It may be too late for the US, and the planet, but I have suggested city-states, separated from the rural ignorance and racism, as the only way to circumvent the power of land ownership built into our system. The progressive centers are all urban and their populations outnumber that of their home states. The shift in our representation possible with just three or four such cities declaring statehood and leaving the states now functioning under Republican leadership would cripple the criminal party, perhaps to the point of its demise.

Think of the implication of Atlanta becoming a state. It would gain two Senators and capture most of the house representation of Georgia. Atlanta, Miami, and Detroit doing so would likely be enough to change the political landscape of our country for a century and provide the majorities needed to make important amendments to our badly outdated Constitution to put our nation back on a course that is reasonably compatible with the future.

Ironically, the precedent that would enable this was established by the south’s secession from the union and West Virginia’s determination to remain as a separate state. While the south has yet to formally declare their secession, their intent to ideologically leave their nation has been quite clear for some time. It may take such a bold move to set a roadblock to another armed conflict.