I think it's too simplistic to say that red and blue means north and south. Look beyond the cities (or at the red vs. blue election map from 2004) and you'll see that most of the country in the North votes and thinks Red just like the South. Look at West Virginia, for instance-we're represented by Robert KKK Byrd, but we overwhelmingly went for Bush both times.
"I think it's too simplistic to say that red and blue means north and south."
Not altogether simplistic, on the state level. The nature of the electoral college creates a greater distinction than actually exists, and for good reason; this provides further validation of national election results, and reduces squabbles and disputes, such as we've seen in the last two presidential elections. Imagine if there were no electoral college and we had such a close election ... we'd have challenges across the entire country, where ever there was some chance of overturning a result. Absolute mayhem.
But, truthfully, the red/blue divide is largely a split between urbanites and suburban/rural voters.
I'm a native Virginian who has spent some time in upstate NY the last few years and found the people there to be exceptionally friendly and gracious, the countryside beautiful. OTOH, driving through the Charlotte area of North Carolina the last few years hasn't been too pleasant. It's congested and overcrowded and the roadside service stations were often dirty, while the employees in them acted like they could hardly give a damn about their customers.
My opinion is that buying land is probably a much better investment in NC than upstate NY, but I believe I'd rather live in NY. I'm slightly shocked to find myself saying this, but I can't get past what I've seen the last few years.
That being said, I wonder if there are really very many Southerners who'd truly wish the South were a seperate country. I tend to think not, in spite of the arguments back and forth.