[Trod Upon]

the emperical evidence seems to indicate that Lincoln’s preservation of the Union was a better outcome than it’s dissolution.

What evidence is that? How do we know, for instance, that things might not have turned out better if the Confederacy had been allowed to leave and we avoided the ruinous war? It seems unknowable to me.

[Darteaus94025]

Well, try to imagine what it would be like if each and every state could leave the Union over any issue that some politician got the populace jacked up about?

First would be the Confederacy, but then other states would withdraw from the “Union”, and the Confederacy also.

Then, North America would have many smaller states with different ethnic concentrations being agitated by politicians; similar to the Balkans.

How’s that working out for them? I believe the outcome is knowable to most people.