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Comment by alexryan | Hacker News Reader

People who live in the Silicon Valley bubble either don't seem to understand just how terrified people are in the heartland, or they don't care, or they don't understand the consequences of not caring. If Silicon Valley firms continue to use their power to bend reality to reflect the world view of the privileged coastal elites, then elections will no longer be viewed as free and fair. If that happens, then civil war is a real possibility.

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You mean if the minority in the heartland continue to exert an oversized influence due to representational bias in Congress? Maybe the heartland should realize that their days of being majority are over, both demographically and by proportion and stop using the coastal elites excuse now that it's the coastal majority.

edit: I was just saying that the heartland is dying and doesn't yet realize it and that their death throes are going to screw us all. I don't think civil war is inevitable, I think that the "right wing" or whatever will fizzle over the coming years.

You understand that civil war would rebalance the majorities, right? You think a nation with the size and diversity of U.S. would be sustainable without a federated system of power among states?

Anybody contemplating the possibility of civil war in the United States should really take a look at demographics of military service members and locations of military bases.

Maybe people should embrace diversity, agree to disagree, and stop forcing their views on others. Democracy was never meant to legitimize oppression of minority views.

The "heartland" is also biased to things like food production and military service to defend the rights of all (including the "coastal majority"). Probably not a good idea to unnecessarily stir the pot and risk secession or civil war.

A little understanding, compassion, and tolerance goes a long way.

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