ALTER-NARRATIVES:
The U.S. experiment tried to unite a group of people living in a multitude of states, separated by geography, economics, resources, ethnicity, and social issues into one united country.
Nation States
By Kaill McNeil
Making A Nation
There are many ways to structure a nation. Some better than others, particularly according to one’s own priorities and preferences. More to the point, there are some that are more popular than others. Some coming to be phased out over the centuries. TO the point there are only a few nations based on such a system. America is one such nation.
Constituting A Country
One of the most popular basis on which to build a nation, is that of a constitution. In this way, America has very much followed the trend. Opting for a constitutional democratic republic. As opposed to a constitutional democracy found in much of the rest of the western world, from Canada to New Zealand (those Brits were busy). Both versions of government have their advantages, allowing for checks and balances.
What’s That Monarch Doing in a Democracy?
Constitutional monarchies, at least after the English Civil War, qualify as standard democracy, with a hereditary royal family acting as a mitigating factor. The monarch theoretically holding the civil government to account; and keeping truly crazy laws from passing. A stupendous example of the Crown stepping in to stop stupid was Canada’s attempt to pass the infamous Natal Act. (Interestingly, named after a city in then Apartheid South Africa). The intent of the law was to ban all Asian immigration to Canada. The bill passed through the provincial legislature of British Columbia with no opposition, it was the 19th century after all. Lt. Gov Lord Dunsmuir the Crown’s representative to Canada slapped that nonsense down, as the last stop to ratification on any proposed act.
In Each Other’s Way
The U.S. system works similar to this with its three branches of government. The executive and legislative basically getting in each other’s way, with the judiciary ready to step in on matters of constitutional law. With today’s continuing hyper-partisan environment the main way to get a law on the books in the United States is for the president to sign an executive order. After that it’s a crap shoot whether it will ever take effect. Courts can still strike down any executive order found to be unconstitutional. Another way in which America is unusual. Not as unusual as having a name that is literally a descriptor, ‘The United States of America’ – think about it.
Nation States
Another way in which the U.S. is special, that few ever acknowledge, is the fundamental political geographical division of its landmass. 50 states among the largest number of individual divisions in the world, outside of continents. But even then, there are more states in the United states of America than nations in all of Europe, which has 44. Even the Soviet Union, the largest single nation ever to exist with a single point of governance topped out at 15. There is also an inordinate amount of power allotted to each state. Especially given their relatively small size. Governors in some cases having more power than the president when it comes to their own jurisdiction. Laws can change radically from state to state, due to the principle of state’s rights, and each state has its own form of law enforcement. From state troopers to city police. As such, states of the United States effectively function as micro-nations within the context of a small continent.
These United States
The status of the United States being more of a United Nations, dates back several decades. The common terminology before the American Civil War trending toward the plural. Terms like “these” and “are” used in place of “the” and “is.” So “these United States are” rather than “the United States is.” Issues concerning the autonomy of individual states being the root cause of the war itself. Slavery technically being a states right.
Jeff Davis vs David Duke
That’s not to say the cause wasn’t slavery, because it was, as the Confederate officials made clear at the time. Jefferson Davis making David Duke look like John Brown by comparison. The simple fact of the matter is, had slavery never been tolerated in those certain states, there would have been little to fight about. Even taking into account other economic and tariff issues. There might well have been sporadic civilian rebellions but nothing like the military power keg set off. Sadly, those battles seem unsettled in our country.
Fair Comparison
To me, of all the nations on earth, the one the United States most closely resembles is not England as many would assume. Despite the obvious influence of the Brits, not least in terms of place names, one must look elsewhere. For a fair comparison in terms of both government and land structure. It is a model common in the Europe of the 1500’s. That country is modern Spain. Spain is less a singular geo-political entity than a confederation of semi-autonomous entities under a decentralized government in Madrid.
Catalan Separation
In Spain each of these entities have their own local government, regional police force, and language. The people of the rebellious Catalan region, an area in the eastern Pyrenees, tried to break away from the authority of Madrid. These folks speak Catalan a modern variation of vulgar Latin. As with many areas of Spain, Spanish is their second language. The majority of Spaniards are functionally bilingual. Interestingly, less than 15% are proficient in English. English constituting in this case a third language.
What Else Would You Expect?
Given the fundamentally individual nature of each state in the United States is there any wonder that we find ourselves so deeply divided. A state of affairs prevailing since the original 13 colonies decided to work together. Sadly, the divisions facing the country today seem to be intensifying. This nation started as an experiment, not a sure thing. I’d say we are in about the same place then as now.
https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2021/08/09/kaill-mcneil-alter-narratives-maybe-logic/
