Do you support the right of secession and self determination?
Could be for Suburbs from cities, cities from states or states from countries.
36-40, M
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Xuan12 · 31-35, M
To an extent. But it's important to know the real reason it generally doesn't happen, stability. Often, if a group wants to break away, that threatens the wellbeing and security of other groups, even if there is little material difference in terms of wealth. This is why China is so concerned with North Korea. NK adds little to the wealth of China, but it exists as a buffer zone between China and the US forces stationed in South Korea. Suppose North Korea said it was going to turn coat, submit to American influence and unify with South Korea. That would mean that the US now has significant military garrison directly bordering the Chinese mainland, and if there ever was a war, China would have to deal with this.
This is why nations often resist secession by force if necessary. It's too compromising to their stability and security.
This is why nations often resist secession by force if necessary. It's too compromising to their stability and security.
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Xuan12 · 31-35, M
@SuicideBiProxy2 Not directly, but it is the same principle. Suppose North-East India wanted to secede and align with China. That would pose a major risk to the rest of India. Even if they didn't WANT to align with China, could they resist China on their own if it came to it?
Or, to get more mundane. What if all the metro areas of Texas wanted to secede from the state? What if Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin all just decided they should quit the rest of Texas? Where would that leave both them, and the rest of the state?
What if JUST Houston decided to secede, taking its port with it, along with $80billion in trade and the crucial point of entry for oil to Texas?
Things work best when secession is difficult, it helps keep the order and prosperity.
Or, to get more mundane. What if all the metro areas of Texas wanted to secede from the state? What if Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin all just decided they should quit the rest of Texas? Where would that leave both them, and the rest of the state?
What if JUST Houston decided to secede, taking its port with it, along with $80billion in trade and the crucial point of entry for oil to Texas?
Things work best when secession is difficult, it helps keep the order and prosperity.
SuicideBiProxy2 · 36-40, M
@Xuan12 Conversely, if secession were an option, wouldn't that put pressure on a government to keep their population happy?
Xuan12 · 31-35, M
@SuicideBiProxy2 Sometimes it does, but truthfully governments are generally incapable of keeping people happy in general. The reason they exist is to preserve order and security, which as mentioned, secession is usually very destructive to. Governments do have secondary functions as well, gathered as inevitable results of their role in public life and their impact on our dealings, but they still exist indirectly for the sake of order or security. Like Medicare, made to address a public health crisis among the poor and elderly. For most of history, nobody thought that was a function of government. The US government just found it necessary at the time, and now it's considered a core part of our government. And while it does likely contribute to the happiness of its beneficiaries, that's a side effect of the program, not the reason the program exists.
It is a little muddy, because sometimes government operations do please people, but that's not something we should expect. For instance, nobody likes paying taxes, but it's absolutely vital to do so. Few people like jury duty, but if we want trials and courts we must have jury duty. Even fewer people like war, but nonetheless, it would be unthinkable not to have a military and at least some willingness to use it if one expects to exist as an independent nation.
It is a little muddy, because sometimes government operations do please people, but that's not something we should expect. For instance, nobody likes paying taxes, but it's absolutely vital to do so. Few people like jury duty, but if we want trials and courts we must have jury duty. Even fewer people like war, but nonetheless, it would be unthinkable not to have a military and at least some willingness to use it if one expects to exist as an independent nation.
VolpeTredici · 31-35, M
thatscottishguy · 26-30, M
I think I'm clearly for self determination.