Urban vs. Rural; What's to be done?

[Fife]

Here's a short essay from my estimable Con Law prof.

I think his ultimate solution is a bit optimistic, to be charitable. But he frames the issue well, and his heart is in the right place.

Splitsylvania: State Secession and What to Do About It

Abstract

This short piece looks at the growing phenomenon of intra-state secession movements. From California, where plans have been floated to split the state into two, five, or six pieces, to more traditional secessionist movements in Eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington, to plans to separate upstate New York and downstate Illinois from the large metropolitan areas that dominate state politics, various states are facing internal separatist movements. The paper looks at the sources of the dissatisfaction driving these movements, and suggests a number of solutions to address that dissatisfaction without amending the Constitution or adding stars to the flag.

https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/289816/

NOW UP ON SSRN: My new paper, Splitsylvania: State Secession and What to Do About It, looks at internal state secession movements (e.g., the move to separate the rural eastern counties of California into “New California”) and offers some suggestions. The introduction, I think, could be the outline of a Kurt Schlichter novel. . .

What do you all think? Is an approach this benign possible? Will the Center hold (ha ha)?

[Speaker to Animals]

I will read this later, but right off the bat, I can say my solution is simple: split off the cities into city-states. No need for secession of entire regions. It's the cities that are the problem.

[Fife]

Read it; Reynolds is on that track. His stab at a peaceful solution is elegant, but I'm dubious of it working IRL. Tell me what you think.

[kybkh]

Imagine how much money people have invested in maintaining the status quo.

Then, imagine how a change like this would impact them.

[brewster]

I will read this later, but right off the bat, I can say my solution is simple: split off the cities into city-states. No need for secession of entire regions. It's the cities that are the problem.

Yes, they're the problem for people conflicted about where their money comes from.
This map displays every county in the U.S. Each county is sized proportional to its share of the total U.S. GDP.


http://metrocosm.com/map-us-economy/

[Martin Hash]

You should do one of those for crime, specifically gun violence.

[brewster]

Here you go Hash, found one. But I don't see the relevance, if you don't live in a city, city crime aint yer problem. I think most cities would LOVE to be cut free financially from supporting the rest of their state, I know NYC would.


Here's one specifically for gun murder, but it won't inline from Imgur for some reason.
https://projects.oregonlive.com/ucc-shooting/gun-deaths

[Martin Hash]

It's still a possible solution to the Virtual Civil War. Many people in rural areas would gladly give up money for local control. At least it should be made one of the options.

[GloryofGreece]

If localities could split from cities, how long before you see any measurable benefit for either rural or urban areas?

[Martin Hash]

If localities could split from cities, how long before you see any measurable benefit for either rural or urban areas?

How much is aggravation worth? There would immediately be a great sense of satisfaction on both sides.