OOC: Consider it a fringe ideology (that the three Pacific states are rightfully independent, owing to their weaker ties TTL to the East Coast) if you like. That just makes it more interesting.
IC:
Yeah, there is that. Still.
OOC: I can go along with that. Cool, man.
Absolutely right. Have you seen how people live in Nebraska and the Midwest? It would be an improvement if they did live in shit. Its tedious and complex just crossing across what once was the United States. I think the last time one went by train one had to have at least twelve different travel visas to go between Salt Lake City and New York City alone.
The repeated wars with the Confederacy have most of the inhabitants of the region extremely suspicious of the Federal Government. The suspension of both the Ohio and Wisconsin state governments as well as the Federal occupation of Chicago have accomplished nothing to but politically and economically destablize the Great Lakes region.
The Mountain States are in little better shape. Draft riots happen every few years in Denver and Boise.
IC: I assume you've been listening to Bill Jones again?