South's declining relevence on the federal level

[Lettow77]

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2009/11/gone-wind#comment-236213

Some of my favourite selections:

Ultimately, "the South" per (2) is a declining and reactionary element. They will continue to play a role, and their decline (which they sense better than most) will drive them to greater heights of fervor, but their day is done. In less than a generation, they will be the US equivalent of the Le Pen voters in France, or the CSU in Germany: angry revanchists with appropriate representation, but never again in a position of national leadership. (And thank their God for that!)

What will likely happen is that southern states themselves will become less "Southern" over time, thus hollowing out the potential for the kind of regional cohesion that made national politicians track south even if they were from Connecticut, as George H.W. Bush was.
Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Texas are the vanguard. It's not that they will be like California or Massachusetts, but more like Ohio, that is, more representative of the nation as a whole, and it will not be a reliable strategy to pretend otherwise.

I agree with all of this, and it is depressing. Perhaps democratic principles will never lead the South to autonomy. If that is the case, than perhaps a Third Way should be considered? arguing fiercely with the missus about all this, who rather sticks her head in the sand and says things arent as bad as I speculate, and that a Southern renaissance is conceivable within our lifetime.

'perpetual' union indeed.

[Sophie Scholl]

About time.  Reconstruction is finally seeing some results!

[Lettow77]

 As whimsical as it may be, Space is the only thing that gives me meaningful hope.

[Queequeg]

As whimsical as it may be, Space is the only thing that gives me meaningful hope.

An entire generation of Confedetards basing their perverse fantasies on StarCraft.  Hilarious. 

[Sophie Scholl]

As whimsical as it may be, Space is the only thing that gives me meaningful hope.

An entire generation of Confedetards basing their perverse fantasies on StarCraft.  Hilarious.

Sample size: 1.

[The Minsky Moment]

I agree with all of this, and it is depressing.

Then maybe you should stop contributing to the trend. 

[Queequeg]

Sample size: 1.

To be fair, I don't think the current generation of confedetards is much but racist, lazy-ass Starcraft fans.  It would make a lot of sense. 

[Razgovory]

Sample size: 1.

To be fair, I don't think the current generation of confedetards is much but racist, lazy-ass Starcraft fans.  It would make a lot of sense.

Well they are southerners.  South Koreans at least.

[Camerus]

Don't you have a class you should be teaching, Jaron?

[Eddie Teach]

How to find a job serving nachos out of your sombrero?

[Neil]

If that is the case, than perhaps a Third Way should be considered?

Depends on what you mean by Third Way.

[KRonn]

I wonder how many Southerners do feel they want a separate nation? I feel the Civil War marked a turning point, and one where the entire nation would move on from after enormous hardship and war. I  see the South as  a part of the nation as much as any other region, regardless of the tough past. While the South suffered most in the ACW, the entire nation suffered as well. I'm glad that the nation was able to remain whole following the Civil War, since this is a much stronger nation as one.

[Caliga]

I wonder how many Southerners do feel they want a separate nation?

Aside from Lettow, none.   Seriously, I doubt more than 0.5% or so.

[Ed Anger]

Cut off their crazy checks and federal benefits, and the number drops I bet.

[Valmy]

What will likely happen is that southern states themselves will become less "Southern" over time, thus hollowing out the potential for the kind of regional cohesion that made national politicians track south even if they were from Connecticut, as George H.W. Bush was.

Strange I thought George H.W. Bush moved to Texas which is not Southern but Texan.