Will the USA break up in the next century?

Great Debates
41

One important point that has been touched on but not really noted is that just about every break-up or split in nations in the past century has been because of differing ethnicities, religions or languages. The former Yugoslavia was broken up into different ethnic states, same with the former USSR, same with most African civil issues. The US just does not have any significant ethnic enclaves that would likely feel enough of an individual identity to warrant seeking self-determination (except maybe in Miami ;))

The only exception I can think of is Taiwan, though admittedly I’m no expert on that issue.

As for furt’s suggestion, good idea, but don’t bother looking north for promotion, because we’re not letting anyone go. Better look to Mexico, or the Carribbean or Central America. How about Nicaragua as a state?

42

Mainland Europe is largely like that now. Drive from France to Belgium and all you get is a “Welcome To Belgium” sign in about 38 different languages. Driving from Belgium to the Netherlands I’m not even sure you get a sign. I think the assumption is that when everyone starts walking around with the munchies you know you’re in the Netherlands :wink:

43

I can see a breakup happening. The likely scenario is that the more liberal (and populous) states that are net exporters of federal taxes get fed up with subsidizing a bunch of conservative states that use the 2 votes per-state senatorial system to push a conservative agenda. Meanwhile the conservative states resent having to recognize gay marriages from other states, having “under God” removed from the pledge, etc.

Note however, that many states are severly polarized intenally. On the west coast for example, the liberal voters are concentrated in a narrow strip of the coast.

44

I can see a breakup happening. The likely scenario is that the more liberal (and populous) states that are net exporters of federal taxes get fed up with subsidizing a bunch of conservative states that use the 2 votes per-state senatorial system to push a conservative agenda. Meanwhile the conservative states resent having to recognize gay marriages from other states, having “under God” removed from the pledge, etc.

Note however, that many states are severly polarized intenally. On the west coast for example, the liberal voters are concentrated in a narrow strip of the coast.

45

I have faith (because I want to) that political and nit-picky divisions (Under God, electoral votes, legislation of personal lives) between different regions can be overcome through heated discussion and violent protest. Who would have though Black Women would hold the right to vote in this country 150 years ago? Now the pragmatic politician will pay them some heed.

I have the idea that the longer the US remains united the greater wil be the required cause for separation. Just like being with an OK but moderately annoying SO can last “til death do you part,” the anticipated pain of separation on a personal, national security and economic level would make the transition undesirable. A natural catastrophe wouldn’t do it. A partial invasion and successful occupation would…for a while.

46

Texas leave? You gotta be kidding right. :smiley:

We’re finally getting y’all back in line. No we ain’t taking off. We’re taking over. Got Florida in our pocket. Now we got “Poppy’s” posterboy for physical fitness to swing California for us.

Mr. Blair is going to help us when we buy Canada during our next term at the Whitehouse. Cuba should be ready in a couple of years, if that damned Castro would hurry up and die. BTW we’ve started trading again and we already have more military there than they do. It should’ve worked 40 years ago but for that damned JFK.

When we foreclose on Mexico’s loans in 2008 they’ll have to give us most of Northern Mexico (vast oil reserves found there in the 60’s by Zapata oil).

I’m afraid Panama isn’t able to control the canal. So, as per various loopholes we are obligated to take control of it again in the next few years. Might as well pick up some extra real estate with the deal too. We should have the Middle East under control by then, Thank Dubya.

Therefore it’d be a good time to renew our war on drugs and maybe we can “liberate” some of them poor South Americans.
With that, we should control most of the oil AND drugs. What to do with all that money…

I understand our Ambassador to Russia (Mr. Terminator) has secured the purchase of Western Siberia for the price of some heating oil and some Big Macs. BTW They threw in some old warheads and stuff too. ** Aaahh…the missing WMD’s** I knew they’d turn up somewhere. :rolleyes:

So ya see, we’ve got lots to do. Got no time for breaking up. If we could just get Jeb and Rev. Jackson back on program we could work out that deal in Africa.

oops…did I say that out loud, sorry.

Seriously it’s not as bad as all that but I don’t think the US is gonna “break up”. It is getting a little crowded though. So a little extra space for our elbows might not hurt. Especially the wealthy businessmen types. Places where free enterprise can flourish.

Like GHWB said “A New World Order”

<tin foil hat off>
Texas leave, hah…you wish :wink:

47

This a good point. Let’s Have Babies For God or Burn In Hell republicans who want to outlaw abortion aren’t likely to get elected either. As scared of W Bush pulling that as some liberals proport to be, that’d be political suicide if he tried it. Or maybe literal suicide, we’ve got some pretty good snipers in this country.

The only way someone who held such radical views would get elected would be if they hid them completely prior to the election…although that did happen in my state a few years ago when a rep came out as rabid racist/ didn’t-think-spousal-abuse-was-wrong belief holder and was recalled.

A politically motitivated split might happen, but I don’t see it being fueled by a radical president.

48

To twist the original question somewhat, does anyone see the potential for individual states to break into multiple states? Northwest states breaking along the mountain ranges, say.
Alternately, why are we assuming that a state would want to leave? What would happen, say, if the rest of the country simply asked, for instance, Texas, to leave? Economic ties aside, I would assume that should the rest of the country be pissed off enough to ask another state to leave the Union, they’d be prepared to deal with whatever other headaches that might create.

49

isnt california going to physically break off anyway?

50

Posse Comitatus was already changed due to the drug war. I can imagine all sorts of scenarios where it is completely disregarded. By the way, do you remember the big fucking tank ramming holes in the compound at Waco? Why worry about the military when American law enforcement agencies have better weapons than most countries.