[DesertRhino]

“The point about the three great examples of the advanced part of a nation subjugating the backward part is insightful and chilling.”

I do not accept the premise that blue states are advanced, and the so called red states are backwards. Show me examples of how “advanced” blue states and the cities are please. I see pervasive corruption, abysmal education, complete moral depravity, homelessness, and in some of them human feces litters the streets.

None of that is the case in “red” states.

They are backwards, we are advanced.

[OldGoatCPO]

Maybe during America's Industrial Boom or the late 1800s to early 1900s the hinterlands were subjugated by the more advanced cities. But this is not that age. Technology does not require cities on a coast or river for easy access to distribution centers and ports. Raleigh/Durham or the Triangle region in NC is competitive with Silicon Valley. You can build worldwide distribution centers in Kansas or Missouri. Move the Merc and Stock Exchange to central Iowa and it would make no difference in the 21st Century. The major metropolitan areas are located strategically for a 20th Century economy. We do not need Chicago, NYC or San Francisco as they currently exist in the 21st Century. The fact is our major metro areas like NYC and Chicago are already decaying from within. In fact Amazon is proving my point with their strategically located distribution centers.

Here would be a good test. For one week, no trade between Blue and Red areas of the country. Who suffers worse? I am sure a good programmer could run a simulation of what would occur if all interstate trade and travel in the USA between Blue and Red regions stopped for one week. They need us more then we need them. Before this country devolves any further maybe we need to show those snobs how much they really need us.