TerjeP (#15): I guess the “groovy little flag and super power status” is enough, but, more tangibly, we get to be part of a national economic system and system of common governance that includes the other 49 states (and another 265 million people). I think the consistency of federal laws across the 50 states and the common ties that bind us as a culture make up for fact that California subsides some of the slackers. Funny, though, that the slackers are generally the more conservative states, not the progressive ones like California and New York.

Another advantage of being a US state that pays in more than it takes out is you get to be driver of change rather than a follower. California consistently sets the bar for the other states economically and socially — and history shows that the others end up following along.

Temujin (#20): There’s much to like about Texas. Geographically it is large and resource rich. Musically, it has Austin; maybe this doesn’t translate well, but in the US Austin is known for the diversity and support of its musical culture. They still pump a lot of oil in Texas and are the hotbed for the development of wind generation.

Aside from that, however, Texas is the opposite of an innovator. It has perhaps the worse pollution problems in the US (associated with the petro-chemical factories along the Gulf coast) and absolutely the most draconian, backward-looking penal system. Without Austin and the U of Texas, Texas would have no incubator interesting technology, and Austin isn’t very large (more like an oasis in a vast intellectual desert).

For what it is worth I’d be happy to follow suit and chop up Australia into several separate nations. We have never really liked Queensland that much anyway even though some people say it is a bit like Texas. And the Victorians don’t understand football or how to turn at an intersection. Whilst West Australia is simply too far away to care about a whole lot. We could be united in mutual contempt.

These are strawmen. The discussion is about the viability of civil society, not about misconceptions about European military policy or misinterpreted economic data.