What If The Pacific Northwest Was A Country? It Would Be An Economic Power!

[@zinedinezethro9157]

While this shows the massive power of Cascadia, this also shows how horrifyingly wealthy and productive the US is. With 17 million people, they still ranks 15th globally in terms of economy. That's some stupid economic power right there.

[@xenotypos]

Well that's what the Netherlands does, actually, about the same population and the same gdp.

[@LordGertz]

And just to the south is California, which if it were its own country would be the 5th largest in the world. Thomas Jefferson's dream of a Pacifica Nation would be a truly wealthy one.

[@berkiaskyclan2948]

As a Texan, I can confirm both Texas and California would hold way more influence than other nations their size throughout the world.

[@zinedinezethro9157]

@@bluejar5614 bruh it is economically powerful because it has a diversified economy and has strong holds in key industries. cascadia is home to boeing, amazon, microsoft, and many other large companies and is one of the highly sought after tech capital in the world. they can use another currency and it will still be powerful economically. same with the US themselves, even without dollar, the US still has a very developed economy with almost a monopoly in several key industries and are a major player in most. economy does not rely only on military power.

[@masonhancock5350]

Yeah it's full of hobos and techies willing to ruin your city to gain twitter clout. Also they freeze up with fear at basic questions like "what is a woman?". Terminal woke cancer and Chinese investors.

[@stickynorth]

I'd nominate Victoria as the capital of Cascadia because it's the most central of the large non-major cities and its on an island that nearly became its own province...

[@janach1305]

I love Victoria, but being on an island can make for some difficulty of access, as residents of Juneau know. Salem is probably best of the existing capitals despite its distance from major centers of population because it is not going to be flooded as sea level rises like Olympia will. Olympia is particularly flat and low-lying, and will be among the first places in Cascadia to go under. Worldwide, national capitals are often the largest cities in the nation, which would give us Vancouver or Seattle/Everett.

[@Game_Hero]

But you have to think about the fact that Cascadia would be a federation, and therefore, have provincial capitals that would most likely be the existing ones. Rather than that, it should be one city not currently a capital to avoid a too big concentration of power of one region among others.

[@rorymcmanama3286]

No need to choose one capital. Use all three existing capitals.

[@buggernut3643]

I'd pick what's now Blaine, Washington. It's right on the border with British Columbia, so it's right between the old Canadian and US parts of the newly formed country and it's somewhat central to the region and not too far removed from BC's northern reaches.

[@ExzaktVid]

I would say Vancouver, Washington state but the name would need to be changed because it could easily get confused with the Vancouver in canada. Its not too big or small, and is fairly central considering the center of the population rather than area.

[@williamtell5365]

There really is sort of a cultural affinity between BC, Washington, and Oregon especially. It just feels naturally like a region, though there's a national border through the middle. Of course, it won't happen anytime soon but the region could and would prosper well as a unit, it has pretty much everything going for it.

[@GasStationBird]

Pretty much it's just one large Washington

[@mckenziemcmillan2324]

As someone who lives in the region (vancouver) I can absolutely agree that while I love living in canada, I definitely feel more culturally connected with people in Washington and Oregon than the rest of canada

[@mckenziemcmillan2324]

​@@GasStationBird ugh how about it's 3 states/provinces that share a cultural connection but also their own identity....not just "one big washington"

[@williamtell5365]

@@mckenziemcmillan2324 yep, I'm a seattleite. Feel the same. You have to live this area to understand it

[@JB-1138]

I already live in Washington State. However Cascadia sounds great. Side note: Some people think the entire West coast of North America should be one country. Including, Alaska, BC, Washington, Oregon and California. Sometimes Baja California too. Sounds great to me.

[@shloprop4751]

I wish, USA would be pissed though cause thats like half the economy

[@brandon9172]

In a perfect world it wouldn't include California, but it would be necessary. Cascadia would be too weak on its own, a united west coast is the only viable path.

[@alvzcizzler]

@@brandon9172 It really should include California, that way Cascadia would be more likely and also stronger economically and militarily, plus California has largely the same environment and landscape, the Cascades mountain range extend Northen California so California makes so much sense in fact.

[@jayfeather965]

Could we leave out south Cali? Cause then that sounds perfect?

[@jayfeather965]

Though. We’ll take over care of Yosemite thank you very much.

[@TheForeignCanadian]

No one says south-west Canada. BC is the west coast of Canada.

[@tadghb]

I know a few people who do. They live in Vancouver BC.

[@axisboss1654]

@@tadghb As a Vancouverite I just say west coast, Cascadia, or PNW not Southwest Canada

[@you_need_god]

@@tadghb vancouver I would definitely consider south west, but the whole of bc is just west

[@kenwin5845]

the term is westcoast very Vancouver...westcoast music scene

[@colinjohnson8511]

i think i'm going to start saying it

[@benmcreynolds8581]

I live in Corvallis, Oregon. So this is facinating to me. Corvallis is just north of Eugene in the Willamette valley.

[@Mr.Septon]

I like to think of what if the west coast minus Alaska was one nation. So including California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Since California already has one of the largest economies in the world, it would collectively be competitive with Germany and Japan, which I think would be incredibly impressive. Obviously there are some major difference in culture, identity, ideology between the four states that would make up such an entity and the power balance would be shit with California. I still just like to think of it because those four states (yes three states and a province but c'mon) would just be a titan on the world stage. Economically and Culturally the power of this new state would be massive. Another one I like, and maybe a suggestion, is "What If The South Was One Country?" as they also have quite the cultural identity, are economically powerful, and quite the physical presence.

[@brandonzzz9924]

I think splitting America at the Rockies would make sense. It gives East US the Great Plains agricultural area and the East coast developed states, and West US would have CA and Idaho for food and a bunch of desolate land that would keep East and West relatively equal. I think splitting the US into verticalish thirds would make the most sense, but it would leave the Great Plains/ Mississippi basin country so ridiculously poor that it could never survive. Maybe just decentralizing power in the US would be more effective.

[@landonv2797]

Y'know I think somebody tried that last one about 200 years ago. Didn't go too well.

[@ozapy]

One big reason that California is often not considered alongside with the other three is that it really is just too varied from the rest. California’s weather, culture, and economy are vastly different from the upper regions. If anything, it might be more likely to see 3 different new countries, as Northern California and Southern Oregon are more similar than they are to their parent states.

[@meawreg]

@@landonv2797 The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 - May 9, 1865) at least 1 million dead.

[@randyseay4855]

Splitting off the American south as an independent nation (or any other section for that matter) was a question asked back in the mid 19th century. The answer to that question was an emphatic NO. You can’t do that.

[@desertzombie]

The Okanagan valley in BC has a massive wine industry

[@JesseA22]

I lived in SE Alaska (Juneau, Sitka) for a year and that area is 100% Cascadian in culture and identity

[@gerberjoanne266]

Apart from Washington State, Oregon, and BC, you could add the Alaskan panhandle. It's so cut off from the rest of Alaska, anyway.

[@sandorski56]

BC's Wine industry is smaller, but it's still $3billion/yr compared to Oregon at $7billion and Washington at $8billion. Smaller, but still sizable.

[@thechaotimagnet]

I grew up in coastal Oregon and this is the first I have heard of Cascadia. I have been doing some fantasy world build using Pacific Northwest geography for a DND, and I might just use cascadia as a geographical boundary for the area. Thank you for informing me about this.

[@brandon9172]

You've heard about the concept behind it though at least, right?

[@thechaotimagnet]

@@brandon9172 not until this video but I do like the idea.

[@t0n0k0]

Am surprised, since I live in Seattle for about year and new about before my time ended there. Did you know about the Flag at least?

[@thechaotimagnet]

@@t0n0k0 I grew up in Eugene, so even by the video's smallest defined area I was in Cascadia but definitely far from the heartland.

[@brandon9172]

​@@thechaotimagnet Eugene? Now I'm even more surprised you didn't hear about it. (also that's not coastal Oregon lmao)

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

I'd LOVE this but of course, many of those companies would consider moving OUT of Cascadia to get easier access to the USA without border issues.

[@dairokkan.sg2]

Only problem with that, is that they need to get rid of existing infrastructure and build a new megacampus somewhere else. I'd say they could domicile and keep a small office running somewhere in the US as their legal HQ and mailing address, but keep their actual HQ in cascadia.

[@rokksula4082]

Realistically Cascadia wouldn’t secede without some sort of a free trade agreement with USA and Canada which guarantees freedom of movement and freedom of trade. Then there wouldn’t be any reason to move out except perhaps the cost of labor or unfavorable tax terms.

[@jpablo700]

NAFTA? Or I should say USMCA.

[@rokksula4082]

@@jpablo700 Lets call it Union of Sovereign states in the Americas (or USA for short)

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

@@jpablo700 USMCA? You mean CUSMA? No, wait... you mean T-MEC? NAFTA was such a better name for essentially the exact same thing. Now that they've put the country names into the agreement, each country has its own description. What a waste of time and effort.

[@Jarekthegamingdragon]

Man, if only. This would improve life so much

[@deanfirnatine7814]

It would devolve into Civil War almost immediately do you not realize how hated urban Seattle and Portland areas are by the rest of those states? They want to join Idaho for a reason.

[@Jarekthegamingdragon]

@@deanfirnatine7814 lmao do you think these far right idiots aren't already trying that? We FAR outnumber them in the metro areas. The rest of the state is vastly empty. Portland and Seattle metros control Oregon and Washington's economy. Also no, only eastern Oregon/Washington wants to join Idaho. Any decent sized city west of the Cascades have people with functioning brains that won't blindly hate people because they dare to actually want to improve your life. We don't care about your bigoted votes coming from the middle of bumfuck no where. You literally do not matter when you'll be far outvoted every single year. Just move to Idaho.

[@Commielyn]

@@deanfirnatine7814 i mean, just do what the us and canada already do and make it a federation

[@AngelloDelNorte]

@@deanfirnatine7814 Can't blame them since ppl made the urban cities like CA.

[@heatherpayne1995]

@@deanfirnatine7814 Eastern Oregonians will hate it when they have to give up weed and pay sales tax if they were to join Idaho

[@emperorcorning8329]

I love your channel! Just discovered you through your high-speed rail video, and already subbed :) I'd love to see a similar analysis of an independent California, Texas, or New England some day!

[@ChrisJones-gx7fc]

California is the 5th largest economy in the world, and probably could do ok on its own. But that said, when Texas tried to go it alone as the Republic of Texas after the Mexican-American War ended, it was apparently the worst time in its history as it couldn’t survive and effectively begged to join the US. If any US state or region did try to break off on its own, it would lose the kind of federal support that states currently receive. California is probably the biggest tax generator for the US, and there’s no way the US would allow it to go, or any other state for that matter. We’re a nation of 50 states (52 if DC and Puerto Rico ever achieve statehood), plus several territories, all trying to get along and while we all have different mindsets, cultures, beliefs, etc, we can all hopefully agree on setting our differences aside and focusing on what we all share, a goal to continue striving to fulfill the ideals set out for America when it was founded.

[@dominikr8428]

@@ChrisJones-gx7fc comparing todays Texas to the republic in the mid 19th century is not a good idea, it's 40 times larger and has loads of natural resources that werent available nor relevant back then

[@alvzcizzler]

@@ChrisJones-gx7fc Idk how Puerto Rico isn't a state, Hawaii became a state not long after the US annexed it alongside the natives, perhaps it's just a matter of time

[@ChrisJones-gx7fc]

@@alvzcizzler very likely PR (and DC for that matter) would be blue states, adding four new Senate seats and several Representative seats. That’s something Republicans absolutely want to prevent happening. I recall something too about how they originally didn’t want to become a state cause of having to pay I think state taxes, but now they’re pretty much all on board with statehood. DC has been trying for a long time to become a state.

[@MrJbnlp]

Love this channel, you have a bright future ahead, keep at it!

[@GeographyByGeoff]

Thank you so much! I'm still ironing out the kinks of the format and things, but I'm enjoying the success I've had so far.

[@Colin.71]

@@GeographyByGeoff You’re very underrated! Just wait for the algorithm to catch on, keeping grinding.

[@jotsingh8917]

Go Cascadia, less military waste, universal healthcare, when can we sign-up?

[@asdconservative]

Frfr brother ❤️🌲

[@RK-cj4oc]

Damn. This is a high quality channel and i found it before you blew up. Great video. I hope you make alot more of this concept ( i would love a midwest one) Try to collab with a youtuber if you can. You have great vids but the only thing preventing you from blowing up is the algorithm. Collabs are a way to go around that. Best of luck!

[@GeographyByGeoff]

Thanks! There will definitely be more on this concept. What If countries are fun to explore so I'm looking forward to doing it for a bunch of different regions.

[@RK-cj4oc]

@@GeographyByGeoff very good to hear. I subbed and will make sure to watch then all.

[@drewconway7135]

I’m enjoying your content a lot. Just so you know, at 1:02 that’s not how you pronounce Chinook and Nisqually. It’s not CHIN-nook, it’s shin-NOOK. and instead of NIS-kwal-lee, it’s nis-SKWAL-lee. Once you’ve mastered those, it’s time to take on next-level words like Wahkiakum, Issaquah, and Puyallup. 😎

[@Gizathecat2]

And Sequim!

[@drewconway7135]

@@Gizathecat2 True that! 👍👍

[@heatherpayne1995]

He used the correct pronunciation of the Chinook people.

[@froytii]

Great video!

[@michaelbindner9883]

I would add lots of Native areas in the Northwest US, Alaska, the Yukon, Idaho, alaska, Yakutsk and both Chinese and Independent Mongolia. In other words, a nation with both significant white and Mongol-American population.

[@davidford694]

At one time Oregon, Washington and BC were part of the same administrative unit, along with parts of other state, up to the Rockies. This was the Columbia Department of the Hudson's Bay Company. It was very successfully run from a large headquarters in Vancouver, Washington, now a national historic site. It is hard for me to think that the Americans in this area would not be much happier as Canadians, given the appalling politics of that country at the present time.

[@fredrickfraser1659]

You should make this a series & do New England next

[@GeographyByGeoff]

It is going to be a series and New England is definitely going to be a part of it. Stay tuned!

[@Victoria_77773]

I live in British Columbia, and I wish Cascadia was a real country

[@uptown_rider8078]

Same here. The Northwest American republic needs to be formed along with the western part of Canada to become an independent country

[@Solaris_Paradox]

​@@uptown_rider8078Cascadia should be run by Native Americans not white colonizers.

[@repsxvault]

same

[@nat_pen_rose]

Haha that's good to hear, I'm from WA and sometime fear the Cascadia hype is all south of the border

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

Why not include Alaska as part of a hypothetical independent Cascadia nation?

[@Solaris_Paradox]

Alaska is bigger to be its own country.

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

@@Solaris_Paradox: Land surface area-wise, yes, but it could stand to use the combined populations of N. California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (w. the possible inclusion of Yukon as well) in order make it a true powerhouse -- and it goes both ways, bc the remaining states and provinces could definitely use Ak's overabundance of resources

[@denvan67]

FYI. BC also has a very robust wine industry. (you only mentioned Washington and Oregon)

[@markrobinowitz8473]

Ecotopia and Ecotopia Emerging by Ernest Callenbach are recommended reads.

[@shilam]

BC also has a robust wine industry.

[@walkingmountain22]

The Mountain Republic! I have been pushing the idea of the old Oregon Territory being independent economically for years.

[@MDE128]

Cascadia would be a country I’d live in over the US. Oregon and Washington are my two favorite states. BC would likely be my favorite Province in Canada.

[@marrqi7wini54]

Cascadia would probably be ok as long as the ring of fire does not act up and doesn't cause a great calamity.

[@ClenchingHalo45]

Why is the ground orange? Why is the sky orange? WHY IS EVERYTHING ORANGE?!

[@TheRockkickass]

This is a beautiful area

[@cloudwatcher608]

As a PNWer born and raised, Cascadia does sound pretty nice. I’ve travelled all around the United States but it only feels like home when I get back to the PNW and things make sense again. I know that a Secessionist movement will never actually gain any real traction in the current day US but it’s interesting to think about, nonetheless.

[@Peylix]

There's nothing else like the PNW in the US. That's why I love living here. When I was younger, I despised living here. Mostly because of the rain and little sun outside a sparce few months. But as I grew older. I learned to appreciate this region. It's so culturally diverse and just down right gorgeous. You're also a few hours away from anything. Ocean, desert, forest, rain forest, mountains, plains, islands, and more. I never want to move. I'll gladly live here for the rest of my life.

[@carlose4314]

Just discovered your channel

[@roxannelennon7159]

Correct grammar for the title of this video: "What if the Pacific Northwest WERE a Country?"

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

I imagine that the major reason why Thomas Jefferson visualized the Cascadia region as being established as its own independent country and not an extension of the U.S. had, in large part, to do with the fact that the middle third of the continent was still owned by France (what with the Louisiana Purchase being not yet a thing at that time) coupled with the southwestern part of what would eventually become the U.S. (comprising modern-day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California -- and parts of Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada) being part of New Spain/Mexico

[@brandonm5344]

The eastern halves of WA & OR likely wouldn’t join Cascadia due to significant ideological differences. I think they’re more likely to form a union with ID. Some OR counties have even discussed seceding to join ID irl.

[@atlanteanking1]

U would be surprised how conservative the western side are once u out side of the major cities

[@brandon9172]

@@atlanteanking1 I've lived on the western side in a rural area my whole life. We aren't that conservative. Most Republicans here are just politically confused liberals that like guns. And they're usually only 60% of the voting base max.. Often times the margins are smaller than that.,

[@brandonm5344]

@@atlanteanking1 That’s true. Once you get out of the areas around Seattle and Vancouver, it can get very conservative.

[@jamesmurray8558]

I lived there in the late 70 till 1982.I was in th park service at North Cascades National Park, Sedro Woolley, Washington. I was at Mt.St.Helens, this is very beautiful and I miss it.I called it Pacifica.I am black and from Birmingham, Powderly.

[@HowtoBuildtheWorld]

this is a very neat channel keep at it! :D here is a what if question, what if the City of New York became its own county? will the state or US loose anything :0 ?

[@jamesduda6017]

There would be a massive civil war. The urban rural divide in this area is palpable.

[@asdconservative]

I fucking hate Seattle, and I am from Washington.

[@lakshay8496]

I wish the Pacific Northwest with California was a country

[@SynapseNervosa]

It'd just be california Stealing Washington and BC's water instead of colorado and arizona. Viva Cascadia.

[@jotsingh8917]

Yeah, we should also immediately invade the Baja for those long winter months.

[@matt39581]

oh give it like 15 years at this point

[@Beorthere]

Nice Gorge t-shirt!

[@Unchainedboar]

as someone from BC, i wish we could do this...

[@MS-uj5ui]

I wish this could really happen. I’d include the panhandle of Idaho and western Montana too.

[@meng-hsuanlee8543]

Could you do one on the Great Lakes region?

[@wardogies]

Do another country idea like that my idea is Pacifica it would consist of California Nevada Oregon Washington British Columbia Baja California and Baja California Sur

[@GeographyByGeoff]

Lots more What If countries coming! It's fun to explore.

[@mpetersen6]

At the time of the building of the fort near Astoria the US extended up into the Rocky Mountains to the headwaters of the Missouri River and its tributaries. Part of the reason Louis and Clark were sent West to give some credit to US claims in the Oregon country. Did you forget about the Corps of Discovery. In fact Merriweather Louis tried to get backing to explore th he West before 1800.

[@Graybeard_]

I would be happy.

[@kylerose3174]

Would Cascadia be metric?

[@drewsteps]

Absa-f**kin-lutely.

[@heatherpayne1995]

As a Washington State resident I'd say, go for it.

[@asdconservative]

I'd love the idea of cascadia, and I even support it. But I only support BC, OR, and WA. For SOME reason, my body physically aches when I feel pride for a river

[@nobodythatyouknow241]

Ecotopia. A novel by Ernest Callenbach

[@supermoneyball420]

I know it smell crazy in that country

[@enigmagrieshaber5555]

Cascadia got a lot of geographical figures that would make it a great port so yeah Quite amazing tbh

[@es3359]

Seattle and Vancouver are two of the largest ports in North America, so it would certainly be a major import/export country.

[@enigmagrieshaber5555]

@@es3359 defo it's also quite protected from storms and tsunamis as well as invading country coming from the sea

[@iVyperion]

This is called Cascadia and it will become a Country soon.

[@GG-ut9ms]

As a Washington resident, I veto SpoCompton as the capital.

[@MrJeep75]

Sounds like a great plan

[@KevinKeelty]

"The Doug" is the flag! ❤❤😆🤣

[@weezer3551]

We have a videogame about how this can start a apocalyptic warfare scenario

[@Razor-gx2dq]

Arguably some wouldn't mind if the west coast became it's own nation.

[@nov4ni]

-Texas

[@donadams8345]

What if Washington and Oregon became part of Canada?

[@tombeegeeeye5765]

I am not sure parts of eastern Washington and Oregon would leave.

[@GasStationBird]

Forcefully take them

[@ethanomcbride]

I didn’t realize anywhere in the US had a larger Asian American population than black population (aside from Hawaii)

[@GreenRevolution4]

The basic Political structure of Cascadia would be Very Envronmentally Focused and Liberal/Progressive. There is a sizable Rural Republican population on the west side of the Cascades of Washington and Oregon that would never go for this type of sensible ideology. So I propose we re-do the Borders this proposed Cascadia to only the west side of the cascades all the way down to Northern California. Which considers itself to be part of the region known as "Jefferson". After Thomas Jefferson. Eureka, Redding, Shasta and Ashland would be the southern border cities. Canada would have to agree to allow western BC to secede from the rest of the Country. Eastern BC is also a conservative area. I don't think the Northern Border would stretch as far as the Northern BC border. Vancouver Island, Definately! Victroria should be the Capital. Vancouver Island is the most Environmentally dedicated region in the World.

[@Pika250]

What about the sports teams that are based in the Cascadia of our timeline? We would have the Trailblazers, the Seahawks, the Mariners, the Kraken, and a team whose alternate timeline name would replace Canucks. Maybe Cascades? The Grizzlies too, if they didn't relocate to Memphis. MLS even has Sounders and Timbers. Oh, and some minor league teams too.

[@dennisdaily5463]

WERE a country. WERE a country.

[@cherilynnfisher5658]

Love geography & your channel! New Sub here. Can you please locate Atlantis for us? Geo geeks the world over, including me, still love speculating about it, & the exciting hunt continues!

[@janach1305]

Atlantis was Minoan Crete. Check out “Unearthing Atlantis” by Charles Pellegrino.

[@cherilynnfisher5658]

@@janach1305 Will do. Thank you! 👍

[@erlybird3122]

We don't have to "Suspend our belief" in order to listen to something unbelievable. We must "Suspend our DISbelief"

[@agent45625]

While having a capital city for Cascadia could potentially be placed in either Spokane or Victoria, another factor that must be taken into account is how much attention would Cascadia give to its northern regions, and I'm talking about the areas above the 54-40 line. For this reason, I'd probably suggest either Kamloops or Prince George (to be renamed, of course) as a suitable capital city, or build a new capital city from scratch altogether. Though I wonder which area in an independent Cascadian state would also serve as a suitable logistics hub for international trade as well.

[@HAA0603]

i’d say Seattle would be the biggest and most imports at hub since it already has the biggest airport and biggest port in the region

[@agent45625]

@@HAA0603 True. Also, there should have also been a major focus on development of the hinter regions that's east of the Cascade Mountains. There's plenty of land but not enough people to turn places like Boise into a major city, if they're not already a major city.

[@PummelMuschi]

FREEDOM FOR CASCADIA

[@Solaris_Paradox]

Cascadia is indigenous land.

[@TabooRevolution13]

I started a new country on the west coast in 2014... Now I'm 1st King of the continent and command every national military. It's called a Noocracy Republic! If you take any group of people at random they'll vote for a leader based on intelligence rather than popularity!

[@ScottA2345]

It would still be wet and cloudy.

[@mattlaw5426]

don't forget Idaho and a little bit of Montant so the border is more smooth and it makes sense

[@zenobiaw831]

As someone who lives near the border of N.Idaho, that would be a horrible idea. N. Idaho is ripe with white surprimist and some pretty bizzare, problematic, gun obsessed people. The last the we need in our perfect country.

[@thetroll1129]

I would not want to be in a country led by Oregon or Washington, they are filled with some bizarre, drug obsessed people

[@janach1305]

We do not want the Idaho panhandle. Allow me to shudder!

[@zenobiaw831]

@@janach1305 The Idaho panhandle is absolutely beautiful, but if we have to take the people there, it's not worth it. It's the only place where I've I've actually met and spoken to flat earthers and even recently been subject to MAGA parades (in 2022) and people randomly waving around Confederate flags from their vehicles. It's like an alternate dimension there and not in a fun way.

[@drewsteps]

I'd rather Cascadia is a country with an efficient functioning government, not a divided country with perfect borders.

[@thisisabandonedgosomewhereelse]

Oh Cascadia!

[@scotverdin9401]

What about the 'nukes'? I think one of the largest concentration of nuclear warheads in the world or at least the US, is in WA state.

[@jacobnolan1832]

You should do california!

[@mpetersen6]

Let's say in an alternate universe or timeline Cascadia is an independent country. One thing to keep in mind is that there is absolutely no guarantee that it would still be the economic powerhouse it is today. Besides including Eastern Washington and Oregon is foolish IMO given the differences between the area west of the Cascades vs east of them. In this alternate Cascadia it is likely that companies like Boeing, Microsoft etc would not exist. Cascadia could well be a resource extraction economy with little to no manufacturing or high tech st all. I'm not saying it would be. Just that it would most likely be different. Inside the lower 48 of the United States there are certain areas that were likely to be major areas of economic activity. Detroit. It rose to prominence due to it being close to water transportation and raw materials. And fell due to market forces. Chicago. Its location even if an analog Chicago became a major city simply because of its location. It would not have to be in the same location. It could be where Gary is. Pittsburg. River access, coal and iron ore. New York. Probably the best deepwater port on the East Coast.

[@deanfirnatine7814]

Trouble with this scenario is pretty much everyone in the Pacific Northwest outside urban Portland, Urban Puget Sound/Seattle area and Vancouver BC effing hate the people in those three urban areas, our politics and culture are exact opposites, most of the counties in Oregon and several in Washington want to break away from Portland and Seattle and join Idaho as an example and before this current movement to do so there have been other separatist movements like the Jefferson Movement to create a whole new state. We are so different we even have different linguistic patterns according to some linguistics professors at UW who found Portland and Seattle areas share a dialect not shared by the rest of the PNW, you can find their video here on YT about their research. I will not go into details but it is a seething hatred for each other, Portland area radicals threatened to burn down rural Oregon towns and forests at one point in the Summer of 2020 and many in rural Oregon firmly believe they tried. I cannot convey enough the hatred we have for urbanites in the Portland and Seattle areas, any nation in the PNW would immediately devolve into one of the bloodiest Civil Wars you can imagine.

[@Excalion88]

It wouldn't be THAT bloody; outside of those cities the populations are tiny. Very tiny.

[@asdconservative]

I'm in the Willapa Hills and I agree. We have more in common with eastern Washington in terms of politics

[@EPL762]

I do support the birth of Cascadia; cultural, geological and geographical borders.

[@PigeonLivered_Ratbag]

As a British Columbian, this sounds pretty cool! *Maybe* if our neighbour, Alberta, does ends up trying to be independent or tries to join the USA, this could actually be a possibility.

[@richardmercer2337]

It would be well behind California, which would be the world's 5th largest economy if it were a separate country.

[@tuckerchisholm1005]

Eastern Washington controls the flow of the Columbia, and certainly would not leave the US. The Columbia is where Oregon gets most of its electricity from. So water rights would be a highly contentious issue with this national break up.

[@samquinn5545]

Its national anthem would be Everytime We Touch

[@JB-1138]

Nope.

[@janach1305]

I prefer “Roll On Columbia” with new lyrics for the verses. The first map he showed of Cascadia are based on the drainage basins of the Columbia and Fraser Rivers.

[@luistoral1192]

the people.is.very.good???. but be much better.if most of.them .be hight skill educated ? Everything be chip so good to live every body keep good money !?? Right!!!

[@sapprdaddy]

Don’t forget about the Free State of Jefferson.

[@Mr1234543234]

You sold me on being the 69th most populous.

[@gosnooky]

I think you mean "What if the Pacific Northwest WERE a country"... which is the proper the subjunctive mood. I just came here to say that.

[@jonlenihan4798]

What if it WERE?

[@drewsteps]

Government should serve the people, so government should be in the largest city... this holds the government accountable. Distant governments no longer fear the people and serve those with the time and money to travel to them. But, Cascadia could have more than one capital, similar to South Africa.. they have three.

[@cjhan9816]

Amtrak will have new locomotives and cars for PNW corridor high speed rail during 2026 FIFA World Cup.

[@desertsunman5880]

Great concepts, thx - with that being said: Human evolution has proven we are stronger together, so why folks still angst toward separating themselves is against the common good; secondly, the power of money would dissipate - the Zillows, et al., would leave as they saw their tax advantages disappear (probably creating a plethera of Highland Park, Michigans, ad infinitum), the tax base would crash, effectively wiping out many public works & services, as well as private expansion; & finally with the dramatically decreased population, who is gonna buy the goods & services still available, i.e., home builders would have no reason to build - so, looks like a small town agrarian society would reemerge & time & history has shown that though somewhat pleasant in the short term, long term growth & sustainability isn't possible - perhaps it's time to accept that Main Street & Family-owned Farms & a school bus dropping off 2 kids on a 2-lane blacktop are a lifestyle enjoyed by a relatively few, is never to be had again ... keep up the great work.

[@michaeldowson6988]

You'll have to get used to flying the Union Jack of British Columbia.

[@mofumofutenngoku]

Well if your starting from Astoria, all those big companies would definitely not exist.

[@randyseay4855]

Anybody ever stand, place your hand over your heart and while gazing at Old Glory say the pledge of allegiance? I have. It says something about “ONE NATION” and “INDIVISIBLE”. Remember that? When the question of secession came up back in the mid 19th century, it cost 600,000 American lives and left wounds that have yet to heal to figure out the answer. It was and still is NO. While this piece is purely for fun, too many folks get carried away and take it far too seriously.

[@ooferdoofer7091]

What happened to self determination?

[@bigjared8946]

I'm afraid Idaho is no longer invited to the party and I'm sure they're fine with that.

[@bluepurplepink]

A better idea, just join Canada lol

[@paul.hogan720]

canadian here, canada is a failed state

[@repsxvault]

@@paul.hogan720i agree

[@RobertSavage1985]

I’m just north of Seattle and I for one, would love if this happened. I’m tired of living under the thumbs of out numbered republicans.

[@dakotabearjojo]

This would work better if we just use the mountains as a natural border. Let the conservatives have Eastern Washington and Oregon. Maybe throw California in with Cascadia as well, even though it's not technically the PNW.

[@matthewwelsh294]

Nah we need the dams for green energy

[@raddadray7535]

Nah,I like my B.C. In Canada thanks

[@repsxvault]

i dont

[@Darium147]

5:50 For that you should add Idaho.