Ultimately, the South was right.

[nwhiker]

Ultimately, the South did have the right idea.

Of course, goes without saying etc, for the wrong reasons, since theirs were based on abhorrent beliefs about slavery and the humanity of, umm, humans.

But where they were right was in what they decided to do.

When it became apparent to them that The Other Side no longer shared (*) their basic beliefs, that the other side no longer held the same tenets as to what the fundamentals of society and civilization should be, they opted for out. They decided to leave a county that no longer held to their ideals (repeating: their ideals were despicable.) (*)If the rest of the country ever agreed with those ideals or just went along to form the United States is something I'm sure those of you who once took US history know, but that I don't. The point holds that the North was no longer willing to stand by and allow the abomination of slavery to continue.

We're at the same crossroads as the South. Half the county, maybe even more, no longer holds the same fundamental beliefs. The other side is so blinded by hate of the non-deserving other that they will vote to deny said other health care, access to food, education (looking at you, Betsy DeVos), the fundamental right to their own bodily autonomy, and freedom from oppression and fear .

By "We" right now, I mean blue states. Yes, there are pockets of resistance in a sea of red (Austin, Ann Arbor, Madison...), but at this point, red states have decided collectively that they loooove hate too much and want to be free to hate pridefully more than they want to see their follow citizens fed, healthy, educated, and able to fully participate in society.

We no longer even share a common belief in fucking science. There isn't much to be gained in discussions with people who think scientists are lying, don't know what they're talking about, and really, to use a favourite Asimov quote of mine, we've gotten to this point: Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'

So maybe it is time to start talking about parting ways. The West Coast, the Northeast, Minnesota and Illinois, maybe as one country, maybe as several, but it's time to start thinking of whether we are better together or apart.

At this point, I would vote in favour of "apart". I don't see the point is trying to persuade states who voted for, and continue to support and approve of Trump and the obstructionist Republicans that our ideas are better and grounded in reality. That they help people, even the people who vote against them.

The states that voted against an agenda that would help everyone are, in general, the taker states, the ones that take more from the same federal government that they are trying to weaken. The blue states give more in taxes than we take back, and in return, we get to be governed by a bunch of incompetent hateful mouth breathers that the "takers" voted it. This is a ridiculous situation, and one that should not continue.

It's time to go, West Coast people. Let Iowa and Mississippi and Wisconsin and Michigan and Louisiana and Florida and the rest of them wallow in their hatred. Take our marbles and see what we can do when we're not being dragged down by states who oppose progress and deny reality.