Peaceful Separation Gives You What You Want

Given the irreconcilable situation we find ourselves in, it becomes more clear that the only way forward is to start over and let people with like ideological principles come together and establish societies they think are best for human flourishing.

Right now, there’s an educated, progressive, upper middle class woman in San Francisco who dreams of the day that the nation will have universal healthcare. Meanwhile, in Texas, a middle-class man, who favors market-based solutions, is opposed to government-run healthcare and would like to see less (if not zero) government involvement in healthcare.

Why should these two live under the same political system? Why can’t the woman in San Francisco be part of a community (let’s say it’s a sovereign California) and enjoy her government-provided healthcare, while the gentleman in Texas relish in his free-market healthcare system?

It’s a nice vision isn’t it? Imagine not being disgusted by the very existence of someone 2,000 miles away from you who has a vote in the kind of America you’d like to see. Why worry about that person having any influence on your political system at all when you could have your own Utopian vision right now?

Let’s say you’re like the woman described above, and you favor, among other things:

1.       Universal healthcare
   2.       Gun abolition
   3.       Abortion on demand
   4.       75% tax on the wealthy
   5.       Free university education

Now, let’s say you’re like the man described above, and you favor, among other things:

1.       Free-market healthcare
   2.       Background-checkless gun ownership
   3.       A ban on abortion
   4.       Low to no taxes on everyone
   5.       Free-market education – university and K-12

If California and Texas (there would obviously be others, but let’s keep the example simple) were their own separate nations, we could choose the one we want to live in, get all of the benefits listed above and more, and all the time feel sorry (or maybe even be happy) for the people who live in the other state that don’t value the same things we do.

Isn’t that better? Living with like-minded people with whom you don’t have to scream at (at best) or violently fight (at worst)?

How much of your life have people been fighting over the best national policy to healthcare, education, immigration, military intervention, etc.? We’re willing to bet that people will go on fighting over these same issues as you draw your last breath. As the federal government has become more involved in all aspects of society, more and more of our lives are forced to become to be politicized.

Why take up so much time in our lives fighting with or screaming at our neighbors when it would be easier to get what you wanted by cooperating with others who share your values and vision for how society should be arranged?

No longer would you have to experience anxiety or harbor resentment toward others because they hold opposing views and have the ability to vote in ways that make it harder for our own visions of society to become realized.

Peaceful separation provides the relief we all seek.