In point of fact the divide is not really red states versus blue states as those states in the red column have substantial blue voters and likewise those states in the blue column have substantial red voters. If this devolves to civil war then the net result will be far more chaotic then anyone imagines as there will not be clearlines drawn. Think of just about every state as a Civil War border state. There are of course considerable differences in communications and transportation than in the days of the American *Civil War.* But note that when similar divisions between Finland's pro and anti-Communist factions moved from debate into gunfire in 1918, the result was both exceedingly bloody and intense; but over in something like 4 months.
In many locations in the US, I don't think it'd take anywhere near that long. And the survivors could then be gainfully employed cleaning up the messy aftermath.
But Finland was Finns.
We do not share the same longstanding steppes bond....we are fragmented much more so along every imaginable avenue.
I do like the Finn example in theory though.
I see many fronts here.
"Item: 'Blue' America is financially bankrupt, and California is a glaring example. 'Blue' America has degenerated into a coven of grasping, mentally diminished, selfish, thuggish special interest groups who have become increasingly violent in fighting over what is left of the Big City Democratic machines that have run things for the past 150 years."Remember that.
Because all the while as the hordes of barbarians have been growing at a geometric rate, the other side & in inverse numbers have been successfully pacified either through a myriad of public education sponsored indoctrination, by *legal* means, or a myriad of other forms of brainwashing & the end result isn't hard to guess the outcome when the days comes these two forces inevidably meet.
As the time approaches we see people right now who'er simply unable to fight back [read: deprogrammed to "violence"], too afraid (for a variety of reasons), too damned lazy (& fat), or all of the above.
Can see that much right now almost anywhere one chooses to look.
"The 'blue' islands on the 2000 map can best be described as cancers on the national MRI..."
Or the makings of an army for some not-so-distant time in our future?
Think that'd be out of the question for the kind of cowards who're leading us now? :o)
"-- blighted areas of malignant, imploding selfishness that are trying to spread across the entire national body. And the 'red' nation has to keep paying for it."
Or else.
"I have to wonder how much longer this will be the case. The defacto separation of 'red' and 'blue' has already occurred, and is fat too profound to be fixed by any social 'bussing.' At what point does the whole scheme collapse?"
Now there's an excellent candidate for the $64 question, eh?
"And how is this going to be expressed and dealt with in the coming 2004 elections?"
HA!!
Why of course, as it always has been expressed & dealt with before. Of course.
God bless ya arch.
You're the only person I know who has suggested a peaceful & orderly solution for combating this mess.
I only hope my fear(s) aren't realized & that you'll -- somehow -- be made to pay, for, "Let no good deed go unpunished."
You may not be "the" last effort made to do so, arch.
...but you'll surely be amoung the last.