United States | News & Politics

Balkanization implies a solid geographical split between states, and in terms of the current political and cultural issues, there just isn't one. Yes there are red states and blue states, but the big cities in red states are extremely blue, and the rural areas in blue states are extremely red; the real divide is between cities and countryside.

If a second civil war does break out, it won't be a convenient split like the last one. It's going to be a lot of fighting within states and cities and suburbs and rural areas, with no clear geographical boundaries.

(As much as I'd like for the Midwest to be its own country I doubt it'll happen anytime soon. :) )

Balkanization is the good ending. But like most good endings getting there requires more effort than getting to the bad ending. So you're getting the bad ending.

Depends.

Clearly it would be better for the blue states to break away. Blue states have most of the money, people, and innovation.

But that would clearly drive the red states to start a war to keep the blue states under their control. Blue states would probably win because that's where all the brains, money, and people are, but still, war. So that's not great.

Personally, I'm getting to the point where I don't care about the bloodshed. It's a question of whether we're going to let the dumber parts of America sink the whole ship or peel away and save ourselves.