How would the U.S. go about the process of splitting in two?

[Anonymous]

All these answers are hopelessly mired in out-dated brick-and-mortar concepts. What you should be thinking of is two (or more) virtual countries, which we sign up for online.

[Anonymous]

I think the only way it could work would be if everything that is currently handled by the federal government were operable on a state level - or via consortia of states. Once that was accomplished, then the states or consortia could band together, I suppose, into two sets of "united states". But what's more likely is that you would wind up with a whole ton of tiny little state-sized countries. Some would be successful, some would not. I think. I don't know. This is too hard to think about on a Friday night!

[Anonymous]

I think you'll need more than a split in two. Lots of people have talked about this and suggested possible scenarios. It probably will happen at some point I would guess. Maybe a looser federation would work.

This guy's write-up is kind of amusing:
http://petewarden.typepad.com/searchbrowser/2010/02/how-to-split-up-the-us.html

[Anonymous]

Do you remember the map that circulated a while after GWB was re-elected? The north + ne+ west coast became part of Canada and the rest became Jesusland? (Funny though offensive to genuine Christians.)

On a serious note, wouldn't the process be akin to what other countries have experienced? Czechoslovakia, the Koreas?

Presumably OP would prefer a peaceful separation, not one preceded by war.

I would actually love to see a real experiment--let's pick a few states where the Extreme Conservative agenda could be carried out for a limited time (like 3-5 years) to see whether their ideas could work. No abortion or birth control, low tax rates for the wealthy, no regulation of any industry, drill as much as you like...

[Anonymous]

Duh....?
remember a minor event called The Civil War

[Anonymous]

I don't think the op is talking about south vrs north, maybe liberal vrs conservative. I am so for this! And one other split, lets give the drug users their very own county, say NJ. We supply the drugs for free as long as they do not leave the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the only way it could work would be if everything that is currently handled by the federal government were operable on a state level - or via consortia of states. Once that was accomplished, then the states or consortia could band together, I suppose, into two sets of "united states". But what's more likely is that you would wind up with a whole ton of tiny little state-sized countries. Some would be successful, some would not. I think. I don't know. This is too hard to think about on a Friday night!

I think you just invented the Articles of Confederation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you remember the map that circulated a while after GWB was re-elected? The north + ne+ west coast became part of Canada and the rest became Jesusland? (Funny though offensive to genuine Christians.)

On a serious note, wouldn't the process be akin to what other countries have experienced? Czechoslovakia, the Koreas?

Presumably OP would prefer a peaceful separation, not one preceded by war.

I would actually love to see a real experiment--let's pick a few states where the Extreme Conservative agenda could be carried out for a limited time (like 3-5 years) to see whether their ideas could work. No abortion or birth control, low tax rates for the wealthy, no regulation of any industry, drill as much as you like...

Yep, and the northern states like Illinois, Connecticut, NJ, NY, and RI can go bankrupt. Sry, but the utter snobbery of this thread is offensive.

[Anonymous]

Right Wing Nuts take the right coast, Left Wing Nuts get left, West coast, and the Jesus Freaks get the middle+ OK. Give Red Neck imbreds Louisiana and Mississippi, Latino's can have TX & AZ, African Americans can either self deport back to Africa or set up in Alabama or NYC and those 65 plus get Florida. Just illustrating the stupidity of this thread

[Anonymous]

Yep, and the northern states like Illinois, Connecticut, NJ, NY, and RI can go bankrupt. Sry, but the utter snobbery of this thread is offensive.

If you think those are the states that would go bankrupt, your ignorance is offensive. "Sry."
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pf_article_113173.html

[Anonymous]

This would be great. In a few years, the red states would be like a third world South America country from the 1970's, dictator and secrete police. I bet they would hold protest in the streets after South Park airs on TV. At least the wealth redistribution from blue to red states would stop. Sign me up!

[Anonymous]

I'd LOVE to be separated from the Bible Belt south!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yep, and the northern states like Illinois, Connecticut, NJ, NY, and RI can go bankrupt. Sry, but the utter snobbery of this thread is offensive.

If you think those are the states that would go bankrupt, your ignorance is offensive. "Sry."
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pf_article_113173.html

http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111904881404577603301566976464.html#articleTabs_article%3D1

it's not about tax paid, but about overall debt service including pension liabilities. This link shows 5 of the bottom 10 states are CT, IL, RI, MA, RI. Broadly, the high tax states also have made expensive promises they can't keep.

I look forward to your apology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the toughest part would not be the constitutional process. The balance sheet for the South is the problem. The southern states would go almost immediately into default because they can't cover their expenditures with revenue, even if the new southern nation kept the current Federal tax schedule. They are net dependents on northern revenue.

It's scary that you're that clueless as to where your food comes from, not to mention the cotton in your tighty whittles.

You should give that Vermont milk and cheese diet a try for a month, ok, I'll let you have one apple a week too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the toughest part would not be the constitutional process. The balance sheet for the South is the problem. The southern states would go almost immediately into default because they can't cover their expenditures with revenue, even if the new southern nation kept the current Federal tax schedule. They are net dependents on northern revenue.

It's scary that you're that clueless as to where your food comes from, not to mention the cotton in your tighty whittles.

You should give that Vermont milk and cheese diet a try for a month, ok, I'll let you have one apple a week too.

Since I am from a farm state I am not worried about starving. For one because eight of the top ten agricultural states are in the north you idiot, and because unless the south actually exports food, it is even more screwed.

God you people are impervious to fact. Does it ever occur to you to google score you throw out an assumption like that ? This isn't 1800, Virginia and south carolina aren't ag powerhouses anymore.