Engaging in several debates concerning public policy (bad idea), it often felt like my debate partner and I are just talking past each other. These political debates reminded me of a wonderful presentation by Juan Enriquez to Pop!Tech a few years ago.
30 minutes long: starts out very slow, but good learning experience if you have the time.
Please note that this presentation was in 2006. Most of the trends that Juan Enriquez presented have gotten worse and sometimes significantly worse. There are other secessionist movement all over the world. Some Belgians are thinking of destroying their country. Afghanistan is not even close to a unified country. Iraq is only being held together because of US intervention. US national debt is even worse condition than it was before. Hispanics are even larger percentage of the American population. Drawing of parallels with the British Empire might be alarming.
Please watch it and volunteer your answers to these two questions. Feel free to expound on your opinions. But please try to stay on topic. (I might be I asking too much!)
Poll: Will there be a secession of states from US within the next 20 years? (Vote): Yes (Vote): No
Here's my opinion for anyone that would like to know. + Show Spoiler +
I think there will be some form of secession when the federal debt becomes unmanageable, and default or severe inflation risk will probably cause the richer parts of the country to secede from the union.
I tend to welcome this prospect provided that it's done in peace without civil war and without a giant wall fencing people in(Germany). The wide political differences between various states and politics could become a subject of intellectual curiosity rather than rabid political opposite. Not having to fight over the spoils of politics may have that positive effect.
damn... forgot about the tag... Is this a [P]? I'd like it to be as apolitical as possible.
Second question - now about Mexico! There are five major drug cartels down there. They are very territorial, often running both government drug warriors and competing cartels off of their territory. One of these cartels, La Familia, has started branching off into social services and providing welfare for the local population in exchange for local support. Sometimes, they protect the local population from "enterprising" policemen. The other cartels are watching and learning from the experiment. All of them have been trying to control the media. In the past, it's been fatal intimidation. Recently, it's more of subtle intimidation, bribery, or persuasion. They've been marketing themselves as positive social force in Mexico. The move towards non-violent activities while "controlling" territory inside Mexico are all steps towards gaining legitimacy among the people. If the trend continues, drug cartels may very well replace Mexico Federals as the de facto government in parts of Mexico. So the question here is:
Poll: How many Mexican drug cartels will become defacto governments in the next 20 years? (Vote): None (Vote): One or Two Cartels (Vote): Three or More Cartels
As per request a third poll:
Poll: What would be your reaction to a part of the country seceding? (Vote): Move there. Be free of central government tyranny! (Vote): Personally take up arms. Kill those traitors! (Vote): I don't know. I am a drone. I listen to whatever my government tells me to do. (Vote): War! I might not fight but at least I'm a chickenhawk! (Vote): Peace! Let them secede! (Vote): Secession is a good idea. I think I'll do it, too. (Vote): I hope it doesn't affect me. I think I'll hide under a rock until everything blows over.
The only state that I would think MIGHT consider seceding sometime in the future is Utah, because they're like 50+% backwards brainwashed nuts
It's important to note that the only time that states have ever seceded was due to drastic social change driving the economy of the people with rights (at the time) into oblivion. Change in policy drove the people with power/money in those states to the ground. This is not happening at all currently. What motivation would an individual state have to secede? It's not like the rest of the country is individually forcing people out of their jobs, one by one.
EDIT:
I've actually changed my mind. I plan on seceding until I can participate in the OSL finals raffle. Down with America!
I think there will be some form of secession when the federal debt becomes unmanageable, and default or severe inflation risk will probably cause the richer parts of the country to secede from the union.
Eh, if you look at history, the debt was much worse after world war 2. We need a much better system of handling our peacetime finances, but we're not in crisis mode or even close to it.
I don't see how this isn't political. Would you mind explaining?
As far as I know Pennsylvania is the only commonwealth in the US.
It's not actually a state, but gets counted as one for some unknown reason. Technically we've been "seceded" from the rest of the US since the beginning.
Look, there's absolutely no reason for any state to leave the United States right now, the interests of our individual states are too intertwined, and the politics of becomming a country would be too messy. Not to mention that little thing called... uh... treason.
On November 12 2009 12:03 tree.hugger wrote: Reminds me of this dude.
Look, there's absolutely no reason for any state to leave the United States right now, the interests of our individual states are too intertwined, and the politics of becomming a country would be too messy. Not to mention that little thing called... uh... treason.
Treason is specifically defined in the constitution. I do not think secession alone qualifies.
where the fuck were all these people when bush was in office. Seriously. Seceding from the US has got to be the most dumb fucking idea ive ever heard in my life.
I've spent roughly half my life in California and the other half in Pennsylvania. AND I'm Mexican. If this ever happened I would be so torn between staying in PA or moving back to CA or moving down South.
On one hand I would never like to live under Chinese rule and would rather be labeled "European"... just a personal preference. On the other hand... Asian females > Europeans females. I go down to Mexico pretty often, LOVE IT... when visiting, but would rather not stay down there for long periods of time.
EPT
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