End of the US in 2010?

[Cadeho]

I'm not sure if anyone has posted this in another thread. A professor in Russia who predicted the fall of the Soviet Union is saying the US would break apart into six territories that would be influenced by some other country. Reading his thoughts, I don't think he knows Americans that well. I don't think this Union would have a second civil war and if we did break apart, wouldn't we be 50 independent nations? Hmm... the professor also doesn't mention our territories. I guess he doesn't know about Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa etc. What do you think? I saw it on CNN on New Years Day but I can't find an article there. http://www.domain-b.com/economy/worldecono...or_panarin.html

[davidals]

Once a decade or so something like this pops us, and then goes away, it's always good for a laugh. There are always varible rationales wrapped around it. I think this is the first time vodka might be part of the rationale.

I don't recall the gentleman's name, nor the name of his book, but in the late 80s (I belive) a US geographer made the rhetorical argument that the individual states had become somewhat obselete, and that the US should voluntarily reconfigure itself internally into 8 or 12 new 'states' that would correspond a bit more rationally to cultural, economic and economic pattern that actually exist: Appalachia would be a state, New England, the Pacific Coast states, the Great Lakes, the SE Coastal states, the Mid Atlantic, the upper Midwest/N Plains, Texas, Deep South, Rockies, et. al. It was a cool bit of speculation, a discussion starter that eventually went away.

The map proposed by the Russian seems to be a less broken up version of the same thing. He seems to add the novel ideas of returning Texas and Alaska to Mexico and Russia, along with the even more novel concept of Hawaii going to an Asian nation instead of regaining its' independence.

Seeing Salt Lake City turn Chinese, Wichita turn Canadian, Atlanta turn Mexican, whilst the capital of the Confederacy runs off and joins the EU would be quite a work of performance art, for sure.

[Gard]

This is more of a good laugh than anything. For one thing, Americans may be divided on some issues, but when a crisis emerges, we have a history of uniting (civil war being the only real exception thus far) and we are a very nationalistic people from coast to coast, so such a breakup wouldn't happen that easily, or that soon. We are in 2009 for crying out loud, that means we would go from a country that is healing its divisions to one that is severely divided in a year, which is highly doubtful! Secondly, Regardless of whether the countries are pro or anti-US, a breakup of the US would be catastrophic for the world, given its large influence and economy (one needs only to look at what the financial crisis here has caused world-wide) and US allies would likely step in rapidly to keep things together with diplomacy or otherwise. Third thing, I doubt that other countries would actually have that much influence or have an outright takeover, with the interest in keeping the US together (especially Canada, Mexico who has a hard enough time controlling what territory it has and the people of this area would certainly fight against joining with them, and China is extremely image-conscious and would not want to be seen as having an interest in owning a piece of the US) and not wanting blood on their hands. Another thing is the states are financially better off staying together than being divided, so none of them would likely try to break away on their own. There are far more benefits to staying together than there are being divided.

All in all, an amusing map by some crazy out there.

[Captain Worley]

This guy is probably upset because the thought the Soviet Union would never break up. Psychologists call it displacement, I believe.

[Lowerdeck]

I certainly couldn't imagine the lines being drawn like that too. Georgia and South Carolina in two different countries? Kentucky and Tennessee joining with New England?

Suppose the United States government collapsed due to its insane spending and reckless behavior and overthrow from people sick of tyranny (not out of the realm of possibility, but it would take a TON to get to this point), I would just assume that the United States is replaced with some other type of government and currency system... similar to what happened in 1787 when the Articles of Confederation were replaced with the Constitution.

[monsoon]

I saw this a few days ago. It's not going to happen. However what should be alarming to Americans are the viewpoints that have formed about the United States during the Bush years which has created a huge market there for this type of thing. Anti-Americanism in the Russian Federation is higher than it ever was during the Soviet years.

[suburban george3]

I find this quite humourous. While it is true, anti-American sentiment is at an all time high in Russia, things would have to be quite desparate for our country to break apart. I would believe in a collapse of our goverment and a re-org first before the disbanding of our country.

[monsoon]

They are looking this from eyes that saw the Soviet Union split up in the 1990s and the split portions of it aligning themselves with the surrounding governments. The most interesting are the western European portions of the old CCCP placing applications to become members of the EU. There have been similar shifts by other split off portions based on the geography, history and religion. It has not been missed by them such things as the Ukraine becoming very pro-USA and wanting to join Nato.

The collapse of the Soviet Union was caused by the complete collapse of the economy there. The economy is collapsing in the USA so I can see where this idea might get traction. To them this makes logical sense. Let's also keep in mind this already happened in the United States when the Southern states abandoned the Union to form the Confederacy. And even more interesting this collection of states did align itself with Europe (as much as it could) because it needed access to Europe's industrial base, and Europe wanted access to the resources. It took a war to force these states back into the United States.

[Captain Worley]

I believe (if I remeber my history correctly) that the French and English used the Civil War as kind of a proxy war between the two countries. Interesting concept.

[Lowerdeck]

Let's also keep in mind this already happened in the United States when the Southern states abandoned the Union to form the Confederacy. And even more interesting this collection of states did align itself with Europe (as much as it could) because it needed access to Europe's industrial base, and Europe wanted access to the resources. It took a war to force these states back into the United States.