posted on Jan, 10 2006 @ 01:23 PM
Imagine, if you will, a completely different United States of America. It's really not so hard if you try.
The countryside along the US/Mexico border has a long ribbon of impenetrable steel wall. Towers filled with electronic sensing equipment dot the
landscape. All Brush, Trees and vegetation has been cleared in a wide perimeter from the fence. Armed military patrols maintain ground surveillance
and security while, overhead, Blackhawk Helicopters provide additional intelligence, deterrence and security. Border Crossings have been sealed and
heavily armed military units stand guard.
Way to the North, the Canadian border is similarly fortified, albeit more discretely. Since the Diefenbaker era, the Canadian economy has become
entirely entwined and dependant upon US trade. American corporations had become primary employers -- directy or indirectly -- of a majority of
Canadians to the point where ecomic control of the Canadian government was ipso facto. In spite of American isolation, Canada maintains a mock
sovereignty while bowing to American economic demands for oil, lumber, water and raw materils. For all intents and purposes, Canada is an ecomic
vassal of the United States.
Canada, sovereign in name only, fulfills the role as "agent" for "Fortress America" , providing the US with contact to the rest of the world --
primarily Britain, Australia and New Zealand -- the commonwealth countries. Naturally, Canadian Immigration and security has been greatly improved;
almost to the point where international air travel has become restrictive. A homogenized form of the "Patriot Act" has been enacted across the
Canadian Provinces. Tourism between US and Canada (sic) has also become restrictive and mostly curtailed. Given this situation, the United States
is, essentially, isolated from the rest of the world.
Since it has been mentioned in a previous post, Alaska, Hawaii, American , Rico and all territories and protectorates also maintain an isolationist
policy where necessary. The same heightened levels of security exist and these zones are, likewise, restrictive. Naturally, this would apply to
"American" shipping lanes, territorial seas and flight paths.
In this "new America", the U.S. has ceased, essentially all international trade. That is, the U.S. no longer imports -- anything (Canada and some
essential bilateral trade would exist, in this scenario with the UK). All goods, all services would be totally, 100% U.S. owned and operated. The
U.S. would continue to sell it's products to the outside world but would not be reliant upon this activity. The only cauldron of Capitalism that
would exist would be within the boundaries of the United States.
Would the United States be able to exist in the world, much less be able to continue to exist within itself? Could the U.S. re-develop all the
technology and the industry needed to sustain itself and prosper? And, could the current trends in politics lead towards this scenario? Would the
sham of two-party politics be finally discarded for a government that is, essentially a triumvirate of the leaders of corporate Industry, Technology
and Resource? Would it be necessary to essentially develop a dictatorship (benevolent or otherwise)?
Would such an isolationist nation implode from within or could it actually be governed to nurture and foster original views of the Founders of the
United States and the "Don't Tread On Me" doctrine while staying out of "any and all foreign entanglements"?
Sure, this is long-winded reply and reformulation of the thread's title but change is good, isn't it?
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