This
is one encouraging development from the whole COVID fiasco: Regional cultures are being acknowledged as governors
on the West Coast
and in New
England,
Dixie,
and
the Midwest
bunch
together to plan how they can cooperate to reopen their States’ economies.
Hopefully,
it will lead to a broad acknowledgment of what Mr Joe Jarvis writes about
(bolding added):
. . . there was never a “United” USA. The
fault lines of politics have always fallen along eleven main regions.
For
example, “Yankeedom” is dominated by Massachusetts, but extends to most of New
England. It has its roots in Puritanism, their style of centralized government,
and their value of education. Immigrants from Yankeedom left their mark on The
Left Coast, a natural political ally of New England.
Contrast
that with The Deep South, born of aristocracy, who believed in a deeply
hierarchical structure of society. Or Appalachia, who value individual freedom,
and have shifted their alliances with other regions based on who will get the
feds off their back.
Woodard
argues:
The
nations have been struggling with one another for advantage and influence since
they were founded. And from 1790, the biggest prize has been control over
federal government institutions; Congress, the White House, Courts, and the
Military.
As
the central government has grown in size, scope, and power, so have the
nations’ efforts to capture and reshape it, and the rest of the continent in
their image.
Since
1877 the driving force between American politics hasn’t primarily been a class
struggle, or tension between agrarian and commercial interests, or even between
competing partisan ideologies, although each has played a role.
Ultimately,
the determinative political struggle has been a clash between shifting
coalitions of ethno-regional nations, one invariable headed by the Deep
South, the other by Yankeedom.
These
fault lines aren’t going away. But they don’t have to become violent either.
In
fact, if the American nations were to go their separate ways, life would be
much improved for many.
Not
just during a pandemic, when people have very different ideas about the scope
of government power.
But
also during the looming economic crisis, when currencies, local supply chains, and regional commerce
will have to be reinvented.
And
no one would have to waste time worrying about who occupied the White House.
. . .
--
Holy Ælfred the Great, King of England,
South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð,
unworthy though we are!
Anathema to the Union!
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