Is the USA too big?

by Diogenesister 25 Replies latest social current

• 

  Diogenesister

  Fred Deftone on another thread about the tragic events at m. Stoneman Douglas school:

  The US constitution wasn't written for 50 states either. The country has gotten too big and I think the solution is fragmentation. States like Texas and New York have nothing in common, it's bizarre that they'e part of the same union

  I'm not sure if my question will be seen so I thought I'd start a thread: what does everyone, particularly our US cousins, think about this statement?

  Would it help, or hinder, issues like immigration, national security, safety and gun control ? And if you had the choice which states would you like to be together and, or, live in if you got to make the decision? Or would you keep it just as it is ( do you maybe have just one state you would jettison, and why ?!!!)

  Also, is the second amendment, in your opinion, relevant in the modern world and would you keep it in your dream union?
• 

  Diogenesister

  Nobody? I thought this was quite an interesting subject.

  I've always been very interested in American history and politics but I guess it's different if you live there.

  By the way I wasn't making a statement I was asking people's opinions.
• 

  dubstepped

  My wife and I have talked about this. Different areas of the country have different prevailing points of view on things. Some areas are more liberal, some more conservative. It is hard to create laws that really reflect the mindsets of the various areas with their differences. I don't know if it is good or bad. Drawing from so many perspectives maybe you end up somewhere closer to the middle. Then again, our politics has become so insane and polarized. I definitely think there should be more than a two party system. I don't really get into politics much. I find it nauseating. However, it seems like if states kind of governed themselves and the feds stayed out of the way there are ways that it wouldn't matter so much how large the country as a whole was.
• 

  OneGenTwoGroups

  We only have two political parties. Republican, and Republican-light (Democrats) or maybe it's vice versa? Thus both houses are full of predatory politicians like Ted Cruz and Nancy Pelosi.

  My only hope is that street epistemology continues to grow and critical thinking skills become a thing. Obama was a center right politician. Bush was a dummy and Trump is a fucking buffoon. Having a president that does more than just give lip service to progressive ideas would be great.

  We are now borrowing 1 trillion a year to pay the bills. And we continue to suck the cock of the military industrial complex.

  And yes, we don't need 1 billion people living here.
• 

  LoveUniHateExams

  Interesting OP.

  Yes there many states that have different political persuasions - liberal Cali vs the conservative South - but all states, with the possible exceptions of Hawaii and Alaska, share a common American culture, a common language and are white-majority in terms of demographics.

  I think that American attitudes about patriotism may be much healthier than attitudes in my country (UK), so I'm guessing a majority of US citizens want the US to remain one country.
• 

  Diogenesister

  Dub stepped However, it seems like if states kind of governed themselves and the feds stayed out of the way there are ways that it wouldn't matter so much how large the country as a whole was.

  Yes I wondered if that was the case the various states would be able to get more done and also ensure the will of their constituents was followed. It seems crazy to me you can "escape" the consequences of a crime by crossing a state boundary, or that if you commit a crime in one place you get the death penalty...but if you did so 5 miles down the road you would Not, but then I live on an island, I guess it's just the same on any other landmass such As Europe.

  LUHE I think that American attitudes about patriotism may be much healthier than attitudes in my country (UK), so I'm guessing a majority of US citizens want the US to remain one country

  Yes I agree it's quite refreshing actually, American pride. We Brits are so down on ourselves...I think someone on here called it "privilege guilt" or something like that!

  So no one has said what States they would like to be together in their dream world?!

  How about Oregon, New York city, Florida, Michigan plus a bit of Virginia together?! Oh and lake Tahoe of course!
  
  
• 

  DesirousOfChange

  However, it seems like if states kind of governed themselves and the feds stayed out of the way there are ways that it wouldn't matter so much how large the country as a whole was.

  If the Feds stuck to governing the issues that the Constitution gives to the Fed Govt and left everything else to the States, there would more local control over 90% of the divisive issues.
  
• 

  Bobcat

  This reminds me of Igor Panarin.
• 

  dubstepped

  DGS - It seems crazy to me you can "escape" the consequences of a crime by crossing a state boundary...

  I'm not so sure that's true. States do have differing views of the death penalty, but it isn't like you can just walk away from a crime by crossing borders. Heck, that can actually be a crime in the right circumstances.
  
  
• 

  JeffT

  If the Feds stuck to governing the issues that the Constitution gives to the Fed Govt and left everything else to the States, there would more local control over 90% of the divisive issues.

  This. The constitution very clearly splits responsibility and authority between the states and the Federal government. The federal government is authorized to regulate relationships with other governments and between the states. Everything else is left to the states. We need to stick to that.

  Just before the start of the Constitutional convention George Washington asked James Madison if he was proposing a Federal Government or a National Government. Madison's reply was "Federal." (I'm trying to find my source for this, it's somewhere in my home library I will post it when I find it, in the meantime look at Federalist papers 39 & 46). The distinction is crucial. Under a federal system the constituent generally have authority over their own affairs.

  Bottom line, the American people need to stop expecting Washington DC to do everything and let the states handle those things that are within their area of responsibility.