A peaceful and practical alternative to civil war

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

“Staying together as one nation” is the politically accepted position in America.

Perhaps it goes back to that colonial flag of the fragmented snake warning “join or die.”

250 years later, our inspiration has grown to the opposite side of the continent. We are bordered by two vast oceans. Our geography is second to none.

Ditto for our diversity!

Americans who trace their ancestry to Germany now outnumber the original conquerors, the English and those who occupied the British Isles, including Ireland. There is ample representation from France, Italy, Spain and the Scandinavian countries. Eastern Europe and Russia are well represented. So are natives of countries in the Far East, including Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Viet Nam and Thailand.

The vast indigenous population of the desert Southwest was originally greeted by Spanish “Conquistadores.” Intermarriage followed. Today the population of Mexico is roughly 60% “Mestizo,” part European and part Indigenous.

Five may be better than two

Some were understandably offended with the suggestion that the United States might “Balkanize.” Don’t be. If it cools tensions in the United States, it might be worth looking at.

Let’s start with the eastern ends of North America. America’s six New England States merged with Canada’s four Atlantic provinces occupy a total land area the size of Texas. Its population would be comparable to Florida’s. It is home to some of the world’s finest educational establishments. It also occupies one of the world’s most productive saltwater fishing grounds.

Directly west of “New England” is Quebec, a French-speaking province that has already voted for independence. The area is roughly twice the size of Texas with a population that is comparable to Ohio. The “Québecois” could expect generous support from France, happy to have a French language anchor in the Western Hemisphere.

Let’s jump to the West Coast. British Columbia, Washington and Oregon west of the 120 parallel, includes an area about the size of Texas and New Mexico combined. If Coos County, Oregon would represent the Southern border, the population would exceed 14 million. “Cascadia,” the official name for this region would rank only to Brazil in hydroelectric power potential.

Ottawa would remain the national capital of Canada. But it’s borders would include only Ontario, Manitoba and Nunavut. The total area would be comparable to India, with a population almost identical to New York State. As with Quebec, the nation would be “freshwater rich.”

All four nations would be included in the Arctic Council.

Forty-Two states temporarily more functional

Those eight states joining New England and Cascadia would bring the number of U.S. Senate seats to 84. Currently the Democrats hold a narrow lead. 15 of the 16 departing state seats are occupied by Democrats. Do the math! A Senate super majority would make filibuster talk needless. Republicans could get done what needed to get done legislatively, beginning with an English language mandate and an election integrity standard that would declare election day a national holiday.

Expect 42 to become 50 soon thereafter. Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, east of the 120 parallel, plus the contiguous territories to the north, would be admitted to the United States. Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon and extreme Northern California would be annexed by Idaho. What remained of California would be split into two states.

With the addition of two Canadian provinces and two California’s the state count has reached 45. Number 46 would result with a split of New York State and New York City. The latter would merge with North Jersey and return to its original title of “New Netherland.” Suffolk County, Long Island and Statin Island would remain with New York State.

South Jersey would join Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore to become the state of Delaware. Dover would remain the capital. Washington, DC would become part of Maryland. The latter’s western most counties would become part of West Virginia.

A more functional set-up

Under the terms of its admission, Texas could split into five states. I doubt this would happen. Three is more imaginable: North, South and West, all lines converging in Austin. Florida’s splitting into two states reflects the overnight growth of the Sunshine State.

“Chicagoland” and the remaining Illinois counties could go separate ways, but there could be additional options.

The changes would necessitate moving the national capital to Boone County, Kentucky home of the Cincinnati International Airport. This location would be more central to most of the country.

Keep in mind! This is not secession. A better term would be “realignment.” When the United States was founded, Washington, D.C. was central to the population. Today it is not.

Ditto was Wall Street and New York City. Allowing Charlotte and Miami to split the duties makes sense.  So does the H.I.R.E. Act, which would decentralize much of the federal bureaucracy.