency, but laws and public well fare are left to two sides. (oh how easy it would be to relocate the Dakotas and Minnesota! It's like 12 people!)

We know the state thing hasn't worked, look at the states who have legalized gay marriage and medical marijauna! They have been battling Big Brother the whole time! I'm not very left but I disagree with the very right, and right now they are throwing a hissyfit that I don't care to have as part of my politics.

Although I doubt a revolution will start in an atheist forum, it makes for good discussion.

[SlapMonkey]

Here's what would happen:

The USA would split down the middle...the Dem's USA and the Repub's USA.

As time went by, the Dem's USA would fail economically because it wouldn't be able to support it's idealistic social programs, getting bogged down more and more by illegals coming in to live off of the "kindness" of the Dems...not to mention the lazy Repubs would slowly make their way over there as well. But, even though it's financially failing, the Dems would have such world support because they're friends with everyone through political correctness that they'd be able to sustain themselves through debt for a while. But, eventually, it would all come crashing down if a torrent of fiscal failures.

The Repub's USA would fail socially because it would ride such an extreme side of capitalism and militarism that there would be too much internal bickering about making more and more money, and less talk with outside countries because all borders would be closed off, pissing off most, if not all, of the world. They would further alienate by promoting their capitalist-god-fearing-democracy-is-the-only-way agenda through force and militarism, and eventually would find themselves alone in a world without allies.

So, one side would produce a country that would eventually drown in debt and alienate the world, while the other would drown in isolation and alienate the world. At that point, they would only be able to turn to each other, rejoin as one nation, and start all over again.

Take this as a light-hearted comment, or as a serious one...I can't decide which it is right now.

[Big Mac]

And between those two Texas would secede out of pure awesomeness and take back all the territory those assholes split off from us. Didn't do that shit to Alaska! Bullshit icicle that produces nothing good from it. NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM ALASKA!!! NOTHING!!!

I say we nuke it and all the polar bears that live there.

[Guest]

Here's what would happen:

The USA would split down the middle...the Dem's USA and the Repub's USA.

As time went by, the Dem's USA would fail economically because it wouldn't be able to support it's idealistic social programs, getting bogged down more and more by illegals coming in to live off of the "kindness" of the Dems...not to mention the lazy Repubs would slowly make their way over there as well. But, even though it's financially failing, the Dems would have such world support because they're friends with everyone through political correctness that they'd be able to sustain themselves through debt for a while. But, eventually, it would all come crashing down if a torrent of fiscal failures.

Yeah, like happened in Finland and all the other Northern European states! Wait, no, no, it didn't happen. Actually we prosper in many areas that you mentioned, better yet majority of Finns would think that we're in a right-wing nut job, total police state if a party like the Democrats would rule here.
Seriously, it's quite disturbing to follow the news about people going around saying Democrats are communists or liberals! Our major right-wing party National Coalition Party is quite left compared to your democrats. Seriously, your'e on the far right, the lot of ya!
Still, Finnish Communist Party is totally on the margins, it can't even get a single representative in our parliament.