Modern Civil War V.2.0: We're Mad As Hell And We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore!

Okay, this one is a bit more likely, IMHO:

Civil War erupts in Mexico. The President of the United States is a warm-hearted sap/has an illegitimate child by a Mexican ho (take your pick) and doesn't do anything about the hordes of Mexican refugees swarming across the border. The border states - California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas - are taking a huge hit because FedGov mandates (as they currently do) that each refugee is entitled to welfare, health care, etc.

But it's too much. Crime is rampant. Diseases are springing up. It's a humanitarian nightmare. Those four states decide they can't handle such an influx and demand the border be closed or they'll do it themselves. Fedgov refuses because the President is warm-hearted sap/potential blackmail victim (take yer pick).

So, in a meeting in Santa Fe, the four states decide to secede so at least they can do something about securing their borders. Fedgov threatens to send troops.

Whose side are you on NOW? (not bothering posting a poll because someone will inevitably want to discuss the unlikelyhood of this, or some shit, but what the hell, I'm bored right now and I dig alternate history )

I suspect the new nation won't have just the four states for long

Also, this is a much more worthy-of-fighting-for cause (even to the point of national dissolution) than the abortion one was.

Secession doesn't solve their problem. They still have the Mexican immigrant population to deal with and must now fix their borders with their own resources. Times will be rough and money will be short. The large Mexican population may not go quietly with the states' plans to fortify their borders. Those states that have seceded may have new revolutions spring up within them.

The Balkans...with a little touch of salsa.

True, but they won't have that warm fuzzy President

But at least they'll be free to actually try.

As far as I'm concerned, secession has never been shown to be forbidden to the States. Any state that wants to break off is welcome to it. But I suspect that any state that did by itself (even mighty California) would have a rough time of it...

Ah, but would California, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico together have such a hard time? Especially if other states with illegal immigrant problems joined them?

Come to think of it, secession over this issue might concievably become a full-blown revolution.

It would be interesting to see a nationwide poll on how the American people as a whole feel about illegal immigration.

I'm on the side of anything that brings anarchy, chaos, mayhem, and death.

Let the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse ride!!!!!

I wonder if there's a way to have a non-binding, nationwide referendum with an election... I say in an election, because that's the only way to ensure, in theory anyway , that no illegal aliens are in the polls.

I always thought it would be fun to have "Propositions" on the national level - not to mention recall provisions...

Well, first off, why bother with secedeing? Especially if you can force a settlement?

I'd round up a few friends, grab some guns, and start shooting illegals left and right. I'd expect the same from many other anti-immigration groups.

Of course, the Mexicans would retaliate, and when news hits that Americans are being slaughtered en masse on their own soil, it would force the government to either take action and send troops to stop the Mexicans, (hopefully) drawing them into an all out war with the National Guard, or the soldiers would be forced to shoot on American citizens. (A lot less likely)

If you secede, you're no longer part of the States, and not under their protection.

If the government really does stand by and do nothing, I'd expect them to be removed in short order. i.e. a vote of no confidence like Queen Amadala did, 'cept I don't know how you guys do that in the US.

It would be tough to let go of California, but the scenario is just very unlikely IMO.

I just can't see California joining this fray.

There's no provision for that. Impeachment and expulsion from Congress are as close as it gets, and you'd be hard-pressed to get an impeachment conviction.

Sez you! I pray for that scenario every day!

The US would lose a lot of economic clout if that happened and the dollar's already weak bottom would drop out...

We let a land of $3.50/gal. gas, $15.00 coffee, and $1259875891257/(ft^2) real estate vanish from our statistics and the dollar's purchasing power goes down?

I just can't see California being allowed into this.


Now, if Nevada wanted in....


Well, "Otisburg" does sound like a good name for a Nevada beach town...

I'm willing to chance it.

It is forbidden. The whole point of the union is joining together. You can't have states coming and going as they please because otherwise what is the point then of having a union of states? Might as well just be fifty countries and get it over with.

No state will leave without a fight.

Once you're in the family you're in for life.

It would be a revolution.

You think those Mexicans streaming across the border are going to be staying in only four states?

Florida has a Mexican population as well.

Plus I see plenty of Mexicans already here causing trouble by trying to help one side or the other back in Mexico.

Plus the reality is that as soon as a Mexican Civil War started the President would have no choice but to put the military on the border simply to protect Americans who would no doubt be a target. Otherwise he would be removed via the 25th amendment or the fastest impeachment in history.

In fact given that we get a large quantity of oil from Mexico we would probably be invading in short order to forcefully end the fight.

Also this was already covered by that HBO movie back in the 90's. The Federal government lost.

Ain't just oil. Lotta businesses went south after NAFTA was signed.

That too but after Canada they are the 2nd biggest supplier of oil to us.

There are two countries in the world that will never have a civil war and those are Canada and Mexico. We won't let them do it. We'd have to cease existing first.

Mexico was in something of a revolt in the south until not to recently actually.

I don't think it's possible for Canadians to physically raise a hand in anger anymore.

That was more of a riot.

I'm talking full blown civil war where the whole country is fighting.

That's why they riot when they lose or win baseball games?

I think the civil war would probably be over loss of Constitutional rights, or possibly even along racial lines myself because of how polarized the country is right now.

I divorced my ex-wife for "irreconcilable differences".