People talking of splitting USA (red-blue map)
I am sure the only people talking of splitting the red and blue states into two countries are those in the blue (Gore/Kerry) states. It would be to their advantage to get people to STOP leaving the blue states. The blue states have a majority of democrats and they have run their states into the ground and people are leaving in droves. The democrat heavy blue states have failing economies due to democratic policies and people voting for these policies. The red states are growing in population and have much better economies. The red states are filled with conservative type people and policies and the people who vote for them.
Bush, so far, has only won the same states he won in 2000 and has already gotten more than half of the needed electoral votes to win. Why? Electoral votes are based in part on population. Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina are all red states and all increase in electoral votes. Wisconsin, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Pennsyvania are all blue states and all decreased in electoral votes. These blue states are also reknown for their high taxes and generous welfare systems. No wonder businesses are leaving the blue states and taking the jobs and productive people with them.
The founding fathers knew that you could not legislate morality, but also said that the US constituion was entirely inadequate for an immoral people. Which party is constantly critized of being overly religious (and moral) and which party is constantly being critized of being immoral and tearing at the fabric of America? It seems to me that America is working fine for the blue states. I also think I know why. For answer re-read this paragraph.
I live in Virginia and it was in the news today that Virginia has the 2nd lowest cost of insurance in America. They attribute this to that Virginians are less likely to sue other drivers. (There goes that overly religious and morality getting in the way of not screwing up the economy.)
I am not saying the answer to America's problems lie in everyone becoming overly religious and moral, but a lot of the problems would be solved if everyone at least acted like they were overly religious and moral. Hey, lets not sue each other at the drop of the hat. Let's stop taking money from producers and giving it to non produces just to get the non-producers vote. If were not working at a job, how about instead depending on others to fill the need, we go get a job (if we are able). How about we stop having kids unless we are in an economically stable situation? (Number ONE reason for U.S. poverty is having kids without being able to support them, USUALLY DUE TO NOT BEING MARRIED.) Now if we at least pretended we were moral, we could cross our legs until married are at least capable of being responsible for our actions. HOw about if a factory is making money employing Amercians, we don't close it down and move it somewhere else to make even more money somewhere else? How about if the government collects too much money and it is given back in the exact same propotions it was collected (or even weighted to the less unforunate), we don't scream "tax cuts for the rich!" How about pretending we would rather bite our own tounge off that tell a lie?
I could go on and on and everyone reading this KNOWS I could go on and on, but I doubt if I would change anyones mind.
If you do write a new constitution, don't make the same mistake our founding fathers. Assume that Americans will be lazy, immoral, irresponsible, and criminal unless specifically disallowed those actions. Don't assume that if actions wonder into a grey area that the person will do the right thing.
You can either behave as our founding fathers knew we were capable of behaving or write a whole new constitution for a people that our founders fathers would be disappointed in.
@);-
< I take my hat off to you. This is EXACTLY how I feel.