He [derpy Russian guy] is making a classic mistake - projecting his own subconscious fears and bias onto others. The map he draws makes sense only if you have an imperialist viewpoint. The Russians have historically feared invasion and conquer, and for good reason. Their deepest fear is other countries gobbling up parts of them, and they've always had an inferiority complex about it, because they were never able to play in the same league as the big colonial powers. They are bitter about having given Alaska to the US for a pittance, but their claim was never very solid - they explored it and took resources from it (mainly furs) but never colonized it.

If you look at it from the viewpoint of American history, the map would be wildly different. Mexico has a far better historical claim to, and cultural influence on, California than China. Likewise, anyone who can think one second past the shape of a foreign conquest would realize that KY, TN, NC, and SC wouldn't be caught dead in a grouping with NY and New England. Likewise the Mountain West with the Industrial Midwest - they have nothing in common except their proximity to the Canadian border. And I can just picture Mexico trying to force MS and AL to use the peso.

Here's my breakdown for the collapse of the US:
- The New England states form a tight compact and call themselves...New England. Connecticut is a toss-up - the whole state is a suburb of either NY or Boston.

- New York goes it alone. Hell, they barely get along with any other states now, and their ego's are big enough to try it. For that matter, NYC might try to declare itself a city-state. That will work until they need to conquer Staten Island so they can throw away their trash, and then realize that they don't have any guns.

- PA/NJ/DE: medium tight alliance. The big advantage is that ground transport can't get to NY or NE without going through one of those 3 states. Govern independently, share border controls, and get fat off the tolls. Harrisburg tells Phila to get with the program or they'll send a million men with deer rifles to push them into the Schuylkill. They'll comply - that river is nasty.

- Alternately, PA/NJ/MD with Delaware and the rest of the Eastern Shore seceding to become the Joint Principality of Credit Cards and Chickens - CCC for short.

- VA - this is tricky I think VA will split up unto Northern VA, which will join with MD and DC to form The Alliance of Whiny Bitches (TAWB), with southern VA joining the Confederacy.

- The Confederacy. Well, DUH!. I see FL breaking apart, the Panhandle staying with the Confederacy and the rest of the state joining Cuba. Or NY - hard to tell which exiles have more pull.

- The Rust Belt - OH, IN, IL, MI, WI - will stick together and slowly deteriorate until they realize that bitching about foreign trade to the Federal Government is a double loser - no Feds, and the foreigners are only 50 miles away.

- Mountain West - very loose confederation, with the guiding motto "Every Man has a Manifesto". They meet once every 6 years to declare that they are still independent and no, they are still not accepting immigrants from the West Coast.

- Texas: Go it alone. I mean, they were an independent nation already - it can't be that hard to pick up where they left off. OK will be the sidekick/protectorate.

- The Appalachian states: WV, KY, TN, AR. They will hang tight because they are poor as dirt, and have few resources. Their main export will be soldiers (think Dickson's Dorsai). Will likely maintain close relationships with PA, due to similar topography and culture in the center of the state; will be the most highly armed political unit per capita EVER.

- Midwest farm states: loose collective administered jointly by Monsanto and ADM. Their motto: "You send tractors and fuel, we'll send food"

- Utah: I'm surprised the Mormons haven't declared independence already.

- Nevada: Independent, and they will have no enemies. Their motto: "Blackjack, Hookers, and the Hoover Dam"

- Arizona and NM: "How many peso's for the chalupa?"

- Washington and Oregon: They'll have to stick together, because no one else wants them.

- Alaska: Independent, until the Russians decide they want the oil. Then Palin will be able to see Russia in her mirror.

- Hawaii: See comments on Texas.

- And finally, CA. Split into 3: Northern, Central, and Southern. Northern joins up with WA and OR to form the Alliance of Hippie Nations. Central creates a loose alliance with the Midwest, supplying produce in return for migrant laborers and guns for their southern border (they don't worry about the North - is it even possible to form an army from stoners, much less an invasion?). And Southern? Hollywood will be like Berlin, holding out against takeover by Mexico, being supplied by airlifts bringing in food and leaving with DVD's. San Diego will be OK too - the USN will relocate there (better climate than Hampton Roads) and will control everything within radius of 16" guns.