Money, money, money makes the world go 'round....
I see the guy who got kicked out of the military, then the congress, then Pajama Media (for groping women) has relocated to Texas where he is now the prime cheerleader for Secession 2.0 or something like that. Gee, what could go wrong there?
Well, here’s a simple question I would love to hear all these Secessionist Cosplayers answer:
When you secede what are you going to back your currency with?
You want to be the Confederate States of America 2.0, be my guest. But remember the world’s reserve currency is the UNITED STATES dollar, which is a foreign currency to your new confederacy.
Now I know in this age of crypto gold rush, people disdain fiat currencies. But they are a lot more tangible than DogeCoin. They are also a hell of a lot more stable than GME (🚀💎✋). Look around the world and you realize Every major currency in the world today is fiat currency.
The only reason the dollar has any value at all is that it is issued within the context of a society full of people who have agreed to treat it as though it has value. Without that faith, every major currency on Earth would be as useful as small pieces of paper generally are. In a sense, therefore, the dollar, as well as the euro, yen, and every other major currency, is backed directly by the stability of the society that issues it, rather than by a metal that can fluctuate in value from one day to the next. This means that the bills in a wallet have value because, as economist Milton Friedman put it, "Everybody thinks they have value."
Say what you will, but there is no denying the United States is a massive economy. It also impacts everyone else, either by trade, diplomacy, or force. Sometimes all three. So what exactly is the Confederate States of America 2.0 going to offer the world?
Cheap labor? They already got that.
Lax environmental regulation? They got that, too.
Lax banking regulation? They got that, too.
Oil? That’s going downhill so fast even the Saudis are investing in nuclear energy. And you are now going to compete with the likes of Venezuela on the open market. Good luck.
Space technology? Hate to break it to you,but all that cool technology belongs to the United States government. Since it has national security implications, you don’t get to keep any of that.
Military for hire? Once again, all that stuff marked USA won’t belong to you. You’re going to need to get your own.
Tourism? You Gulf is a cesspool. Your electricity is iffy. From an entertainment point of view, Paris, TX is about as desirable as Paris Hilton.
Culture? They have that in Mexico for a lot less hassle.
I’m not even going to bother asking Alabama, Mississippi or Oklahoma what they have to offer. It would be embarrassing. Suffice to say, the rest of world already has futbol.
I realize farmers and ranchers in places like Idaho and Montana think they are self-sufficient and have food to offer the world. That’s true. But the ports on the East and West coasts don’t belong to you. You’ll have to get your stuff through customs BEFORE you can ship it. China won’t crush you, the cost of doing business will.
That’s bad enough, but it gets worse. I forget to mention that all the research institutions and universities you have rely strongly on federal funds from the United States of America. You think your tax base can support that? You think you will be able to stop the inevitable brain drain?
With that giant sucking sound of talent leaving your country, what large corporation is going to be able to get talent to relocate to your environmentally degraded tax haven?
That’s just the start of it. All the hospitals, police, fire and emergency services you enjoy? Those rely on federal funds from the United States, too. You want to support that with your tax base? I guess schools, libraries, social services, public health, and energy will be optional.
So tell me, big guy, when the rest of the world shuns your worthless currency, what are you going to eat? Your guns?
