Hacker News Reader

Comment by creature_x | Hacker News Reader

I see your point but individuals living their sovereign lives isn't the issue; the issue is if Facebook keeps kindling the fires of division a day could come where we're knocking at the gates of a civil war. Is that too hyperbolic ? I don't know but if asking people in California what they think of Texas/Florida and vice-versa is a litmus test, perhaps some concern is in order.

View on HN

The division seems to me leading more to a breakup of the united states, into smaller countries. If one believes in democracy, and local democratic will. Why would that necessarily be bad. The country is filled with red states on the inside, and blue states on the outside. Doesn't seem like the people in the middle are getting the kind of government they vote for. And the people in the blue states have to temper down their liberal pro socialism policies that have served them so well in big cities, to help them stop crime and end homelessness that don't necessarily apply on the inside.

Take gun control. If you live in the middle of nowhere, the police are hours away from helping you. Owning a gun is your only realistic means of self defence.

It's possible but the economic and social upheavel would be massive. Not a good scenario for anyone I think.

Especially for the relatively poor red states that depend on blue state subsidy.

There are still some southern states that have massive poverty. The union did not serve them well. I can see how they would be better off on their own. Hawaii as well. And its not just about poverty. Hawaiians would like to regain control over their culture, tourism levels, and so on. King of your castle. Even if your castle is just a shack. Counts for a lot. Also cities like Chicago and Detroit experienced huge declines, because of trade with China, that mostly benefits California. I can see how they would like their own policies on trade.

I'm sure there were people walking around saying that in 1775. Yet Greater good prevailed, and US got its independence from Britain. Since its a Democratic Union, I hope it can be dissolved in a democratic way. Is the worry that each state would have fight to get independence?

I am not a fan of histotical analogies like that. One very likely outcome of a U.S breakup is a global economic depression. Another one is Chinese hegemony. I am not a fan of either. Sure, it might work out alright. But it might not.

There is a certain argument that both the red states and the blue states are wrong (perhaps on different issues) and that the best governing would a combination or compromise (which is what most people actually seem to want, given especially that all states are mostly purple).

But that kind of compromise is exactly what Facebook's algorithms are designed to ensure doesn't happen---nobody is gloriously excited about compromise.

Facebook is repeatedly banning politicians in a political party. Denying them a voice.

Abraham Lincoln was not even on the ballot in several states. That did not go well.

Politicians yelling at each other is a sausage factory, but good in that it keeps them busy. It’s alarming when a large portion of the population feels they no longer have any voice whatsoever.

Now a big difference these days is that government surveillance is so incredibly tight that any one wanting to start unapproved trouble will be hunted down quickly.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com