Will you remain with the Union or will you join the Confederacy?
Seriously, i doubt it'll ever happen in our lifetime. But what i see quite possibly happening is the GOP splitting in half. I actually believe it's the only solution for the GOP to resolve its crisis. But another solution would be to reverse the Citizens United ruling. There's too much money being injected into politics by billionaires like the Koch brothers.
The biggest problem for the GOP congressional delegation is that, much like their democrats across the aisle, when they are elected to Congress, they quickly find out that whether they get re-elected depends on how much FEDERAL MONEY they bring back into their State or Congressional District. No money and jobs, no votes, and they lose re-election. This is why we have seen some of the most grotesque federal spending in US history come from Republican who greedily horded federal tax money for wasteful projects that benefitted their constituents at home, but almost nobody else. Who can forget the "Bridge To Nowhere", this brought to you by Republican Ted Stevens:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravina_Island_Bridge
As for secession, I see it happening in red states first, although economics may hasten one of the blue states to be the first. I have lived almost my whole life in Connecticut, one of the wealthiest States in the USA, but also having one of the highest costs of living and highest taxes. And we have a real problem in CT right now: all of the businesses have moved out of our State, the tax revenue base has dried up, and severe budget shortfalls have caused State services to be cut dramatically. Making the problem worse is that almost the entire landscaping and restaurant industries in this State are staffed by illegal aliens, so two whole industries are not contributing anything or a disproportionate % of tax revenue. Hedge Funds that used to be based in Stamford and Greenwich are fleeing to States with better tax rates, like Florida. As a result local politicians have to raise taxes on those who remain, and we are not far behind Quebec as the most onerously taxed jurisdiction in North America. But the cost of living here is MUCH higher, and people are getting crushed. I have attorney friends who do Conservator work for the State of Connecticut at a rate of $50 per hour. No attorney should be working for $50/hour unless it's very part time and done as a learning experience. The one friend I have is supporting herself and although she would like to do the Conservator work full time, you cannot work full time making $50 an hour doing that kind of work. It's appalling to me because I know what Conservators have to do and it is very hard work requiring that painful questions be asked not just of people who are mentally incompetent or on the cusp of being declared such, but their doctors and relatives. It's hard work, and it's exhausting work, and the State of CT wants people to do it for peanuts and it's insane. And now attorneys are turning it away. By contrast, foreclosure sale work is approved by the Court at $200 an hour and that is as easy a job as an attorney has, you are just a glorified real estate broker. But in that case a private bank is paying the fee and not the State. So go figure on that, but these kinds of situations are causing increasing economic disparity and frustration and anger. I totally get the anger part of it and it is rising, and when it hits a certain level the confederacy will begin.
