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> Both sides would either devolve into unlivable hellscapes One side would devolve into an unlivable hellscape. The other side would devolve into the 1890s-191

by caeril 4y ago

> Both sides would either devolve into unlivable hellscapes One side would devolve into an unlivable hellscape. The other side would devolve into the 1890s-1910s or so, without access to modern imported goods. Nobody would "win". It's obviously a horrible scenario. But one side would definitely lose. > It can't happen without something freakish happening Nations collapse from political schism all the time. We just have short memories.

Kye 4y ago
Modern farming is completely dependent on those ports you so eagerly gave away. How many millions of people would die of starvation and from the inevitable resource wars while the few people who know how to farm the old-fashioned way figured out how to make it work on land that's been made dependent on abundant imported fertilizer and pesticides? I do not believe the people yelling "secession!" are prepared to revert to a pre-WWI world.
- caeril 4y ago
  Modern farming is indeed dependent on imports. But modern-"ish" farming, with tractors, combines, and some degree of mechanization can still be done and maintained without microprocessors, sensors, and precision pumps and machine tools. And if your supply requirements decrease by 150MM people, that makes the job substantially easier to manage. > I do not believe the people yelling "secession!" are prepared to revert to a pre-WWI world. Ah, but they think they are. Which is really the only thing that matters, since beyond a certain point, it's too late.
- collegeburner 4y ago
  you are aware the gulf coast has a lot of ports for imports and exports. most gas comes out of "flyover country" and ends up at gulf export sites (see henry hub) and that's the big input to producing ammonia fertilizer.
malfist 4y ago
> The other side would devolve into the 1890s-1910s or so, without access to modern imported goods Subsistence farming is great for feeding an army so you can rebel against your government

by caeril 4y ago

Kye 4y ago

Modern farming is completely dependent on those ports you so eagerly gave away. How many millions of people would die of starvation and from the inevitable resource wars while the few people who know how to farm the old-fashioned way figured out how to make it work on land that's been made dependent on abundant imported fertilizer and pesticides? I do not believe the people yelling "secession!" are prepared to revert to a pre-WWI world.

caeril 4y ago
Modern farming is indeed dependent on imports. But modern-"ish" farming, with tractors, combines, and some degree of mechanization can still be done and maintained without microprocessors, sensors, and precision pumps and machine tools. And if your supply requirements decrease by 150MM people, that makes the job substantially easier to manage. > I do not believe the people yelling "secession!" are prepared to revert to a pre-WWI world. Ah, but they think they are. Which is really the only thing that matters, since beyond a certain point, it's too late.
collegeburner 4y ago
you are aware the gulf coast has a lot of ports for imports and exports. most gas comes out of "flyover country" and ends up at gulf export sites (see henry hub) and that's the big input to producing ammonia fertilizer.

malfist 4y ago

> The other side would devolve into the 1890s-1910s or so, without access to modern imported goods Subsistence farming is great for feeding an army so you can rebel against your government