Monday, March 31, 2008

Hypothetical Musings

So here is a question I find intriguing. What would the federal government do--what could it do--if (for example) the state of California decided to secede? What would the rest of the world do? It's a chance in a million or less that any state would dream of secession, let alone be able to convince 20 million+ voting citizens to agree to it, but permit the hypothesis. What would be likely to happen? It's a little bit amusing, because it seems like popular opinion would keep the government's hands tied. Would it bring in tanks and impose martial law? Blast off a chunk of California real estate at the San Andreas Fault with Cruise missles, a la Lex Luthor? Go pleading to the UN? Just let it slide? :-)

1 comment:

Sir David M. said...

Interesting idea, certainly. I can't imagine that anything would result besides a long, long series of negotiations. I can't imagine the present U.S. government even thinking of stopping secession by force.