* U.S. NEWS
   * JUNE 13, 2009

Divided We Stand
What would California look like broken in three? Or a Republic of New England? With the federal government reaching for ever more power, redrawing the map is enticing, says Paul Starobin

By PAUL STAROBIN

Remember that classic Beatles riff of the 1960s: “You say you want a revolution?” Imagine this instead: a devolution. Picture an America that is run not, as now, by a top-heavy Washington autocracy but, in freewheeling style, by an assemblage of largely autonomous regional republics reflecting the eclectic economic and cultural character of the society.

There might be an austere Republic of New England, with a natural strength in higher education and technology; a Caribbean-flavored city-state Republic of Greater Miami, with an anchor in the Latin American economy; and maybe even a Republic of Las Vegas with unfettered license to pursue its ambitions as a global gambling, entertainment and conventioneer destination. California? America’s broke, ill-governed and way-too-big nation-like state might be saved, truly saved, not by an emergency federal bailout, but by a merciful carve-up into a trio of republics that would rely on their own ingenuity in making their connections to the wider world. And while we’re at it, let’s make this project bi-national—economic logic suggests a natural multilingual combination between Greater San Diego and Mexico’s Northern Baja, and, to the Pacific north, between Seattle and Vancouver in a megaregion already dubbed “Cascadia” by economic cartographers.

Devolved America is a vision faithful both to certain postindustrial realities as well as to the pluralistic heart of the American political tradition—a tradition that has been betrayed by the creeping centralization of power in Washington over the decades but may yet reassert itself as an animating spirit for the future. Consider this proposition: America of the 21st century, propelled by currents of modernity that tend to favor the little over the big, may trace a long circle back to the original small-government ideas of the American experiment. The present-day American Goliath may turn out to be a freak of a waning age of politics and economics as conducted on a super-sized scale—too large to make any rational sense in an emerging age of personal empowerment that harks back to the era of the yeoman farmer of America’s early days. The society may find blessed new life, as paradoxical as this may sound, in a return to a smaller form.

[snip]

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There is a group of people in Northern CA that want to make a new state. The flag is of a pine tree or something. Its been on the news here before.

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Never happen.  The states –– Texas included –– all depend on Federal $$$ to run their governments.  They're not going to voluntarily give that up.

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Never happen.  The states –– Texas included –– all depend on Federal $$$ to run their governments.  They're not going to voluntarily give that up.

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The current Government will nuke California before they let it split and lose all those electoral votes.

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Texas and whoever wants to come along. Can't speak for everyone but theres alot of us that has been ready to go.

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Win-Win?
 

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The current Government will nuke California before they let it split and lose all those electoral votes.

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You mean the "Federal $$$" that's stolen from the paychecks of citizens of those states?

Because those states wouldn't simply tax the citizens themselves?



ETA: I'd like to see the libtards and hippies relocated to the states they already have a majority in. Concentrate the non libtards/non hippies in the other states. Form two seperate countries. When the libtard country fails, we roll in, do some exterminating, and have the rest of the states back.

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There is a group of people in Northern CA that want to make a new state. The flag is of a pine tree or something. Its been on the news here before.

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This would be great.  There would be no change in the House of Reps, as the seats would be divided between the two based on what state got what area.  The win would be two new GOP Senators, and a GOP governor.  I am sure the Northern Californians would be happy to let the illegals, the hippies, and the liberals have the lower half of CA, along with the chronic budget issues these types run.

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This would be great.  There would be no change in the House of Reps, as the seats would be divided between the two based on what state got what area.  The win would be two new GOP Senators, and a GOP governor.  I am sure the Northern Californians would be happy to let the illegals, the hippies, and the liberals have the lower half of CA, along with the chronic budget issues these types run.

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It's not just Northern California. It's also southern Ory-gun.  Free State of Jefferson.  Live it!

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I have heard this BS all my life... probably never happen, and at least not in the next 50 -100 years.

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With the exception of the money the feds borrow it all comes from the states in the first place.

Even us dumb Texans know eventually the people will have to pay the national debt off.

 

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Never happen.  The states –– Texas included –– all depend on Federal $$$ to run their governments.  They're not going to voluntarily give that up.

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We just cut taxes and have a $9 billion surplus for the year. And half the country depends on our natural resources and industry, especially our high-end electronics. Fuck the feds.



Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico are welcome to join the Republic of Texas.

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All the states, even Texas and Utah, play a cute little game where they pretend the Feds are the big spenders but their fiscal houses are in order.



If the Feds ever stopped distributing money to the states all those "fiscally responsible" state politicians would suddenly have to cut their own budgets or raise their taxes and face the wrath of their voters.  The overwhelming majority aren't willing to do it.



And I would submit the overwhelming majority of their residents aren't willing to do it, either.



 

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Whatever you say.

 

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Link



I wonder why the corporate media is so interested in the breakup of our country.

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What were the results from that poll where they asked Texans if they wanted to leave the US?  Something like only 17% in favor of leaving?



QED.

 

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What were the results from that poll where they asked Texans if they wanted to leave the US?  Something like only 17% in favor of leaving?

QED.
 

...It might have been made the interests of the Western states to remain united with us, by managing their interests honestly and for their own good. But the moment we sacrifice their interests to our own, they will see it better to govern themselves. The moment they resolve to do this, the point is settled. A forced connection is neither our interest nor within our power. Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, Paris Dec. 16. 1786

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Then go.

North or south, it's up to you.

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Dude - Liberal crazy shit runs all the way up I5 to Seattle.  SFO, Eugene, Salem, Portland, Olympia, Seattle.

A move to secede on California-Oregon border




SF Chronicle ^

| Oct. 5, 2008
| Kevin Fagan





























"All we have to do is get an initiative on the ballot and vote to get things going."

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Texas and whoever wants to come along. Can't speak for everyone but theres alot of us that has been ready to go.

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Yep,

I'm all for the Republic of Texhoma.

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Balkanization is something you can't control.  The only thing you can do is step down on all the disparate groups with an iron heel to keep them from tearing each other apart and forming new nations.  It's just like what happened to Yugoslavia, and Yugoslavia DID have a strong man dictator to force all the groups into one unified state for decades.  That's why it's called balkanization, it's the same process and conflict that's been at work there for centuries.  

Of course I assume that you would rather see the United States remain united, even if it's under the iron fisted rule of a tyrant or tyrants.

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Here's the problem with the above scenario...

Everything the states have, they have because of being part of the whole...

Splitting up the union would also wreck the economy in monetary terms (who is going to accept 'New England' dollars, for example?), and place much larger financial burdens on the states...

Each new 'mini-nation' would need it's own military, with it's own chain of command... Due to duplication and potential rivalries, this would be much, much more expensive...

US foreign hegemony would be completely broken, China, India or Russia would become the next 'Supreme Power'.... Further degrading the economy, disrupting trade, and making everything more expenisve.....

In short, life as we know it on this continent would pretty much collapse...

Your taxes would go up...

And all for what?

Absolutely nothing.

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It is at least interesting to see talk like this out in the open.  It used to be blowhards and idiot loudmouths who couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel.  Now the talk of . . . something ugly . . . is almost mainstream.  Very interesting times in which we live.  




Personally, I do NOT believe a "race war" (heard mention of that most of my life) will occur, but I do believe there will some form of "tax revolt," as those with assets and income are surely not stupid enough to allow it to be taken and "redistributed."  

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They'd have their freedumb.

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Big deal.  Utah runs a budget surplus almost every year but that is due to the fact that state agencies get alot of federal grant money.  Take it away and you have a deficit.  It's the same with Texas; I imagine they get billions of dollars alone in federal highway money.

Oh, and after you make up your Republic of Texas be prepared to have the rest of the US start to tax your exports.  If you hated NAFTA and wanted to see it gone you'll get your wish, but you might not like it much.

 

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What were the results from that poll where they asked Texans if they wanted to leave the US?  Something like only 17% in favor of leaving?

QED.