Igor Panarin is a dean of the Russian Foreign Ministry's academy for future diplomats, a former KGB analyst, and a fortune teller. His powers are predicting an economic and moral fallout that will lead into a civil war and the destruction of the U.S.
Sounds like a comic book storyline, but he's gave this idea a lot of thought. Igor begins with the notion that wealthier states (I guess NY and CA) will strangle funds from the federal government and break away from the union. The poor gets mad and a civil war will arise. Then we split along color lines, and foreign powers will move in. Interesting.
Then it gets fun...
California will form the nucleus of what he calls "The Californian Republic," and will be part of China or under Chinese influence. Texas will be the heart of "The Texas Republic," a cluster of states that will go to Mexico or fall under Mexican influence. Washington, D.C., and New York will be part of an "Atlantic America" that may join the European Union. Canada will grab a group of Northern states Prof. Panarin calls "The Central North American Republic." Hawaii, he suggests, will be a protectorate of Japan or China, and Alaska will be subsumed into Russia.
"It would be reasonable for Russia to lay claim to Alaska; it was part of the Russian Empire for a long time." A framed satellite image of the Bering Strait that separates Alaska from Russia like a thread hangs from his office wall.I guess Sarah Palin was on to something. She could become the Duchess of mess. So does this have any merit? I hope not, but we need to get on track soon. I couldn't imagine the South to be all European. Then again, that could be an improvement.
I don't think it is so much interesting as it is just foolish, with a hint of classic Russian propaganda.
ReplyDeleteBy all estimates we have been through much worse economically, in recent history, enough so that Americans can remember it. No matter how high employment grows it is unlikely to reach the same heights of the depression, at which time we were also experiencing a dust bowl.
As divisive as we are socially, we have a common interest in sustaining our union.
This also seems to be a clear misunderstanding how our country is designed to work under the principles of federalism--which is understandable coming from the perspective of someone living in a centralized country, even as corrupt as it is now. Plus as is most states would not be able to function without the assistance of the other states through the tax pool.
Also Lincoln established the precedent for every President to follow: the Union cannot be broken.
To add to all of this, the fact that it is coming from Russia only makes it more laughable. This reminds me of Medieval Kings that would go to fortune tellers and demand that they be told a fortune that was in their favor. Imagine how popular Panarin is now that he has predicted the fall of the United States.
I will tell you this, there is a strong secessionist movement in the northeast U.S. I see continental flags flying with only sixteen stars on the flag, things like that.
ReplyDeleteAnd some wag had actually done an economic analysis were the original colonies to split from the U.S. yet keep the revenue flowing to federal coffers. We'd be much better off.
I believe the U.S. is simply too large to be effectively governed from a federal central structure.
The founders couldn't have had any idea how bad it could get.
Wow. China. Maybe iPods will be cheaper?
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