Balkanization isn’t a master plan of any thinker, it’s a natural process as people move to cut themselves off from those they strongly disagree with.
I think there is a strong argument to be made that Balkanization is the ultimate, if unintended, result of the US founding fathers’ plan. From the very beginning it was a deal with the devil: a compromise between factions — who ought to be bitter enemies — under threat from a superior foe (the British Empire).
The collapse really began to build steam after the last great foe, the Soviet Union, was defeated.
Isn’t more division inevitable, though? I know a lot of people want to believe that Americans are more unified than not, and that we only disagree on some details, but agree on the core principles, but is that actually true? I think most Americans generally believe in broadly liberal ideals, like individual rights and freedoms, but disagree pretty strongly on which rights and freedoms should be prioritized (or recognized/enforced at all), and for whom. And that makes a pretty big difference. Those differences are more fundamental than a lot of people would like to acknowledge. Plus, there are, I think, a not insignificant number of Americans who aren’t guided by liberal principles at all. I’m one of those people, and, look, I understand that people like me are a small minority, but we exist. And I’m kind of sick of not having any representation at all.
Sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy that ends with the least resourced groups dead. Good thing the capitalists are famously the least-strapped chuds around.
Maybe you’re right. Maybe group autonomy and independence must be sacrificed for economic and material stability. Maybe strong, centralized technocratic states are better for the broad base of people than allowing each group to have their own autonomy and self governance. If that’s true, then I guess the US needs to become more like China. How do we go about doing that?
Well, I’m not a bolshevik, or Marxist-Leninist/Maoist, whatever, so that’s not what I want. I realize that MLs don’t really give a shit what people want, though. Still, I think the US getting taken over by MLs is pretty unlikely.
Yeah I was being somewhat cheeky. But it is true in one sense, because we’ve entered a new chapter and everything has changed.
Now it is clear that the only thing that will mobilize the American working class to overthrow a fascist regime (and the 0.1% class they serve) is a rock-solid, revolutionary promise of extensive socialist economic reform, broad democratic electoral reform, and an explosion of public works that would make FDR blush.
There is no going back. Status quo politics died on November 5th, 2024. That era is gone. No more “moderate“ republicans. No more “Liberal” democrats. GOP now can only elect trump cronies. Dems now will struggle to elect anyone but progressives.
As to who leads the charge, I think it will be AOC, because Bernie is setting up an alley-oop and she is the only one among them with the energy and chutzpah to slam dunk a national bash-the-fash campaign.
Balkanizing the nation isn’t the solution.
Balkanization isn’t a master plan of any thinker, it’s a natural process as people move to cut themselves off from those they strongly disagree with.
I think there is a strong argument to be made that Balkanization is the ultimate, if unintended, result of the US founding fathers’ plan. From the very beginning it was a deal with the devil: a compromise between factions — who ought to be bitter enemies — under threat from a superior foe (the British Empire).
The collapse really began to build steam after the last great foe, the Soviet Union, was defeated.
What is the solution?
I have no idea, but more division isn’t the answer, champ.
Why? If people really truly deep deep in their hearts, fundamentally disagree about something, why should they continue living together?
Couples break up, roommates move out, people immigrate, empires expand and recede, borders change.
Why must the US be this sea to shining sea empire? It’s not like there is some natural or physical reason.
Why does one border have to be here versus there, it’s arbitrary anyway, it’s changed in the past and it can change again.
Isn’t more division inevitable, though? I know a lot of people want to believe that Americans are more unified than not, and that we only disagree on some details, but agree on the core principles, but is that actually true? I think most Americans generally believe in broadly liberal ideals, like individual rights and freedoms, but disagree pretty strongly on which rights and freedoms should be prioritized (or recognized/enforced at all), and for whom. And that makes a pretty big difference. Those differences are more fundamental than a lot of people would like to acknowledge. Plus, there are, I think, a not insignificant number of Americans who aren’t guided by liberal principles at all. I’m one of those people, and, look, I understand that people like me are a small minority, but we exist. And I’m kind of sick of not having any representation at all.
Sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy that ends with the least resourced groups dead. Good thing the capitalists are famously the least-strapped chuds around.
Maybe you’re right. Maybe group autonomy and independence must be sacrificed for economic and material stability. Maybe strong, centralized technocratic states are better for the broad base of people than allowing each group to have their own autonomy and self governance. If that’s true, then I guess the US needs to become more like China. How do we go about doing that?
Bolshevising the nation
The Soviet Union failed, though.
If at first you don’t fricassee, fry, fry a hen.
Well, I’m not a bolshevik, or Marxist-Leninist/Maoist, whatever, so that’s not what I want. I realize that MLs don’t really give a shit what people want, though. Still, I think the US getting taken over by MLs is pretty unlikely.
Yeah I was being somewhat cheeky. But it is true in one sense, because we’ve entered a new chapter and everything has changed.
Now it is clear that the only thing that will mobilize the American working class to overthrow a fascist regime (and the 0.1% class they serve) is a rock-solid, revolutionary promise of extensive socialist economic reform, broad democratic electoral reform, and an explosion of public works that would make FDR blush.
There is no going back. Status quo politics died on November 5th, 2024. That era is gone. No more “moderate“ republicans. No more “Liberal” democrats. GOP now can only elect trump cronies. Dems now will struggle to elect anyone but progressives.
As to who leads the charge, I think it will be AOC, because Bernie is setting up an alley-oop and she is the only one among them with the energy and chutzpah to slam dunk a national bash-the-fash campaign.