Is there an unspoken rule somewhere

[matt819]

that directs DUers not to explore the options for breaking into new countries?

Think about it. During the Cold War, Sovietologists began discussing in the 1980s how the Soviet Union might evolve when the Cold War eventually came to an end. Some predicted that end somewhere in the early 21st century. Others were right in predicting its demise sooner. Those analysts included in their assessments how the country might break up along religious, ethnic, and other lines. That's what analysts do.

And my guess is that analysts today - allies and not - are exploring the potential for a US break-up of some sort. Maybe it's a bunch of folks in a back room somewhere, kind of like Mulder and Scully, that nobody really takes seriously. But it's probably happening.

There are 63 million Americans, at least, who are horrified at what's happening. And, sure, mid-term elections might change the balance of power in Congress, and that's great. But it might not. And we have a fully partisan Supreme Court and, of course, a madman in the white house whose goal appears to be the destruction of all national and international structures that have helped things keep running for 70 years. Badly at times, and not particularly smoothly at others, but still, when you woke up in the morning you could pretty much count on how your days would progress.

And let's not forget the polarization. Where liberals see horror, 90% of Republicans see a well-running engine. This. Is. Not. Normal.

Maybe it's sedition to explore the options. If so, looks like California has fired the first shot in that direction. Perhaps it's time for others to weigh in on the alternatives. Call it alternative history. Call it pie in the sky. Hell, call it ridiculous. But when you do, think about how much has happened since DU started and how often the right calls were made here before they hit the mainstream.

[ret5hd]

1. Some of it is the fact that this scenario...

Is exactly what Putin is going for. We did it to USSR, he's trying to do it to us. Those that seem to not be cognizant of this aren't serious people imho.

[matt819]

3. Even so

Put Putin aside. Hell, put history aside.

Take a look at the country we have become. There are those who would argue that we are a mostly "purple" country, but to continue with color analogies, I think that's looking at it through rose-colored glasses. Sociologists and political scientists have been having a grand old time for the better part of two decades addressing the issue of political and economic polarization, and books have been written about how we are really 7, or 9, or 11 different nations. And this is irrespective of what Putin would like or what trump might be trying to do. Unless we can figure out a way to do away with the tyranny of the minority, the status quo, as it is now in 2018, will remain, and the polarization will become worse. We can talk about GOTV and Resistance and such, and that's fine. But we have RW extremists/fascists from the WH on down doing things and saying things that might not be sufficiently quieted with GOTV and Resistance efforts. If we haven't crossed the Rubicon yet, it's certainly within view.

I just started listening to Stormtroopers by Daniel Siemens, so maybe chalk up my attitude to that. I'm just at the beginning, but the descriptions of the origins of the Brownshirts sure sound like RW extremists and Oathkeepers and militias.

[ret5hd]

4. I am not willing to quit.

[genxlib]

2. I don't think the two can be compared

The Soviet Union was an amalgamation of countries and cultures that had been assembled in fairly recent history against their will.

The US has a much longer history of being unified and developed within the context of being Americans.

The difference also means that are cultural divisions are much more intertwined in the US whereas the breakaway states from the USSR had maintained a fairly distinct culture and ethnic makeup.