American Secession: The Looming Threat of a National Breakup

Americans have never been more divided, and were ripe for a breakup. The bitter partisan animosities, the legislative gridlock, the growing acceptance of violence in the name of political virtueit all invites us to think that wed be happier were we two different countries. In all the ways that matter, save for the naked force of law, we are already two nations.  Theres another reason why secession beckons, says F.H. Buckley: were too big. In population and area, the United States is one of the biggest countries in the world, and American Secession provides data showing that smaller countries are happier and less corrupt. Theyre less inclined to throw their weight around militarily, and theyre freer too. There are advantages to bigness, certainly, but the costs exceed the benefits. On many counts, bigness is badness.

Across the world, large countries are staring down secession movements. Many have already split apart. Do we imagine that we, almost alone in the world, are immune? We had a civil war to prevent a secession, and were tempted to see that terrible precedent as proof against another effort. This book explodes that comforting belief and shows just how easy it would be for a state to exit the Union if thats what its voters wanted.

But if that isnt what we really want, Buckley proposes another option, a kind of Secession Lite, that could heal our divisions while allowing us to keep our identity as Americans. See more