[central_va]

I would too, but it's a faulty premise. There would never be two self-sustaining nations. The south simply could not stand on its own. It lacked the infrastructure and the resolve to build the infrastructure necessary to provide for itself.

I am sure you feel the same way about the south in 2010. Arrogant SOB you are.

[rockrr]

And, as usual, you would be wrong. Even the simple-minded (like you) can see that the south has strong industry now and that the north - especially the northeast - is in decline.

But it wasn’t that way 145 years ago. As much as I rue the possibility of the Union breaking up, I wonder what might have happened if the south had built up industry and self-sustainability and then properly sued for secession. In this way Vigilanteman’s premise of a partnered ally would be valid.