Why America Needs To Redraw State Borders

The state borders of the United States seem on the surface to be fairly reasonable boundaries, but then we remember the majority of American states are literal squares. Look deeper at states like New York, Ohio, Florida, and you'll see states divided by geography, culture, politics, history, economics, territories which should NOT be part of the same state governed by the same state courts, state constitution, state governor, etc. America must redraw state borders if its states are to mean anything, why else would we have fifty states in the United States if not to provide some form for local representative government? Representative government depends upon boundaries that reflect a population, but in the United States of America, those boundaries, those borders are wholly arbitrary with no rhyme or reason. The states need new borders.
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[@MonsieurDean]

Patreon: www.patreon.com/monsieurz/membership

[@JTL1776]

Please do videos on. New York. California. Oregon. Florida. Maine. Do 3 versions.. Best for republicans Best fot democrats. Compromise both sides get equally beneficial borders.

[@death-istic9586]

Hi.

[@diegoyanesholtz212]

I do think the western states should be redrawn based on how to better manage and optimize water recourses. Nebraska, the Dakotas and Kansas are pretty much the same state. Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, western Oregon and Washington are the same. I agree. Maybe to better manage NYC we should add parts of New Jersey to it and separate the the upper state New York

[@Conservatismfailedus]

It really won't matter in 20-40 years when every state goes blue just from the sheer incompetence of the right wing.

[@StrickerRei-Chn]

So should the US change its electoral system so that a multi-party congress can be a reality?

[@isaacwojo3273]

I’m from Illinois and there’s absolutely no reason chicagoans and the rest of us who live downstate should share the same government.

[@wolflink3353]

As a chicagoan, I somewhat agree with that.

[@survivalsuiters5982]

Especially because Chicago's government is horrible

[@lanxy2398]

I sometimes feel like secessionists in states with a major city get a hard on for becoming poorer. Like sure, by all means secede and create your new state and throw your entire tax revenue out the window and all the other development and monetary gain you hold by having chicago in your state.

[@mchoppityhooper]

@@lanxy2398as someone who lives in a major city, there are plenty of poor people in the streets who don’t get assistance.

[@justinneilson1263]

@lanxy239842 As if they aren't already becoming poorer while the city eats up all the tax dollars for themselves whilst simultaneously voting in people that screw over the people who don't live in big cities by creating legislature that only benefits city dwellers

[@granda3649]

As a Floridian, I agree. North Florida is South Georgia, South Florida is North Cuba, and Central Florida is a weird transition zone known as Theme Park Land.

[@Roger-fs5yo]

But ALL of Florida is still a southern state. There's really no point in changing our borders cause we are all the same people👌

[@GelloWello]

@@Roger-fs5yoI don’t know if you ever traveled throughout Florida, but it really feels like a New English/Carribbean fusion and a deeply Southern states put into one. Tho I would say, this divide is rather recent and when the state was founded, it was mostly the Seminole/Southerner divide.

[@Roger-fs5yo]

@@GelloWello I drive a big truck all over the country and been down there countless times. I have noticed that in the northern half you do see more of Dixie. I just see our population as one people🤷‍♂️

[@justjaeree]

as a Jacksonvillian I would like to propose my city to be a city-state

[@mothermovementa]

North cuba😂

[@satanicturtle9929]

As someone who lives in upstate NY, NYC completely controls the whole state which is very annoying being that their interests are not the same as the rest of the state

[@kimruchel3538]

Yeah, NYC dominates so much to the point where the rest of the state doesn't have a voice, and it has been like that since the founding of NYC

[@CurlousCam]

It's the same in Washington St. We left though.. couldn't afford the small farming life.

[@legoworksstudios1]

Fellow NYer here from the city, and I've held the same beliefs about the state for a while now. Would be nice to see or hear about the rest of the state, especially since much of Upstate NY needs that voice.

[@kimruchel3538]

@@legoworksstudios1 yeah

[@adamrogowski2748]

I live in the southern tier here. The economy of NYC is very different from my rural county and those SOBs want to cover us with solar panels and wind turbines everywhere so the city can be "zero emissions" electric production in a few decades. If you're building energy infrastructure in our county it better stay in our county but that's not what's happening.

[@Uvuv6969]

I’m from Florida, and I’m extremely surprised that there isn’t a major movement to split the state in 3. South Florida is north Cuba, central Florida is just Kentucky, and Orlando to further north is just South Georgia. It’s a huge culture difference that most people just ignore down here

[@naptime0143]

Central Florida is no Kentucky that's basically Georgia and North Florida is Alabama

[@Distress.]

Because the cultural differences are miniscule, its politics that divides our country, and while democrats may like the idea of a South Florida secession, Republican's in South Florida do not. Besides dividing the state over that is so fickle. See Miami and several other "blue" counties going red in 2022.

[@hello-rq8kf]

because we more in common with eachother than with any georgian? fucking idiot, go back to new york or whatever shithole you transplanted from

[@AD-en5dq]

1 republican state split into 3 states 2D and R1 not smart

[@giancarlo1822]

Im from miami, and idk if central florida is kentucky but it definitely is its own breed of south. I think its close enough to north florida to split the state in 2 tho

[@goldenrepublic6848]

America needs to seriously take geographical boundaries like rivers and mountains into account.

[@Conservatismfailedus]

Ikr. Square states just scream new world order. Like districts n shit

[@unclesam5230]

@@Conservatismfailedusoh grow up. Those state borders were done in the 19th century by pragmatic politicians as a mean of convenience to readily establish said states

[@brodyquestionmark]

How come

[@wargriffin5]

East of the Mississippi, we do; with rivers serving as the natural boundary in multiple states. West of the Mississippi, there's fewer geographical boundaries until you hit the Rockies, which traverse the entire country and continent.

[@beastminer147]

The entire interior is one massive plain dude.

[@doctormatthattan]

Part of the reason why Puerto Rico is not a state is because Republicans are concerned about Democrats getting 2 new senate seats and 4 seats in the house. If you offered to divide an existing state like Illinois, with a Republic led Illinois and a Democratic lead Chicagoland, Republicans should be more willing to allow Puerto Rican statehood because there would be a balance of power.

[@hs5312]

That is pretty much the only way Puerto Rico gets statehood is for democrats to offer a compromise. Although personally I would prefer Puerto Rico to be independent

[@kingced741]

We came full circle when it comes to radicalization

[@schalitz1]

Also Puerto Rico has an insane amount of debt that the federal government doesn't want to pay

[@kingced741]

@@schalitz1 funny enough it's owed mostly to the federal government or private citizens of our government

[@fabulousauruspeks7010]

I see two issues with this line of thought, though. The first is that assuming that Puerto Ricans would vote in 6 Democrats for the House and Senate may not be correct. Their largest party (the New Progressive Party, which got ~40% of the vote in 2020) is contains a split of Republicans and Democrats despite its name. Its main goal is Puerto Rican statehood, which obviously would no longer be an issue if they became a state. I would hope that they keep their current parties and form coalitions in the national government when necessary if they do become a state, but thats a different issue. The second issue is the "balance of power" idea. Why should we deny representation to US citizens based on a temporary national landscape? If the admission of Puerto Rico as a state does happen to result in full Democratic control of government (which would absolutely be temporary), are Republicans not capable of making changes to their focus and policies to gain control back? I don't think splitting states for better representation is a bad idea (though it needs to go further than just "break [rural area] away from [city]") but I see no reason why it should hold up granting representation to US citizens.

[@TheStickCollector]

The problem is the uniparty that wants to make control out of all of these people

[@MonsieurDean]

There's a lot of good that the uniparty won't let happen.

[@tonywars]

@@MonsieurDeanLet me guess. Politics..

[@jst4572]

Uniparty?

[@benjamingrist6539]

That and the constitution forbids state borders from being changed without a literal act of Congress. We really should pass an amendment to change that, but then the balance of power in the senate would be thrown off, so, we’d have to amend how we distribute senate seats. I think both amendments are needed, but it’ll be difficult to get either passed.

[@TheStickCollector]

@@jst4572 With how some republicans act they may as well be democrats, and regardless of their position they want more money and influence over people, regardless of how they treat the populace. Might as well be one party system under two branches.

[@starman825]

Well if we’re redoing boarders as a representative of Alabama we would graciously accept the Florida panhandle

[@deutschegeschichte4972]

As a Floridian, please take it lol.

[@russellpair2327]

I’m pretty sure at some point in the late 1800’s the panhandle actually voted to join alabama and bama said no since it was all swamp with no infrastructure, I could be wrong on some details tho.

[@krone5]

Alabama got some florida and they made Moblie out of it.

[@asurrealistworld4412]

No. When did Alabama ever have our panhandle? How about we take the southern tips of Alabama, Mississippi, and those eastern Louisiana parishes they name after us and bring them back to Florida instead.

[@krone5]

@@asurrealistworld4412 get some history maps there are parts of florida in LA, MS, AL and FL in the current USA, as florida was spanish.

[@Frazier16]

We need more city states. There are too many states with one city that take control of the whole state. Nyc, Chicago, and atlanta should be states.

[@johnnyinsac]

As someone who grew up in California's central valley, LA and San Francisco have controlled state policy for longer than I've been alive. An I would love for them to cut out and given their own political zones apart from CA.

[@anthonytitone]

Many states couldn’t pay their fire departments without urban city funding. Remember, these states were colonies, when founded they started from the big cities & then that big city expanded their settlements.

[@gregorysouthworth783]

Actually, the rise of the urban megaregions may create, in de facto form, the very thing you describe. Maybe not city-states precisely, but no one in the 18th, 19th, or early 20th century could have imagined such an occurrence. They will rival and possibly even exceed the power of state governments.

[@Someone_Unknown90]

I grew up in Atlanta, making us a country would literally make everyone around us in GA, poor af, our GEORGIAN university being in another state, and so on

[@Someone_Unknown90]

@@gregorysouthworth783this just sounds like people are mad that some people who never got political recognition and didn’t care for voting, started indeed voting and exercising their constitutional rights and now y’all wanna quit😂😂

[@chad2522]

Great Idea. This is already taking place with rural people in Oregon trying to join Idaho. That's what first came to mind when I saw this video.

[@gustavofring5674]

Well in that case how bout let south Florida join New York since there different than the rest of Florida. This is coming as a south Floridian myself

[@sassycat]

...but which New York?

[@AG-yc7vt]

@@gustavofring5674 You are aware Idaho and Oregon share a border... they aren't doing some border gore stuff in order to join Idaho, it would just extend Idaho's border...

[@normanclatcher]

​@@AG-yc7vtborder gore in the state legislatures, which is why it won't happen.

[@somehowstillhere8766]

State borders being organized to suit the needs of the people within a set boundary is a better way to ensure those needs are represented. The two big obstacles that stand in the way of it is the government prefers diversity within each state because divided populations are easier to manipulate. The second issue is the decades long pattern of the economy pushing people to move constantly to seek work rather than living in the same area for multiple generations. Local identities are more stable when people can live there decade after decade rather than living like hermit crabs.

[@dinosaurusrex1482]

The third problem is that American states are not districts, they're miniature countries. Imagine if the EU tried to get it's member states to redraw their borders.

[@Khajiidaro]

@@dinosaurusrex1482 It also makes it harder for everyone to cooperate, since if there is no cooperation on the state level, then what is happening on the federal level? The only reason a Republic works in through compromise and right now the real issue is no one want to give up something to get anything if they can't get EVERYTHING they want.

[@persona189blank6]

On the flip side, states being more homogenous increases conflict between states. Look at the current conflict between red and blue states and imagine how much more intense it would be if those states were 90% red and 90% blue as opposed to 60-40.

[@SmallRoundDuck]

Literally this. Breaking the states up based on geographic and cultural boundaries with how much inter-migration there is in the US makes no sense. Look at the large number of people who went east to west, south to north, and north to southwest. Not to mention the amount of people who immigrate here

[@Slavesforsale1]

@@persona189blank6 Why would that be a bad thing? The Red states can enjoy policies that they prefer and the Blue states can do the same. Everyone's happy. That would be a complete non-issue if States had more power to do their own thing without the federal government spewing its nonsense all over the place.

[@tomhalla426]

The minor little problem with redrawing borders to reflect politics is that the politics change. I have reached the class of old fart (67), and the political divides in, say, California, have radically changed in my lifetime.

[@inoch07]

There is already a recognition within Florida of a "North Florida" and a ""South Florida" as we have different climates, demographics, views, development, levels of tourism. When I say to other Floridians that North Florida is basically South Georgia, they will chuckle and agree. The VA further emphasizes this issue by not having its VISN delineation by state, but by trans-state and inter-state boundaries (N. FL - S. GA, Tampa, Orlando, Bay Pines, West Palm, Caribbean, and Miami). I would feel much more at home in my state if the VISN system was used instead of the arbitrary 50 states system.

[@jobengals86]

Makes me think of our East Texas / West Texas "identities" (I can't say it's a divide though, not yet anyway; both sides seem to disown Austin 😂)

[@toiletvirusandcoronapaper271]

​@@jobengals86north Louisiana and south Louisiana have the same issue

[@redaquila2891]

Western NC and Eastern Tennessee have more in common than the opposite sides of each state do to one another.

[@asurrealistworld4412]

@@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714 Spanish Florida's capital San Agustín/St. Augustine is in North Florida.

[@marcusdg93]

As a Texan, part of me wonders if my state is one of maybe a few where this might not matter as much. Texans have always had a strong sense of cultural, state identity. It usually annoys those of y'all in other states. This sense of cultural identity arguably has decreased over the last ten or fifteen years or so, but it has been what holds us together as a state. Most of the state will look at Austin and say that it is the "least Texan" part of the state (others might say Dallas or Houston), but Austinites are still Texans. The idea of dividing our state into several smaller states (something we could do legally) is antithetical to what it means to be Texan. We'd much rather secede as one state than divide ourselves up into multiple.

[@MonsieurDean]

You’ve got at least two maybe three states there.

[@rynemcgriffin1752]

@@MonsieurDeanDidn’t he just say their cultural identity is Texan and splitting the state would antithetical to what they want? Does that not completely go against everything you just said?

[@coolguy8221]

actually tho as a fellow texan it hurts my soul so much to see texas split into like 5 new states in alt history scenarios

[@kate2create738]

I think it really depends on the state, Texas I can see there is a strong support and loyalty for fellow Texans. This was a region that experienced historical moments together at least most of the time, so there is a cultural union. Where I’m from in California it is NOT like that. There’s at least been many proposals to split the state, the most recent one up to 6 or 7, I believe. Each area has very different historical and cultural influences, but Sacramento has been dominated by LA, Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and San Francisco, mainly cities that are exclusively coastal cities with very different lifestyles compared to the rest of the region. The last 10 years it has felt like we’re under some tyrannical system, people think of Hollywood, the golden beaches, or the Golden Gate when the name California is brought up, traditionally speaking. However the rest of the state suffered so the rich could find ways to squander other areas to actually develop. People are now waking up to the out of control real estate market, unlivable conditions, sky high homeless epidemic, the drugs escalating, the traumatic forest fires, and so on. The root of the problem is those in charge of the state have a loyalty to the crazies who live in ivory towers disconnected to the rest of the world, it’s very common to hear these people travel all over the world but don’t make the EFFORT to visit in land once in a while. At this point though, it’s too late and those inland want NOTHING to do with those who hijacked and ruined the state. So if Texans are satisfied staying in one state, very glad you guys have it worked out for you. The rest of us in other regions are feeling very resentful though.

[@marcusdg93]

@@coolguy8221 Same. It's an interesting thought experiment, but I don't see it ever happening. The Texas-shaped waffles look too good shaped like they are. Why would we be so stupid as to mess that up? 😆

[@TAP7a]

Search "What if the United States of America were based on watersheds?" for a scientific paper presenting the most geographically optimised way of organising US states. Inter-state conflict is minimised, incentives for intra-state cooperation maximised, unhelpful dependencies severed, Native Americans completely ignored and sidelined - it's a perfect fit for US policy

[@garrettfornea1088]

I like the idea of natural boundaries. However, I favor the idea using rivers as boundaries (i.e. Mississippi River, Arkansas River, Missouri River, et cetera). Mountain range crests (i.e. the Great Divide) are legit though.

[@dylanbuchanan6511]

I read about half of it. Not because I didn’t like it, but because a lot of it went over my head. Apparently a lot of it has to do with making an easier time for those involved in water management having better implementation of judicial laws regarding matters pertaining to water. It’s honestly the first research paper I ever looked into so jumping into it was sort of getting ahead of myself

[@Warsie]

There would still be ethnic issues, the black and white populations in the Mississippi watershed wont magically agree with things.

[@donaldlee8249]

Florida is the only place on earth where the more north you go, more south it gets

[@instrumentsofdestruction5737]

Because of the Jews in Miami?

[@donaldlee8249]

@@instrumentsofdestruction5737 because north Florida is basically typical redneck south

[@Mallyumansky]

You can say the same for upstate ny too lmao

[@nevassa4627]

So, Texas can unilaterally break itself up into 5 states per its constitution and annexation agreement into the union. California has rejected several proposed solutions to the North vs South problem. Those being a 2-state solution, 3-state solution, 6-state solution, the formation of the State of Jefferson, Northern California breaking off and joining The Greater Idaho Initiative, and San Bernardino County exploring outright secession. Eastern Oregon is trying to breakoff and join Idaho, Eastern Washington is trying to breakoff and become the State of Lincoln, etc. The people are trying to fix the problem Monsieur is observing themselves. However, the powers that be don't want that for a multitude of reasons.

[@iamboxelz7276]

This video does a fantastic job at articulating the need for state borders to be redrawn. I hope that this nation can take the necessary steps to avoid a collapse. Also, I think it's good to not frame this issue as a red vs blue one, because it's not. Everyone ought to govern and be governed how they see fit. America having multiple ways of doing things on a local level would be great for not only a few states, but all others too. Just one state could act as a testground for a certain policy which other states could then adopt, assuming the policy worked well, and if it didn't, only a smaller number of people would be affected. This could make the us very dynamic and adaptable, which may help us be at the cutting edge of technological innovations and regulations.

[@GigaRoman]

Italian America when??? (I already asked for it)

[@MonsieurDean]

From Providence to Baltimore. A new Rome on a new shore.

[@GigaRoman]

@@MonsieurDean ok,but when are you doing it. You already put that response on my comment in the short about German America.

[@MonsieurDean]

SOON

[@GigaRoman]

@@MonsieurDean damn I sure hate cliffhangers!

[@hunterfalkenberg2837]

Being someone from Northern California this one really hits home

[@mr.moralethebigdiscussions]

My only issue with this is that having states go this route will put us on a path similar to Austro-Hungary; the more divided territories we have based on different cultures & passions will stray us away from the common embodiment and faith we have in just simply being American citizens.

[@dakotadurham4788]

*HAD past tense

[@kate2create738]

I do see your concern as it’s made me too. The area I live in doesn’t connect to our state, many here hate it actually. Yet we have some patriotism to have some pride we do live in this country, the loyalty is stronger to the nation but there are others who might not have this mindset.

[@jakubpociecha8819]

What if the United States was made of chocolate?

[@gregorysouthworth783]

AND it doesn't consider how some of these places are even now, in the midst of change. The rise of the metro megaregions (I believe there are 11 identified) will change almost everything as these places will be like unique urban islands surrounded by whatever else is around them.

[@benmasclans4]

We shouldn't draw borders based on politics that'll just make division even worse

[@Jbessette]

California really needs to be broken up into 2 or 3 states since the North is rural and is pretty much ignored and gets no representation

[@ZalamaTheDragonGod]

Hence why the electoral college needs to be abolished

[@edwinholcombe2741]

Divide up some states may be a good idea but to abolish the electoral system would just bring us back to the problem we have now.

[@censortubehatesfreespeech]

@@ZalamaTheDragonGod Hence why voting needs to be abolished.

[@politicallyunreliable4985]

Your description of California generally also applies to Wisconsin (and those Flat-Landers to the south). In WI, Milwaukee and Madison almost totally dominate the policies of the state. We do have some fairly (low-brow & corporation-aligned) "conservatives" that more strongly counter balance the Progressive voters. But, based on migration patterns, that won't last long. The consolidation of economic power within smaller regions is making people align with the the loudest voices. Ref: govt/college towns having the better paying jobs vs the businesses spreading out to areas with less competition for labor.

[@Neon-Puritan]

You have an excellent selection of subscriptions.

[@mpetersen6]

One problem in Wisconsin is the way districts are drawn it will be very hard to break the current Republican stranglehold on the State Legislature. Not that l want to see a State Legislature dominated by the Democrats either. And l really do not want to see the State Legislature and the office of Governor held by a single party. Having at least one part of the state government controlled by the other other party at least puts the brakes on the fringes of both parties. I would also like to see the stranglehold that Madison has on the Democratic Party broken.

[@philipvecchio3292]

As a New Yorker, I approve of this message.

[@Brambrew]

Natural geographic/regional/cultural boundaries > arbitrary, imaginary lines on a map

[@kkonacreed8638]

I’m from Washington and I’ve been an advocate of splitting eastern from western Washington for a long time. They are economically, culturally, ethnically, geographically, and politically different in every sense of the word. It’s annoying when there is clearly one side of the state that is making laws at the expense of the other side simply because they are more populated and will win at the ballot box every time. What happens is laws that do not work for the other side and quite frankly make zero sense for them

[@tpbforlife3323]

Eastern Washington here and it’s time. It’s gotten so out of hand. Time to either join Idaho or go out on our own

[@monsieurcharcutier4490]

I don't think my state needs to be broken up into smaller pieces but I do think my overall region of the country would be best served separated from the rest due in part to the differences in identity that you were talking about. Youre killing it lately, keep it up.

[@monsieurcharcutier4490]

He likes me, he likes me not

[@nickparadies350]

Y’all tried that already, it didn’t end so well for you

[@CJ_Espinoza]

I’m assuming you’re “definitely not” referring to race when asking for separation?

[@DarksoldierX2]

Even in Tennessee, the differences are very vast among it's 3 regions. Everything from geography to politics are vastly different.

[@stephenventura4075]

Man discovers urban-rural divides: 10 minute edition

[@casualuser5527]

The fact that states aren't a monolith serve to strengthen a national identity instead of a state identity.

[@keithurban800]

this is a terrible idea simply for the fact that I don't want to memorize 236 states rather than 50

[@MonsieurDean]

You just have to memorize the important ones.

[@Patson20]

Literally just keep the same name but add a direction to it too. The state of Central California, the state of East Texas, the state of North New York

[@williaminnes6635]

man Dean you're latched on to the analogy of America=Austria

[@williaminnes6635]

@@Skiritai Which other ones on this platform? or, if this is something you have noticed in person, in what part of the world? and what narrative is that?

[@billybill1272]

At that point just separate the nation. No point of being in a union with states that have absolutely nothing in common.

[@stricknine6130]

I completely agree with you. Great video! I'm from Savannah GA and Atlanta has little in common with a lot of the rest of Georgia.

[@Razor-gx2dq]

I very much agree, if you take a short trip out I-20 west you'll see a significant shift.

[@DeezNuts-ju1rj]

granted Atlanta or at least Metro Atlanta holds a large degree of control over the state with most of the population living within it. Taking Atlanta from Georgia or Savanah from Georgia would remove important parts of the state, Savanah is the historic capital of the state while Atlanta is the official capital, Savanah is the spiritual heart, while Atlanta is the beating one.

[@stricknine6130]

@@DeezNuts-ju1rj I would agree. I live in Savannah and was born here.

[@DeezNuts-ju1rj]

@@stricknine6130 Us Georgians gotta stick together.

[@jukeman9291]

Give every state the New England treatment: it's a single cultural area split into several distinct states. In another timeline, New England could've been one state, with similar problems as New York or Pennsylvania.

[@BigmanDogs]

UK has a system where each electoral constituency gets updated so that theyre all about even in terms of population for each election. But there is still some preference toward more rural areas, they arent all literally the same population. Some are 100k and some are 50k.

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

Greater Idaho is the basic beginning of this idea! If that works, then we can do the same everywhere else!

[@sawlessflawless2085]

Greater Idaho has always come off as stupid. We should be working to subdivide the bigger states, not creating border gore out of some retarded attempt to expand the territory of a small state.

[@zacharym167]

SEPARATION FROM THE CITY 🏙️ FREE THE MOUNTAINS 🏔️

[@Razor-gx2dq]

Federal government won't let it happen

[@Wendeta-hq2cp]

​@@Razor-gx2dq Really? Please! The Federal government has no real power on these matters. Which is why the democrats focus on cities (which still have higher demographics) for the purposes of keeping their seats in states and therefore block the will of the people. There's also been a movement to have Texas become a separate country, which has the dems freaking out since Texas as a separate country would block all unwanted aliens that the dems wanted to smear Texas with in order to turn it left wing.

[@zacharym167]

@@Razor-gx2dq they will if we shout loud enough

[@fhengal]

It's interesting that this video offhandedly calls the United States an "empire." The weird thing is that it kind of is, even ignoring its intervention in foreign politics. This was brought to my attention when I was reminded in a podcast of the unincorporated Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, and Minor Outlying Islands (i.e. 16 different islands, all but one of which are in the Pacific Ocean). Formerly, it also included the Philippines, which is its own sovereign nation-state today but was under the control of the United States officially from about 1902 to 1946.

[@RandomYT05_01]

The problem is that the people themselves only care about the federal level while practically ignoring the state and local level. Ask people if they even voted in the state and local elections, or knew who their mayor and governor was. Hell, I don't even know the name of my mayor, and I barely acknowledge the fact we even have a governor in my state.

[@francogiobbimontesanti3826]

I disagree, states shouldn’t represent political beliefs, states are the size of average countries, they need to have a diverse and self sufficient economy, their shouldn’t be city states and rural states. New York needs its farm lands just as much as it needs its financial district, also rural areas tend to need hard subsidies coming from the cities to operate, and thats a price most people in cities are willing to accept since you know, they gotta eat.

[@aramondehasashi3324]

I agree with you that the boarders need to be redrawn but good luck getting people to agree on what those lines should be.

[@mr.patriotjol]

I wouldn’t say all states needs to redraw their borders internally. Rather, have lager states divide borders by two/three. But at the same time, when redrawing internal state borders, you also have to look at the economic structure that a smaller state can sustain without flaws. For example, my home area Long Island can’t survive as a state because 1) taxes will rise, and living there is already expensive. 2) many people go to NYC for work and if they were a separate state, it is likely that there will be a tax or fee to enter NYC.

[@rucker69]

How about just no taxes then? Besides, what's stopping NYC from having an entry fee or toll now?

[@ZalamaTheDragonGod]

No, I don't want Texas divided. How about, make elections representative by abolishing the electoral college and reform the senate

[@Demopans5990]

@itmcdoug Long Island is mostly sprawling suburbs, on the one place in the US where land isn't cheap. Even with a low property tax rate, the tax bill would still be insane thanks to the high valuations Also, you need to taxes to pay for stuff like roads. NYC does a somewhat decent job with potholes but drive far enough out on backwater roads and you will notice

[@michaeljcdo335]

As a Canadian, this is even more true, especially considering my home province of BC, where everywhere but the Lower Mainland ie. everything between Vancouver and Abbotsford and between North Van to Tsawassen is more politically and culturally aligned to Alberta

[@theeternalsuperstar3773]

As an upstate New Yorker that lives in the Adirondacks, I fully endorse the Pinetree flag in the thumbnail, though I think it should also have some aqua blue bars (perhaps in a "X" pattern) to represent the beautiful lakes and rivers we have as well as to separate it from the New England Flag.

[@TheMePercent]

Buffalo, NY is the Midwest.

[@crusader2112]

I always thought that the nation should be divided into 13 Commonwealths (IE Fallout) with autonomy within each region and they act like their own little country. With its own economy, militia, culture, etc. The Federal government’s main job would be to ensure cooperation and FairPlay, decide foreign policy, and fund a national military. P.S. We need to look to men of Austria-Hungary like Franz Ferdinand and Blessed Karl. Men who saw the state of their country and knew reform was necessary.

[@ciar]

Which commonwealths could you see being developed?

[@crusader2112]

@@ciar A New England Commonwealth, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Cascadia, etc. Just to name a few.

[@ZalamaTheDragonGod]

FFS Cascadia (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Colombia) California (Calif, Arizona, Nevada) Yellowstone (Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah Texas (Texas, Oklahoma, new Mexico) Florida Dixieland (Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama Georgia, the Carolinas) Heartland(north d,south d,Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan) The Virginias (ky,westv,virg) New England New Amsterdam (NY,NJ,Penn)

[@ciar]

@@ZalamaTheDragonGod I don't know why Florida would be its own thing and not lumped in with dixie, also why would British Colombia be in Cascadia? Did America just decide to annex only that province from Canada?

[@ZalamaTheDragonGod]

@@ciar yea Lmfao. Yea but no. American Cascadia won't include BC. Unless Canada collapsed. As for Florida, and since this is based on existing boarders, but isn't southern Floridian culture more similar to the Caribbean? Hey, maybe I'm wrong, but if the language was similar I would've merged it with Puerto Rico

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Just in time as always z! Love your content 😊😊😊❤❤❤❤

[@MonsieurDean]

😁😁

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

@@MonsieurDean 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Norm-ih2rq]

Great video.

[@Iamwolf134]

Another thing to consider is that any further subdivision of the States into their own areas will necessarily require two more senators for every new state welcomed into the Union to name only one.

[@SgtKFerguson]

I’ve thought this for quite a while actually.. glad someone made a video. I think it’s a great idea. Especially to better reflect how certain people in different areas of states feel compared to the rest. Everyone would be better represented

[@wilianrodrigues5280]

Europeans: “Americans have no sense for geographic boundaries… smh” Also Europeans: “Haha Africa border go straight.”

[@erichawman8483]

A sentiment I have had for many years now. I have played around with different state maps, trying to organize New England and the Mid-Atlantic better, but I don't have the time or resources to do a proper job. Alternately, I think there might be some use in having major cities be separated out as their own administrative districts, formalizing the rural-urban divide. "State's rights" can be a more useful governing paradigm when those states are better defined by more unified demographics.

[@Ramcharger85]

Nice. Good point. ❤

[@waterdog_mf]

I really enjoyed this. It really out a voice to a feeling not only I have felt, but those I have talked to as well. As someone from Washington, there is a very stark device between pretty much the entire state and the Seattle-Tocoma area.

[@dylangtech]

I grew up in the Southern Tier of New York, and as I explored my home state, I realized that we are Pennsylvanian in all but name. We talk like them. We eat like them. We work like them. We face the same challenges as them, we have the same religious demographics as them, we dress like them, and we are very different from the other Upstate folk I found myself among when I lived in and around Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester at different points in my early adulthood. Given the extreme tax burdens, joining the towns and cities south of the Finger Lakes with Pennsylvania would do everyone a lot of good

[@andrew-iw6fy]

Why does Alaska, the biggest state, not simply eat the others?

[@MonsieurDean]

He wants to fatten them up first.

[@lukekelly7286]

can you make a video explaining your changes? i'm intrigued!

[@nesbit6256]

What if Princes Victoria became the ruling monarch, instead of Edward VII after Queen Victoria's passing

[@KlausVanMass]

I advocate for regions such as the Midwest, Dixie, New England, etc. To be joined together and given further autonomy, forming something similar to the constitute countries of the UK

[@Fox-One1937]

No something like confederate south union

[@ZalamaTheDragonGod]

​@@Fox-One1937there are " confederates" in Ohio. Not gonna work

[@lukeporras1288]

In other words, regional governments like the ones proposed in the book, I’ll Take My Stand

[@Fox-One1937]

@@lukeporras1288 yeah, make it happen again

[@kraykyle]

This seems interesting, but both major parties would never accept this. Also, this just seems like a way to get more seccessionists faster.

[@supergamergrill7734]

Yeah and not to be ass here because dividing states up more seems like a good idea. If that were to happen. All I can see in the future is ruralist ruling America due to congress. America is already split 55/45 on red and blue. But many reasons why republicans win congress isnt because they have more voters but because they encompass more of the land. And with each state, no matter how small in population size getting 2 senate vote. That would mean these break away states from cities would further bolster the republicans while not really meaning they got more popular or more votes. Instead of tyranny of the majority, it’s tyranny of the minority

[@sigurdbigset]

I totaly agree with you!

[@trollwaffenunit1garrison784]

this is an important video/topic that enough people will only recognize when it is either too late or something bad has already happened, which is unfortunate, but one can hope more recognize the relevance of something like this

[@harrisondansie9542]

A friendly reminder that the 2022 Republican candidate for the New York governorship, Lee Zeldin, won Upstate 54-45.2. That's not far off from Greg Abbott's margin of 54.8-43.9 over Beto O'Rourke in Texas that same year. Makes ya think.

[@kingced741]

Jackson Mississippi wouldn't have had its water crisis and would have already used it taxes to end it.

[@kingdune9196]

Great vid.

[@MonsieurDean]

Thanks, pal.

[@lacie5522]

Excellent idea! I would like to see your idea for new state lines. Follow up video?

[@kevinbryer2425]

As an upstate New Yorker disenfranchised in state government by that which lies south of Westchester county, I take a slightly different approach. You can't just move borders to fit the demographic, because the demographics will just move again. You have to move the power to where it is most appropriately used. The Founders knew that inviting representatives and their entourages from all over the country, with all sorts of different interests, would have undo influence on the surrounding regions. That's why they put the capital in an independent district that largely self-governs with Congressional oversight. Given the seer size of the Federal government today, it's not unfair to say there is enough spillover to defeat that intent. The sheer density of the bureaucratic population in the surrounding counties makes what should be a deep red Virginia purple on the best years. Well, the same thing happens in the states dominated by metro areas. The sheer density of a population experiencing one way of life overwhelms everyone else in the state, and the tyranny of the majority ensues. The solution is the same, make them an independent district, this time with representation. Most such cities are amalgamations, collections of boroughs, and each should have a a representative, who wields a vote equal to its population. And each district should have a Senator. And if the population naturally spreads beyond city limits, it will be beneficial for both the state and the district to annex the neighboring county as a new borough. This keeps a population dependent on the city center together, and allows the state to maintain its sovereignty. If you are going to redraw state lines, limit the ratio of of states and districts to 1 to 1. If more than one district spawns from a state, that state should be split. Then you have to reenforce the founding principal of Federalism. Instead of arbitrarily redrawing Congressional districts every ten years in ways that allow the parties to pick their voters, fix them to preexisting county lines, maintaining the population representing function by weighing Congressional votes by population. Restore the original Senate by repealing the 17th Amendment. Strictly enforce Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution, which requires the United States to guarantee every State in this Union to have a Republican Form of Government. This is done by duplicating the Federal structure on the state level, with the counties playing the role of states. Governors and Presidents are elected via joint sessions of the respective legislature, with each legislator having a single, equal vote tied directly to the electoral outcome in their respective states and counties, essentially the Electoral College with fewer steps. Standardize executive Cabinets across the county, state, and federal governments, limiting them in departments of State, Defense, Treasury, Justice, Interior, Commerce, Transportation, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Education, and Science, with enumerated roles on each level that are strictly enforced. Subsidiarity is the ruling principal. Most of all, empower families via education and service opportunities to be able to effectively govern themselves. A self governing family requires very little from the county, state, or nation, and will neither demand much nor attempt to enforce itself over its neighbor. And that is the key to domestic tranquility.

[@morsecode980]

In Germany some of the biggest cities are their own separate states, with the same power as states like Bavaria or Saxony. Idk just food for thought

[@Razor-gx2dq]

Question is, would that work here

[@marianokrause-merkel1840]

Yeah, but there were some tries to merge them, see the case of Berlin and the surrounding Branderburg state.

[@morsecode980]

@@Razor-gx2dq And I don’t know. Critics of the idea say it would just increase partisanship if we broke up states along ideological lines

[@beasley1232]

@@morsecode980state politics won’t even stay the same forever. In 2012 Texas voted 15% points for Mitt Romney, in 2016, Texas voted 9% points for Trump and in 2020 Texas voted only 5.5% points for Trump. Changing state lines based on political, cultural and religious ideologies won’t solve anything when state’s economic and social politics are always changing. Not long ago Missouri was considered a swing state and democrats still had the majority of state chambers in the south in 1990 from 2010. The 2 major parties need to just do a better job at appealing to all types of voters or their needs to be more then 2 political party.

[@JunkyardFox403]

In a lot of cases, to really pull this off would mostly result in major metropolitan areas turned into separate states. In places like Washington and Oregon where the divide is more of a geographical east/west one it'd be different, but in a lot of places, if you wanted to draw state boundaries based on the values of the people living in given areas, the lines would probably be along the "belt line" freeways encircling a metro area. In Minnesota, everything inside the I-694/494 loop would be one state; from those freeways outward would be another. (An over-simplification, but drawing the borders any other way would be disastrous.) The divide in the U.S. is more urban/rural than anything - albeit culturally more so than geographically. It's also transcended mere cultural and philosophical differences to become mutual contempt (and, increasingly, hatred). Trying to have people with similar values and beliefs grouped together would simply result in dozens of left-wing enclaves dotting the country within the boundaries of existing states which are now largely right-wing, if they weren't before. Milwaukee is a far-left city surrounded by suburbs which are the most solidly-conservative places in Wisconsin. Could Milwaukee function as an independent state? Rural areas are generally conservative - except for Native American reservations, which are some of the most reliably-Democrat areas in the country. How would they be accounted for? I do believe, generally, that political boundaries should be drawn so that the people within them have the best shot at government that represents their interests, but I think it's too late for that in the U.S.

[@ammonjohnson5592]

I hope to see a follow up video with some proposals of what these new states would look like.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Suggestion man! What if Margaret of norway survived and married edward ii, uniting scotland and england much earlier

[@pizzaboiler]

Im from eastern oregon, and im assuming youve all heard of greater idaho and this video basically explains why

[@cirixium]

Are you for or against it though?

[@percyjackson386]

this was right on the money, as a member of KY I can say that there three groups in our commonwealth, the northerners, the southners, and those people in the hills.

[@kurtbeyersdorfer2343]

Great video. Woiuld love to see a video on an alternate reality where any county could join any adjacant state that more closley matched their needs, wants, culture, ideology, etc. I think the country would see lots and lots of county movment, and it would be a fasinating video. Very similar to the greater Idaho movement that has no chance of ever happing. I can see much good coming from letting counties move but there would probably be some downsides as well.

[@MBP1918]

Of course

[@Tomreese130]

I'm from a suburb of Rochester and it feels like our votes absolutely do not matter with Albany and NYC dragging down the state. Always love your videos on the imbalance of power within states.

[@Roger-fs5yo]

I live in Kentucky and like every state in the South our cities do not determine how everybody lives. Why do you guy's in the North or out west have this problem but we don't🤔

[@AG-yc7vt]

@@Roger-fs5yo Because your city's metro area isn't half of your state's population.

[@Roger-fs5yo]

@@AG-yc7vt perhaps🤔

[@scottmad8563]

@@Roger-fs5yobecause NYC is the largest city in the country by more then double the next city, LA. Massive half of people who live in NY live in NYC, over half live in its direct metro area (Long Island, westchester, Yonkers just for NY). A fun little fact is that NYC metro area is one of the largest in the world at roughly 20 million. Cities in the north are much larger than those that are down south. Northern state’s economy’s were manufacturing based which requires/leads to higher density populations. In contrast the south was almost entirely agriculture based which leads to populations being spread out, lower density. It has nothing to do with left vs right politics, just the history of the northern states vs southern states. Another thing to note before the Industrial Revolution almost all trade in and out of the US was done in the north, NYC got so large and important originally due to its position on the Hudson which the vast majority of goods flowing from the Great Lakes and Midwest states went through the Great Lakes and down the Hudson, to NYC and out to the world

[@gregjrlobo6517]

At some point we're going to have to see your ideal state map. You can't just say the states need to change and then not show your map

[@franko8572]

As somebody in NYS, I can’t tell you right now that thumbnail is spot on!!

[@LiamSGue]

West Virginian here. The fact that the mining industry was so incredibly crippled by the federal government makes me think it was intentional to get rid of our distinct identity and replace our inhabitants with a bunch of technology gurus for the sake of “the economy.” Despite none of this actually benefitting West Virginians.

[@s.r.7602]

Doubtful, coal has been on the decline for decades.

[@zachsmith8916]

@@s.r.7602To some extent but it can certainly be argued that the Obama administration hastened that decline significantly.

[@verifiede4125]

@@zachsmith8916 Not necessarily, although even if it were hastened, it's for a good reason. Coal was 28% of our total greenhouse gas emissions in 2009 at the time of Obama's first electoral victory. In 2016, it was 23% of our total greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020, it was roughly 19%. Most of these reductions were not due to federal regulations, since the president at the time from 2016-2020 was actively trying to roll back the federal regulations enacted by Obama, but rather state-level regulations.

[@mkultraenjoyer]

ny state government would never allow nyc to leave, its their cash cow

[@TheWazzoGames]

Exactly

[@jackmorris3973]

At 08:37 you have a map of Austria Hungary with the ethnic borders, but Tyrol has an Austrian majority, not Italian

[@digirole60]

Excellent analysis. Yet it seems inconceivable we will see any change. I think a change in the big things need to happen first, like becoming dependant on one another through brining back manufacturing, becoming more self sufficient and less dependent on countries who don't like us. The key to future success is diversity. Diversity generates new ideas and better ways of doing things. On a larger scale, redrawing some share borders mat actually provide a more efficient and successful representation in our federal and state governments. Great video.

[@joeharris3878]

Draw a line around my property and leave me out.

[@trisk902]

average person named joe harris

[@joeharris3878]

@@trisk902 That's me !

[@kristopherstone1893]

You missed out on the very distinct cultural area around Cincinnati metro which includes about a 30 mile radius in all directions from the city into Northern KY, SE Indiana, and Southwest OH. It’s very distinct with foods (Cinci Chili, Goetta, beer), German heritage and German Catholic dominated religion, and you find the word “please??” used instead of “pardon me”, “excuse me”, or “come again”. I grew up in Central KY between Louisville and Lexington… moving to Northern KY to the Cincinnati area in 2002 and I can tell you there is a major cultural difference with a much more midwestern accent and attitude here.

[@jonathanvilario5402]

The problem with redrawing state lines isn't necessarily whether it should be done or not, its that the criterias suggested are always subjective, and this particular criteria of "red districts should be red states and blue districts should be blue states" is particularly asinine because it ignores that demographics are highly dynamic and constantly changing. Using political party affiliation to decide state borders entrenches the duolopoly which is what the majority of Americans don't want. It forces states to become solid red or blue, and reduces their relevancy in presidential elections. You know how presidential candidates hardly campaign in solid red/blue states? All campaigns would be locked down if states got butchered into demographic cages with no chance of flipping the other party. It also deincentivizes opposition parties, as they'd know there is no chance in districts clumped together with solid red/blue states. And it ignores the fact that states go through cycles in terms of political affiliations. States have a benefit of being diverse in ideas, and susceptible to changes. By clumping states based on current trends, it makes switching nearly impossible in the near term future. Which begs the question: What happens when districts start flipping the other party again? Do we divide and merge districts all over again? Political parties are not a solid indicator of how state identities should be formed. State governments are just state governments, they're not indicators of culture or practical borders. Speaking of borders, what about state transportation laws? Licensing laws? Do the districts just "adopt" the states they fall into? What if those districts move to the bordering state, and then other districts flip the other color. Do those districts get cut away to another state instead? And then are the old laws scrapped and that district switches all the paperwork for the new state? Party affiliations change, are not set in stone, and does not accommodate the temporariness of parties or the logistical realities to bureaucracy switching over to another state. Now, there are some states that might be better off being cut up and reshuffled. North/South Dakota have a culture worth merging, Greater Idaho isn't just about Trump, California/Texas dividing can improve local representation at a local level, ect. But these suggestions are non-party associated criteria for changing borders. As in, districts changing party preferences would never justify alteration. Which makes these suggestions far more pragmatic than constantly changing along party lines. Not to mention this is a clear division between rural and urban lines. Democrats are typically urban, and republicans are typically rural. And ironically enough despite republican states/districts having low taxes, they're EXTREMELY reliant on urban metropolitan taxes to pay for social services where they're needed. Further dividing rural and urban America, would destitute rural America, and could easily devolve into something you see in Mexico or Afghanistan, where cities take care of their own, but the countryside is full of lawlessness with no bureaucracy to back anyone up.

[@tommyrea]

I've thought for a while that the states should be reorganized in to 5 or six mega-unions that act like countries within a country, and then those mega-unions are further subdivided into territories that make the most geographical sense for governing on the local level. I.e. The NY metro area is one unified territory within the North East Mega-union. Or eastern Tennessee (Franklin) is its own separate territory within the Southern Mega-union. States like TX and CA are probably already large enough to be their own-mega unions.

[@enclave315]

Similar to The Commonwealths of the Fallout universe

[@tommyrea]

Never played but I guess@@enclave315

[@jonfreakintasic]

The founding fathers should have really put a clause that state lines are not permanent and should be redrawn to better represent the population. It doesn't make sense for the great plain states to have 2 senators with like 50 times less people than California. The answer for this stupid culture war is better representation and until that doesn't happen the bickering will continue but maybe that's what they want.

[@neuf1720]

Always remember that senators are not supposed to represent the people in their states, but are supposed to represent the governments of their states. There are two from each state so each state is equally represented. But, there should definitely be more reps in the House of Representatives. Those folks are supposed to represent the people in their districts.

[@dakotadurham4788]

Yeah but the states in the American West really don’t want to become dependent vassal states of Coastal Californian cities

[@Gunvaldtheoneandonly]

Fall asleep in civics class? Senators are meant to represent their state’s interests, representatives the people’s

[@jonfreakintasic]

@@Gunvaldtheoneandonly No I get how it works. I just think how it suppose to work and how it currently works are two very different things. Maybe we should go back to letting governors appoint senators to better capture the "states" interest.

[@macekane]

@@jonfreakintasic It's one of the reasons why the 17th Amendment needs to be repealed.

[@davidcrandall2415]

Upstate New Yorker; second class citizen with marginal representation in state government and none at the national level because our voices are muted out by New York City Metro area.

[@speedracer1004]

As a Virginian, north Virginia is just southern Maryland, whereas the rest of the state has somewhat of a distinct identity but as urbanization creeps southward from D.C this division may only increase.

[@hamfox9714]

Those of us from northeast Tennessee consider ourselves a part of tn only because we are within the borders of tn. At one time we were the state of Franklin. Everything from Knoxville west is really a separate state. Constitutionally each of our states is to run itself as its own little country within loose confines of the republic. Sadly it does not work that way.

[@johnnydemartin0]

Very interesting concept, but there could be a dangerous precedent set that the federal government can reorganize any state boundary it deems “undemocratic.” Plus the logistical nightmare of waking up one morning and being in a new state with a new zip code and tax structure etc. still very cool to imagine what could be! Love your content

[@kumarg3598]

Do you have any idea how complicated this action is? You would need each state with new borders to resubmit their statrhood application.

[@TheFenecFox]

I was just making a map about this! However, other than New York I kept most states east of the Mississippi intact. The western states however were radically changed

[@TheHylianJuggalo]

I don't even think we need redrawn Borders. I think we're just need to state level EC

[@familygash7500]

02:01 Why did you just repeat the beginning of the video?

[@goldenager59]

Apologies if this has been already mentioned - but two such plans, independently developed, for reorganizing the territory of the 50 states along much more practical and/or efficient organizational systems are detailed in Wallechinsky and Wallace's *The People's Almanac* (Doubleday & Company, 1975). Design #1, by G. Etzel Pearcy (at the time, geography professor at California State University, L.A.) divides the USA into 38 new states, with (wherever possible) a state's borders passing through areas with little or no population to speak of and a major metropolitan area in its center (for instance, St. Louis and Chicago will find themselves at the heart of the new states of "Osage" and "Dearborn", respectively). The average size of a state is increased by about 1/4 (Alaska is no longer 483 times the size of Rhode Island); in addition, "unnecessary irregularities" like the Oklahoma panhandle and the northern sliver of West Virginia are out of the picture (along with cities that straddle borders of two or more states), and high priority given to population density, location of cities, lines of transport, land relief, and individual morphology. Design #2, by Dr. Stanley D. Brunn (at the time, associate professor of geography at Michigan State University), is even more streamlined, with a scheme of only 16 states realigned on the bases of "similar economic orientation, social and cultural heritage, and political ideology." Each plan has its benefits and drawbacks, and both are equally absorbing to dwell upon, especially in the company of other people (like-minded or otherwise). 🤓

[@Chuck_vs._The_Comment_Section]

Unfortunately, you did not mention John Wesley Powell's proposal to redraw the borders of the states in the western hemisphere on the basis of available fresh water / watersheds.

[@dannydacheedo1592]

I agree that the states need redrawing, but America does have an identity. Z tends to be able to read data, but has trouble interpreting it. "It's hard to define an American identity, so it isn't real." We all share a common language (unlike many other large federations), we all consume similar media (that one is more important than you think), and the fact that many regions don't agree with their state governments makes those regions see themselves more as being apart of the United States rather than their own state.