"Poof" two nations out of one.

[Tynnin]

Hey, does anyone want to try and paint a picture for me?

Let’s say “poof†we have two nations out of the USA – all the conservative nuts on one side and all the liberal wackos on the other. What would it be like in these two nations? Who would their allies be? Do you think that one nation over the other would be more successful (i.e. more prosperous, internationally liked, higher standard of living, etc.)?

 

[MerryPrankster]

Michael Edward Johnson came up with a similar scenario a long time ago. His gist was that the Bushite states are less wealthy than the Democratic states. I'm unsure of whether this is accurate or not, but for the sake of my next point, I'll assume it is.

However, which state becomes wealthier in the long term depends on policies followed. If the Democratic states go full-bore socialist, I don't think they'll stay wealthier for long. If the GOP states adopt certain economic policies, their economies could easily rise.

It depends on which element of either party becomes dominant. The GOP has free-traders and protectionists, isolationists and internationalists. The Dems have free-traders, protectionists, and in many cases, socialistic elements. There are Dems who oppose war b/c its effects on the working class are worst, and Dems who support "humanitarian" interventions (Kosovo, for example).

I know the initial scenario deemed that the "nuts" should dominate, but who exactly ARE the nuts?

I imagine the Dem nation would be more heavily allied to the more left-wing nations of Europe. Who will the GOP nation ally with?

Britain might be in the awkward position of being allied to both.

 

[Dave Howery]

uh, how can you divide the country that way? You need a 3 way division. One piece for the right wing nuts (small), one piece for the left wing nuts (small), and one for the overwhelming vast moderate majority (huge).

 

[B_Munro]

Besides, it's hard to say on which side of the divide certain groups of people will go: for instance, many African-Americans are quite conservative on social issues such as abortion, homosexual rights, religion, etc. while being quite liberal on economics. I mean, are we deciding who goes where on the basis of whether they vote Republican or Democrat- in which case, what of the approximately 50% that don't vote?

 

[David S Poepoe]

There's no proof of 'two nations' - and if there was then we should allow it to be governed by the Moderates since they will try to do whats best for the most amount of the people.

However, if there were two nations they would symbiotically get along together. The Conservative Country would have the industry which the Liberal Country's citizens would flock across the border for. The Liberal Country of course permits their citizens to be employed since thats the only way their citizens can afford the incredibly high taxes for all the services the Liberal Country provides. The citizens of the Liberal State buy the fast food of the Conservative Nation's restaurants, while the citizens of the Conservative Nation by the organically grown health food of the Liberal State. Some how it seems that everything works out in the end and it would be just as if they were one nation.