Breaking Up America

I would also include Long Island in New Netherland.

For the 11 Americas map to make sense, it's best to ignore the names he gave them.

That would maybe explain my political affiliation, I spent all of my formative years in "The Far West" and I now live in "The Left Coast".

^^ Even then, the regions that were stitched together by those borders are not necessarily linked by their respective cultures.

That whole map seems pretty closely based on long-established dialect maps of North American English. They're using linguists' famous division into New England/North Midland/South Midland/South dialects, and trying to base political distinctions on them. Now, obviously linguistic divisions can often broadly correlate with cultural and political divides, but it's not really a comfortable fit here.

And what about Florida? There is already a debate about splitting the state in north and south due do having different economic needs and cultural differences. As the saying goes, "the more north you go, the more south it become"

Yeah, I don't generally agree with Garreau's "Nine Nations" conceit, but could definitely see a future Caribbean confederation taking shape over the next few centuries, one that includes South Florida, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other Hispanophone islands.

Well, at various points different bits of the Caribbean were not far from becoming U.S. states. Hispaniola(Dominican Republic+Haiti) was nearly made a state, but there was a bribery scandal with some of the diplomats and it was called off. Cuba wasn't far off at some points, and if Hispaniola already was it'd have probably ended up a state as well. Puerto Rico's on it's way to becoming a state.

Even ignoring the other stuff, Puerto Rico's more likely to become a U.S. state than to join some random coalition of Carribean states, which has failed before.

edited 15th Nov '13 6:35:27 AM by Joesolo

I could see some sort of federation or confederation but not as long as Cuba is a People's Republic of Tyranny.

Also considering that south Florida does have a self suffecient river allows it bring goods inland from the caribean area as well as having a river that connect to okeechobee lake which goes further north through the kissimmie river to geogia

I feel like it wouldn't work even in the South...At times, Metro Atlanta might as well not even be part of the rest of Georgia. If Atlanta was the only city in GA, I'm fairly sure GA would vote Democrat in every election. So then you run the risk of forcing together groups that barely identify into a country of mostly conservatives.

^

Also known as the "Chicago Effect". Or you could name it after New York or California as well. Where one or two big cities politically dominates the entire state.

That does suck until you remember that the big city inhabitants outnumber the rest of the state by a factor of 10 or more. They kinda get a vote too.

^

Doesn't make it right to fuck over the rest of the entire state with rules that don't need to apply outside that area.

Instead of screwing the whole state, I'd rather let the greater metro area have its own rules separate of the state on many domestic issues. Shit, Chicago did it, supposedly the entire city is a "gun free zone".

edited 19th Nov '13 8:08:41 AM by Barkey

Well, there's virtually no country where the metropoles and rural areas aren't somewhat at political odds. That alone has never really stood in the way of a country's viability; it's pretty much par for the course.

And we'll fight about it endlessly.

Less power to the states, more power to the municipalities.

Okay, this is a really old topic but thanks to talk of Calexit I feel it's become relevant again so I'm bumping it.

Some advice to those who are thinking about Calexit, or any other exits:

• This should be undertaken only as a last resort. Wait until at least 2018 and see if the Democrats can take the Senate. Unlikely yes but give it a chance. Until then let's keep it in thought experiment territory.
• Do NOT go it alone. If you do, you will be slaughtered. Networking will be key. As in:
  • Other western states. Oregon, Washington definitely, probably Nevada, possibly New Mexico and Colorado.
  • Other countries. International support and recognition will be key, particularly from Canada and Mexico, which will probably be deeply pissed at the Trumpers by then, even more than now.
  • Other blue states, particularly the northeast. After all, if things are bad enough for you to consider secession as a viable alternative, then we probably will be too.
  • Blue enclaves in red territory. Both decency and practicality would demand at least an attempt to work something out in regards to them. The same goes for red enclaves in blue territory.

Pretty sure not all parts of Cali would leave, too. I am thinking mainly the northeastern bits thereof like Lassen and Modoc County.

You forgot this: In the event of secession, call in foreign volunteers to organize a militia as extra muscle in the event a shooting war starts amongst the military.

Can I just say, that as a Michigander, I cannot see us getting along with Ohio. We cannot even get along with each other, sometimes.

Stupid Yoopers......

I wonder if China will be any help on that front. Not that I think they're a bastion of liberty, but I'm sure they wouldn't want Russia and America united against them.

Russia is actually a big backer of the Calexit movement and several other separatist movements in western countries.

But of course they are.

God damn it all.

California going it alone is kinda scary because it reddens the USA up and then you have this nuclear power next to you that wants you back and your only ally is probably going to be the Russians.

If the whole US balkanizes then California should take Oregon, Washington and Las Vegas. We'll have weed, blackjack and hookers. :3

The rest of Nevada can join the Mormons in Utah.

We'd grab Colorado and New Mexico too but Arizona doesn't want anything to do with us. Maybe if Arizona blues up a little bit more, we could take New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.