The Idea of Secession

[Chap]

> strongest military in history

also

> super duper low taxes

Xanax. Do you have any F'ing grasp on reality? How is the New Confederacy going to pay for this historically strong military? You gonna have a bake sale?

- Doc

That last sentence brightened a tiring and rainy day for me. Thanks, DrC.

[Some Schmo]

Hey Schmo

Let's imagine what would happen if the US actually broke apart.

In my opinion, the United States of America, for the most part, has already broken apart (I understand that secession hasn't happened and I highly doubt that a literal secession is even practical and/or possible at this point in America's journey)

I disagree. The vast majority of Americans agree on most issues. The perception that the US has broken apart comes from watching too much for-profit media and reading the lunatics/extremists from both sides on social media.

Tons of people and businesses are already relocating directly because of this break - Politics/ideologies (Moving out of "blue" states and moving to "red" states or the other way around is a thing. A real thing!)

True, but you're assuming that the country would be divided up by the political color of the state. What if, after some crazy civil war, the only land allotted to Trumpistan was all in Maine?

Families across the country have not seen their loved ones in years because of this break. Holiday gatherings are becoming smaller because of this break. Social media has already become a space where disdain, vitriol, and hatred has completely taken over these platforms.

You just named to two primary places people talk politics: online and with family. Maybe if we stopped talking about politics in those places like we do everywhere else, things would calm down.

People don't engage one another (politicians or citizens) the way they used to. It's becoming more and more common for people/politicians to only engage other people that share their particular ideology and to dismiss/reject those that don't.

Only if they happen to know what it is. Nobody ever asks me about my political views, and I've stopped discussing it with people face to face.

In addition, it's also becoming more and more common for people on the political left to get their "news" from only politically left sources and for people on the political right to get their "news" from only politically right sources. This, in my opinion, ought to cause people to stop and thing about what "news" actually is in today's America - And what impact it may have on individuals, relationships, and families who are consuming this "news" 24/7.

Agreed. I've stopped watching all 24-hour news channels. I get irritated by them trying to get me angry (it works; they get me angry, but not at the thing they want me to be angry about, just at them).

So yeah, I'm not convinced that you need to imagine what would happen if the US actually broke apart - because I think if you take a step back and consider the "United" part of the United States of America, you will see that the US has already been broke apart.

I disagree. I think this is an important thought experiment. We absolutely need to imagine what a real secession would look like. If not, certain people will continue to think it's a good idea. Bad decisions are caused by ignorance.

What the US is right now is nothing compared to the shitstorm America would be if it split apart. We are way too interconnected for a divorce to be anything but a tragic disaster.

In short, there is very little uniting going on - Division is clearly running rampant across this country and I have no idea how the current course can be altered. Scary and very concerning in my opinion.

Well, to begin with, we should spend some time imagining what would happen if America split apart. It might actually encourage some people toward sanity again.

[ajax18]

Xanax. Do you have any F'ing grasp on reality? How is the New Confederacy going to pay for this historically strong military? You gonna have a bake sale?

- Doc

Take all the oil after we conquer the middle east. Instead of leaving rare earth minerals in Afghanistan for China, we would take them. The military would pay for itself rather quickly.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

Xanax. Do you have any F'ing grasp on reality? How is the New Confederacy going to pay for this historically strong military? You gonna have a bake sale?

- Doc

Take all the oil after we conquer the middle east. Instead of leaving rare earth minerals in Afghanistan for China, we would take them. The military would pay for itself rather quickly.

So, your ideal form of government is an expansionist fascist regime that focuses on its people’s greatness at the expense of weaker regions?

That’s weird.

- Doc

[canpakes]

Xanax. Do you have any F'ing grasp on reality? How is the New Confederacy going to pay for this historically strong military? You gonna have a bake sale?

- Doc

Take all the oil after we conquer the middle east. Instead of leaving rare earth minerals in Afghanistan for China, we would take them. The military would pay for itself rather quickly.

So you’re going to buy the military that you need after reaping the gains of invading the countries that you want to conquer before buying the military that you need?

And you are expecting that every other country will sit idly by while you attempt to conquer foreign nations 10,000 miles away with a nonexistent military force. Interesting.

I see a future opportunity to pick up a broken new country at fire sale pricing after it has squandered its few resources and capable citizenry while chasing delusions of grandeur.

[Chap]

Xanax. Do you have any F'ing grasp on reality? How is the New Confederacy going to pay for this historically strong military? You gonna have a bake sale?

- Doc

Take all the oil after we conquer the middle east. Instead of leaving rare earth minerals in Afghanistan for China, we would take them. The military would pay for itself rather quickly.

This is seriously delusional.

[Some Schmo]

Take all the oil after we conquer the middle east. Instead of leaving rare earth minerals in Afghanistan for China, we would take them. The military would pay for itself rather quickly.

So you’re going to buy the military that you need after reaping the gains of invading the countries that you want to conquer before buying the military that you need?

LOL

I knew people like ajax who want secession hadn't thought it through. Holy crap balls, there are no words to describe how braindead one needs to be to think that idea was worth posting in public.

I'm trying to imagine how long a country with ajax "laws" would last. I wouldn't give it more than a couple weeks before it imploded.

[ajax18]

Take all the oil after we conquer the middle east. Instead of leaving rare earth minerals in Afghanistan for China, we would take them. The military would pay for itself rather quickly.

This is seriously delusional.

If the US had capable leadership that's how we would have paid for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There's nothing delusional about that. We could have done it. Instead we chose to impose the cost of our national security upon our grandchildren.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

This is seriously delusional.

If the US were had capable leadership that's how we would have paid for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There's nothing delusional about that. We could have done it. Instead we chose to impose the cost of our national security upon our grandchildren.

Are you going to explain how you’re going to pay for your invasion force?

- Doc

[Some Schmo]

Are you going to explain how you’re going to pay for your invasion force?

Magic. All of his ideas rely on magic, given they are based on wishful thinking.

He thinks we should just invade countries and take what we want (with his imaginary "most powerful military in the world" paid for with proceeds from a weekend bake sale). This coming from someone who claims he can't stand "takers." I'm willing to bet he has no clue what "diplomacy" means.

It would be impossible for his country to have the most powerful military in the world given that only damned morons would live there.