Make no mistake- the red states would never secede from the union. While it is fun to joke about how bad off they would be without us and blame them for so many of our woes, it is neither constructive or necessarily correct.
If you are really serious, you need to talk about the blue states seceding from the union instead. Secession would provide a tremendous opportunity to reframe the ideals of the Constitution in a modern context that addresses the problems that have brought this country to its knees. (of which Bush is only a symptom) Things like:
- Broad human rights for all people, including non-citizens.
- Genuine seperation of church and state
- Constitutionally mandated open government that severely limits executive privledge.
- No electoral college.
- A streamlined single-bodied legistlative branch with a flexible proxy system. When you vote for someone to represent you, they essentialy vote for you on legislation. You can transfer your vote to another representative at any time or even directly vote yourself.
- Strict campaign financing laws.
- Optional citizenship. If someone wants to retain their US citizenship, pay US taxes and receive US benefits, they should have that right. If we have the notion that we can do better with a new state, then we have to be able to back it up with a 'market forces' test. No neocon would argue against that! When red thinkers realize that they can halve their taxes, get healthcare and a college education for their children, market forces will strengthen the progressive state with new citizens.
I'm sure people here can come up with more good ideas for a "blank slate progressive state". I'd like to hear them.