r/politics • u/sweatycat New York • 1d ago

California to Negotiate Trade With Other Countries to Bypass Trump Tariffs

https://www.newsweek.com/california-newsom-trade-trump-tariffs-2055414
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u/kittenTakeover 1d ago

American balkanization is horrible idea for American's FYI.

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u/Guilty-Shoulder-9214 1d ago

For many, yes. Because California and the east coast bankroll them. However, for the east coast and California, it’s likely a smart move. I’d totally vote to go along with California if it were offered to the western and rocky states minus Utah.

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u/External-Tiger-393 1d ago

Do you know how much violence and instability (which adds to violence but also creates social and economic crises) that balkanization has? It's probably the worst thing that could happen as a result of this presidency. Balkanization isn't peaceful, it's horrifying, and it should scare you.

I'd love if California could peacefully secede from the union and maybe bring Washington, Colorado and Oregon with it -- but let's be honest, that can't happen. And an armed secession only works (historically speaking) with backing from a foreign power, and I don't think we're gonna get the same deal that the revolutionary Americans got with France where they got funding, supplies and troops without giving up independence or power.

For example, neither Canada nor Mexico has any reason to back a secession effort; any country that does is probably hostile to both us and the US as a whole. It's not great.

Technically the corridor I just mentioned could join Canada, if they wanted us... But then we'd make the majority of Canada's population, which isn't a great deal for a democracy.

However, I'd love to see a real life New California Republic. Because I live in California now, and the state flag looks so fucking wrong when the bear has only one head.

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u/baked_couch_potato 1d ago

that violent secession is the only way California is not under the heel of a trumpian empire a decade from now

America is over, dude. so it's either balkanization in which the non fascist states form their own coalitions or every state ends up like Florida and Texas and Ohio and all the other states going out of their way to kill trans people, deport brown people, and let women bleed to death in hospital parking lots

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u/usmclvsop America 1d ago

You’re assuming California remains being controlled by people you agree with in the aftermath. That’s not a guarantee. musk could decide he wants to be king of Cali and hire millions of mercenaries to control the state. Maybe it means bioterrorism with weapons provided by Russia. It’s dangerous to assume the right side will come out on top.

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u/Absurdkale 1d ago

The right side is already not on top.

The better solution is one that will keep our country together clearly. But I think current events has shredded any notion more than a third of this country can vote beyond "hur hur, commie liberals, hur hur"

We're at a point where political norms and institutions that have kept this country together despite turmoil and partisan bullshit have been shattered in a matter of mere months.

I'm not saying I want balkanization, because it would ultimately be risky and likely violent, but also I don't hold out hope we come back from this as a unified country aymore.