The great crackups

We're accustomed to a handful of large, powerful central states and have lost the cultural memory of a time when authority was exercised over small, relatively homogenous areas. Forcing different worldviews and social systems to coexist naturally lends to an increase in central power. Hence D.C.'s enthusiam for importing as many non-European immigrants as they can get away with.

I have nothing against other ethnic groups. As I've said before, I'm no racist, but I'll admit to being a culturalist. And demography is a major--perhaps THE driver--of cultural norms. The tidal wave of immigration orchestrated by our Federal overlords is intended to erode the normative systems first put into place to restrain power in our system of governance.

But there's always a remnant:

I will argue that two local conditions are necessary for a viable movement and successful independence.

First, the state must be well off economically and able to hold it’s own, i.e. it must have more to gain than lose. Hence, states like Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria are the two richest in Germany, essentially subsidizing the rest would have more motivation than the poor underdeveloped east German states which feed off the rest. The second condition is that the region must have a well developed and unique identity which comes in the form of a strong dialect or different language, history of independence or autonomy and other characteristics that go into defining a culture. Thus, Bavaria (which is actually what most people think about when they think of Germany) is both rich and has a long cultural past and different identity. It has its own dialect, a history of independence and a host of other unique traits including traditional song, dance, clothes etc that other regions lack.

Given that Europe already has a number of microstates – Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City – and growing list of independence movements (Scotland, Flanders, Catalonia, North Italy, Bavaria), I find the map a reasonably accurate picture of what Europe would look like should this trend continue.

The author is obviously Eurocentric in his analysis, but there is no special dispensation that the United States as we've known it is guaranteed for all time. In fact, I'd argue the irresponsibility of the past half century virtually ensures some sort of upheaval, as there is a growing gulf between those who desire limited government, and those who now see it as the panacea to all their problems (oh, that wolf at the door!). So is Europe the only region likely to see a redrawing of communities? I suspect not. Like many of the European examples cited, there is a region of the U.S. that retains a distinctive cultural identity, however diluted by modern mass media. One does not capitalize the north, east, or west. But the South. There is something yet distinct about this region, that despite over a century of cultural eradication efforts, retains a spirit still defiant and willing to shout "sic semper tyranis." Indeed, is may be that the ranks of rural trailer dwellers, so derided by the upper crust, may be all that stands between ultimate consolidation of power and maintaining the ability to determine one's own destiny. There are still those who would rather be master of their small domain than a serf in a fancy McMansion.

Deo vindice!