Are there any advantages to a Balkanized US? ie: Splitting the US into several different nations, as many as 9 or so.
I was discussing the other day with someone whether or not the independance movement of Quebec was good idea or not. I was thinking that it would lead to a more varied economic trading group here in North America. My conversation partner stated that I was insane, and that I would probably think it was a good idea to split the US into several individual countries.
I said “Why not?”
The conversation got heated from there.
I really don’t have an opinion, but I have a tendancy to play devils advocate…
I’m not sure how a “more varied economic trading group” would be beneficial. What’s beneficial about eight new sets of currencies, border controls, and tariffs (not to mention eight new armed forces)?
I don’t think that money is the reason behind the Quebec issue, or behind the growing regionalism in Canada. It’s more about how people see themselves, how they see others, and how they want to decide their own future.
So if Quebec and Canada go their separate ways, it may very well be a good thing regardless of whether the economies take a short term hit or not.
As far as the money thing goes, in the long term, all of Canada’s regions are rediculously wealthy in terms of human, physical, industrial and technological resources when compared to most of the rest of the world, and already know the importance of transboundary economic integration, so split or not the future looks marvelous.
Instead of breaking up the US, how about just letting us take over all of your little insignificant countries and form a unified world government under our benevolent control? It would seem so much simpler and more practical.