Unification Is What is Needed!

[SallyA]

United States citizens are always going to have different opinions and views, but I believe a large percentage of citizens can agree that we don't want our freedoms or our lifestyles changed, unless you are one of the homeless in this country, of course.

Sure liberals and conservatives, non-religious and religious, abortion supporters and anti-abortion supporters, gun advocates and anti-gun advocates and the list goes on and on, are most likely never going to come to a middle ground. What is the government up to while we're debating those and other topics, though?

Would American citizens be a lot better off to put our differences aside and concentrate on bigger issues like globalization and the probable coming of the New World Order and One World Government? It seems to me like those issues are much more important, and I'm not downgrading any of the other issues, right now.

[Midas]

I know it's not what you intended this discussion to be about, but for many people outside the USA, one of the biggest oddities there is the way that many of the individual states seem to be almost semi-autonomous as far as their law-making is concerned, and how there seems to be a noticeable lack of any centralisation in things like banking. I'm not saying the USA is unique in this, countries like Australia also have some differences in laws between their states and territories, but the USA does seem to stand out in being archetypal as a fragmented country in this respect.

I'm sure there's a historical reason for this, but is it logical or sensible, or cost-effective, in an increasingly globalised world? It can certainly cause headaches for businesses trying to sell goods or services into the USA as I know from personal experience.

[DC]

But isn't these differences which actually prevent a world Government from forming?

[Tantal]

I'm sure there's a historical reason for this, but is it logical or sensible, or cost-effective, in an increasingly globalised world? It can certainly cause headaches for businesses trying to sell goods or services into the USA as I know from personal experience.

Yes, Midas, there are historical reason for this. The "United States" were originally intended to be 'united' on very few and very specific issues. Otherwise, we were intended to be autonomous. From a Constitutional perspective, the U.S. Government is supposed to be in charge of foreign policy, international trade, border and customs enforcement, and regulation of interstate commerce, although the "Commerce Clause" has been abused beyond recognition by the Feds.

Our Founders understood that there were stark differences between the colonies and wanted them to keep their own identity and autonomy. The purpose of this was to allow citizens to "vote with their feet" if necessary, which is why states were specifically given rights and powers and the role of the Federal government was intentionally limited. For instance, the issue of gay marriage was never addressed in the U.S. Constitution, therefore, it is a STATE matter, regardless of what the pro-Fed lefties would have us believe. Texas does not recognise gay marriage; however, Massachussetts does.......which is perfectly their right. If heterosexuals are so offended by gay marriage, they can move to Texas. If gays in Texas don't like our laws they are perfectly welcome to pack their stuff, move to Massachussetts, and get hitched.

As Americans we fight over everything political, which should not be the case. We should only be fighting over the few things laid out in the Constitution as Federal responsibilities. For everything else, each person should just be able to move to the state of their liking, instead of petitioning the Fed to change their current state. Fortunately, the states are starting to stand up for themselves. Arizona has just passed an immigration law which allows the state to enforce Federal Immigration Law because the Fed has failed (refused, actually) to perform one of its basic Constitutional functions. Good for Arizona. I hope Texas follows.

So, in response to the OP, unification is NOT what we need! What we need is a return to limited Federal government and state autonomy. We should become even MORE decentralised.

[Midas]

Yes, Midas, there are historical reason for this ...

Thanks very much for that Tantal! It still causes problems for the outside world though

[Tantal]

Thanks very much for that Tantal! It still causes problems for the outside world though

You'll see what I mean soon enough. The E.U. was formed partially to make Europe more competitive with the U.S. and Asia by streamlining the flow of goods, services, and labour across national borders in Europe. Not that this is always a bad idea, but you shouldn't have sold your sovereignty for it. At the current pace, who you elect to your own Parliament and your Prime Minister are going to be irrelevant. All the power will be in Brussels. Your National Health Service and pensions will eventually be merged into a universal system....probably called "Eurocare". You'll be lucky to still have power over your own parking and traffic ordinances, much less anything significant.