American secession : the looming threat of a national breakup

"Americans have never been more divided, and we're ripe for a breakup. The bitterness, the gridlock, the growing tolerance of violence, invite us to think that we'd be happier were we two different countries. In all the ways that matter, save for the naked force of law, we are already two nations. There's a second reason why secession beckons. We're over-big, one of the biggest countries in the world. Smaller countries are happier and less corrupt. They're less inclined to throw their weight around militarily, and they're freer. If there are advantages to bigness, the costs exceed the benefits. Bigness is badness. Across the world, just about every country is staring down a secession movement. Many have already split apart. And are we to think that, almost alone in the world, we're immune from this? Or that the Civil War made secession impossible? If so, this book explodes those comforting beliefs, and shows just how easy it would be for a state to exit the union if that's what its voters wanted"-- Provided by publisher Americans have never been more divided, and we're ripe for a breakup. The bitterness, the gridlock, the growing tolerance of violence, invite us to think that we'd be happier were we two different countries. In all the ways that matter, save for the naked force of law, we are already two nations. There's a second reason why secession beckons. We're over-big, one of the biggest countries in the world. Smaller countries are happier and less corrupt. They're less inclined to throw their weight around militarily, and they're freer. If there are advantages to bigness, the costs exceed the benefits. Bigness is badness. Across the world, just about every country is staring down a secession movement. Many have already split apart. And are we to think that, almost alone in the world, we're immune from this? Or that the Civil War made secession impossible? If so, this book explodes those comforting beliefs, and shows just how easy it would be for a state to exit the union if... Cover 2 Title Page 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 8 Preface 9 Part I: A Cure for a Divided People? 12 1 One Nation, Divisible 13 2 When Secession Is Politically Correct 25 3 Secession: A How-To Guide 30 Part II: A Cure for Bigness? 49 4 Bigness and Badness 50 5 Bigness and Happiness 59 6 Bigness and Corruption 67 7 Bigness and the Military 79 8 Bigness and Freedom 87 9 Bigness and Wealth 95 Part III: Lesser Cures 105 10 Secession Lite 106 11 Home Rule 113 12 Everything That Rises Must Converge 124 Appendix 128 Acknowledgments 136 Notes 137 Index 150 One nation, divisible -- When secession is politically correct -- Secession : a how to guide -- Bigness and badness -- Bigness and happiness -- Bigness and corruption -- Bigness and the military -- Bigness and freedom -- Bigness and wealth -- Secession lite -- Home rule -- Everything that rises must converge