Would the U.S. be happier split along polarization lines?

[glenn1]

Say somehow you could engineer a non-violent separation of the country along political lines. Those with conservative views would form one country and those with progressive views into another, with relatively equal division of resources. The two separate countries would live in peaceful non-interference with each other. Would we all be happier in that situation, or just repolarize ourselves within even finer gradients of our own ideologies? "Oh you're not (conservative/progressive) enough" in a race to the furthest possible extremes?

 

[MrPickins]

I say we send the partisans to their own islands and us moderates can live in peace.

 

[cubby1223]

No. I am a firm believer you need both liberal-minded people, and conservative-minded people to execute a functioning society.

What we don't need is political parties. But that ain't happening.

 

[Tombstone1881]

The liberal country would be happier, while the conservative country would fail. Conservatives can't govern on their own. They would never be able to sustain their own country.

Just like now in the US, the conservative states need the liberal states to subsidize and support them. Without any help from the liberals, the conservatives would fail by their own ideology.

 

[dali71]

The liberal country would be happier, while the conservative country would fail. Conservatives can't govern on their own. They would never be able to sustain their own country.

Just like now in the US, the conservative states need the liberal states to subsidize and support them. Without any help from the liberals, the conservatives would fail by their own ideology.

Since farmers are overwhelmingly conservative, the liberal country would starve to death.

 

[maddogchen]

no one is ever happy.

There will be civil war as one side thinks the other side is doing better

 

[Jaskalas]

We will balkanize, but not exactly along those lines.
Look to the Southwest first, which in turn will encourage the Southeast, leaving the center to split and the Northwest to feel quite isolated. Northeast will, as always, remain the core of the Union.

 

[rudeguy]

It will always be us vs them. The government wants us mad at each other, not them.

 

[brycejones]

Getting outside the bubble, I still think what unites is far more than what divides us. We're like a dysfunctional family but woe be to those that try to mess with our family.

 

[rudeguy]

Getting outside the bubble, I still think what unites is far more than what divides us. We're like a dysfunctional family but woe be to those that try to mess with our family.

Oh hell yes.

Ever watch Last Vegas? That's us. We fight, argue, beat up each other...but if an outsider tries doing it, they get stomped.

 

[BurnItDwn]

The US would be happier if you got rid of all the republicans and all the democrats and stopped with the stupid polarization.

 

[zinfamous]

Since farmers are overwhelmingly conservative, the liberal country would starve to death.

liberals can just make synthetic meat and soylent, because of all the science. and, you know, education and stuff.



anyway, premise is stupid. this country tried that once. It didn't work out.

 

[cubby1223]

liberals can just make synthetic meat and soylent, because of all the science. and, you know, education and stuff.



anyway, premise is stupid. this country tried that once. It didn't work out.

You mean when the South rebelled against a Northern Republican President?

 

[rudeguy]

You mean when the South rebelled against a Northern Republican President?

You mean when the North invaded the South out of sheer aggression?

 

[brycejones]

Oh hell yes.

Ever watch Last Vegas? That's us. We fight, argue, beat up each other...but if an outsider tries doing it, they get stomped.

Did you agree with me twice today?

 

[rudeguy]

Did you agree with me twice today?

Fuck you you arrogant prick.

 

[brycejones]

Fuck you you arrogant prick.

Go suck horse dong!

 

[rudeguy]

Now let's get back to arguing.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Since farmers are overwhelmingly conservative, the liberal country would starve to death.

Most Migrant farm workers (aka farmers) tend to be Catholic Mexicans. They are not particularly conservative on fiscal issues. They are more or less pro union workers who are really struggling and continue to be abused by lax laws governing agriculture. (no minimum wage, no child labor restrictions.... etc)

 

[ivwshane]

Since farmers are overwhelmingly conservative, the liberal country would starve to death.

Because farming hard! Besides it's not like liberals have any history at all in farming or agriculture (just don't mention hippies or UC Davis).

 

[Kadarin]

Obligatory:

 

[brycejones]

Obligatory:

That would be a really long wall the US of C would have to put up to keep out illegal immigrants seeking health care.

You know for those who don't find faith clinics fulfilling their needs.

 

[rudeguy]

The reality is this country was founded in the concept of the population never agreeing. From the constitutional congress was formed until this minute, the country has been made of people with very different viewpoints. It's why our government has checks and balances. It's why we vote. It's why 100% agreement isn't needed for anything.

Our most basic right is our right to disagree. It's promised and expected that we argue. If we ever stop arguing and start accepting, our country is lost.

 

[Atreus21]

Getting outside the bubble, I still think what unites is far more than what divides us. We're like a dysfunctional family but woe be to those that try to mess with our family.

This is true.

I've often thought, in a thoroughly lame way, that if two sworn enemies on these forums met in person, they'd probably get along just fine. I have liberal friends who post the most vile hatred of conservatives on facebook, then propose we should get together for a board game.

The internet makes politics 20 times nastier.

 

[MovingTarget]

No. As has been said in this thread:
1. We already tried separation once. Ask any Southerner how that went.
2. The US would ultimately balkanize even further after the initial split-up. Every state has its own competing regions and interests within it.
3. Even if #2 did not occur, competing interests do keep the crazies in check, even if it is to a much lesser degree these days. We would get exactly what we want out of separation.....which is fucking scary if you think about it too much. Perhaps I should say we would get exactly what we deserve.