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If Every U.S. State Declared War Against the Others, Which Would Win?
Slate ^ | 11/29/2012

Posted on 11/29/2012 5:27:14 PM PST by djf

This question originally appeared on Quora. It was taken from Quora's "hypothetical battles" topic, where readers "can ask questions and get answer on fighting that wouldn't likely or ever happen in real life."

Answer by Jon Davis, veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps:

These are the accounts of the Second American Civil War, also known as the Wars of Reunification and the American Warring States Period. ... Here are the states that held the greatest strategic value from day one. They have the ability to be self-sufficient, economic strength, military strength, the will to fight, and the population to support a powerful war machine.

California Texas New York

Others that have many of the qualities that gave them an advantage are also listed.

Washington Colorado Illinois Virginia Florida Georgia

Excerpted... read the rest at link!

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Society
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To: Forward the Light Brigade
Louisiana (weak but they know how to party and make great food—they also have a great port city)

Weren't all that weak in 1812..............Just saying.
Still have a few pirate types and ne'er-do-wells types :)

101 posted on 11/29/2012 6:38:51 PM PST by The Cajun (Sarah Palin, Mark Levin......Nuff said.)
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To: yarddog
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102 posted on 11/29/2012 6:39:09 PM PST by ansel12 (The only Senate seat GOP pick up was the Palin endorsed Deb Fischer's successful run in Nebraska)
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To: vikingd00d

That is interesting.
In the cities the gangs have guns, they would eventually not be able to control the hungry population, so they would either have to raid other states or change.
The rural areas could take care of themselves and have guns and will defend themselves and neighbors.
This is such a fascinating question/discussion.


103 posted on 11/29/2012 6:39:40 PM PST by svcw (Why is one cell on another planet considered life, and in the womb it is not.)
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To: Tenacious 1

“They’ll tell you.” LMAO! That is so true! Born in Ballenger, center of state and though i moved out at 2 years old, i AM Texan to the core and will TELL anybody!!!


104 posted on 11/29/2012 6:39:50 PM PST by apostoli (Obama stash now includes FREE healthcare! oh, and OBAMAPHONES!)
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To: ansel12

Having lived in both southern and northern California, I’d say it’s probably worse up here. Drivers in SoCal suck less than those in NorCal.

I wish I had a dollar for every driver I’ve seen on Bay Area freeways driving 10-15mph under the speed limit, hunched over the wheel with white knuckles. And that’s when it’s dry!


105 posted on 11/29/2012 6:40:36 PM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Democrats are evil. Republicans are stupid.)
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To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

I totally agree with that.
When I go to another state I want to put a sing on my car that says ‘I learned to drive on the LA freeways, now get the hell out of my way”.
Wait will you drive in Colorado, they will pull over if its raining but drive 80 when is a blinding snow storm.


106 posted on 11/29/2012 6:44:35 PM PST by svcw (Why is one cell on another planet considered life, and in the womb it is not.)
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To: ansel12

Around 1990, I was at a gun show in Savannah, GA. There was a booth set up by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I stopped by and talked to them for maybe a half hour. I think these guys were the most knowledgeable people I have ever been around concerning the WBTS.

They told me you could join if you had any ancestors who served in the Confederate Army. Beside my Mothers family who had a bunch who were in Alabama outfits, I had two GGFs who were in the 1st and 6th Florida. That was about all I knew but those guys told me both were considered some of the most elite soldiers in the whole Confederacy.

I have since looked up their histories and sure enough both fought in major battles until they were basically destroyed. What was left of both were reformed by combining about all the Florida Brigades into a new First Florida.


107 posted on 11/29/2012 6:45:19 PM PST by yarddog (One shot one miss.)
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To: djf

Power plants matter, but nowhere near as much as the grid. It would simply collapse in 49 states if TX shut off a huge chunk of the power to Cali. Too interconnected and simply would not be able to handle the shifting load. (Not even going to get into the power phase issues except to say “Boom”!)

Again, this isn’t supposition. TX STOPPED that kind of cascading failure before. Causing one would be trivial...


108 posted on 11/29/2012 6:48:45 PM PST by piytar (The predator-class is furious that their prey are shooting back.)
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To: humblegunner; Eaker; TheMom; Travis McGee; GeronL

Ping, interesting article and discussion you will enjoy.


109 posted on 11/29/2012 6:49:42 PM PST by mnehring
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To: yarddog

“He single handed destroyed a large portion of the Confederacy’s Armies.”

Maybe that’s why the US Army named a fort after him.


110 posted on 11/29/2012 6:49:56 PM PST by MikeSteelBe (Austrian Hitler was, as the Halfrican Hitler does.)
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To: piytar

I’ll throw a variable out for you on that one. Silicon Valley hackers versus Round Rock hackers fighting for control of Texas’ grid. That cyber war may be bigger than the gunpowder war.


111 posted on 11/29/2012 6:52:02 PM PST by mnehring
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To: svcw
California depends to a great deal on the Colorado River watershed ~ and without it, California is not particularly self-suficient with its current population.

They would have, instead, a massive refugee problem.

112 posted on 11/29/2012 6:53:24 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: djf

Here is the Quora thread with a ton more detail and analysis.
http://www.quora.com/Hypothetical-Battles/If-every-state-of-the-USA-declared-war-against-each-other-which-would-win


113 posted on 11/29/2012 6:54:01 PM PST by mnehring
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To: mnehring

Good point.


114 posted on 11/29/2012 6:54:01 PM PST by piytar (The predator-class is furious that their prey are shooting back.)
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To: yarddog

My step dad was Sons of the Confederacy, and I keep meaning to get around to joining, when I can get it together based on my family.


115 posted on 11/29/2012 6:58:11 PM PST by ansel12 (The only Senate seat GOP pick up was the Palin endorsed Deb Fischer's successful run in Nebraska)
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To: MikeSteelBe
Photobucket I think the Texas troops had a song which went something like this: You may sing about your Jackson or praise Robert E. Lee but John B. Hood of Texas played hell in Tennessee. I will say one thing for him. He was a fighter. He lost both legs and maybe arms too. This is the grave of my Great Grandpa, George Padgett who served in Co. H, 6th Fla. Infantry.
116 posted on 11/29/2012 7:00:25 PM PST by yarddog (One shot one miss.)
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To: ansel12

If forced to admit it, I think very highly of Texas. When we were first married, we lived in San Antonio and then Dallas. I like both places.

A few years before I had been engaged to one of the sweetest little girls you ever saw. She was from East Texas and as the saying goes, was prettier than a speckled pup.


117 posted on 11/29/2012 7:04:03 PM PST by yarddog (One shot one miss.)
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To: yawningotter

Sure they can create mobs of people, but what happens when a bunch of Texans starts shooting at them? ............................ Canada is near by, it worked during Nam. But its also the home of the 10th Mt. Div. and what is left of the 42nd ARNG.Div.. There will be some resistance, but RT 87 will have a traffic Jam.


118 posted on 11/29/2012 7:07:27 PM PST by Bringbackthedraft (Who we elect is not as important as who they bring in with them.)
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To: yawningotter

Sure they can create mobs of people, but what happens when a bunch of Texans starts shooting at them? ............................ Canada is near by, it worked during Nam. But its also the home of the 10th Mt. Div. and what is left of the 42nd ARNG.Div.. There will be some resistance, but RT 87 will have a traffic Jam. Also some area’s of Brooklyn will fight.


119 posted on 11/29/2012 7:08:22 PM PST by Bringbackthedraft (Who we elect is not as important as who they bring in with them.)
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To: qam1

I was referring to the city dwellers. The New York Army probably will be made up mostly of poorly educated and poorly motivated city people because the upstaters would not be as willing to fight for the goals of New York City. If The Unites States fell apart, the divisions would not be along just state or regional lines. I can see cities and rural areas within the same state waging their own private wars which would prevent them from thinking about forming alliances or taking on other states for several years. Even after the states began to stabilize “New York” or “Texas” would not have the same borders as before.


120 posted on 11/29/2012 7:12:49 PM PST by yawningotter
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