Will the OJ in 2106 be saying the same thing about Aztlan?

Chris:

They aren't coming here because they want to be Mexican. But it does seem likely and desirable that portions of the U.S. will come to think of themselves as separate peoples. 5-600 million people is too big to be one country.

But oj the federal system breaks the country up into fairly managable pieces. You may be right with the 500 million total, but only time will tell.

Bart:

If you have a central government it centralizes. The Anti-Federalists were right.

Much like Rome. A centralized government that was intentionally split in two by Diocletian.

A massive centralization before any breakup would be expected.

Technically the ETA hasn't won yet, even by the lights of the article you point to. They're Basque, not Catalan. Perhaps that article shows that they could get their goals more effectively peacefully, as the Catalans have done, though.

OJ, I would be less worried if there wasn't a large percentage of Mexican opinion that still considers the US Southwest "theirs," and if the Mexican government wasn't pursuing policies that encourage migration to the US and then dual loyalty once they're here.

The Goths only wanted to benefit from the Roman Empire too and look what happened.

I don't think most Americans would be so glib in breaking up the nation, but at least you're honest that such immigration would do it.

As I've said before, the response to all that Aztlan talk is, "okay, so then where are you going to go for work? Guatemala?"

The real problem is not that the US itself is too big, but that we've got several states that are too big: New York, Texas, Florida and California. Not until you see centrifugal forces tear them apart will there be any real danger of the US breaking apart. And even then, a friendly "segregation" of the above into multiple states so as to increase their Senate representation and results in more homogenious states may even be a good thing. (For example, Calif. should be split three ways. Too bad San Diego will get sucked into L. A. instead of the Central Valley state where it belongs.)

Chris:

Immigration will do less than simple regionalism.

Does it matter who won? They are ruled by Brussels, pretty soon with Sharia.

John:

The Basque are getting at least as good a deal.

oj:

Eventually, most likely, and moving in that direction, but not right now, because the ETA has actually hindered the process somewhat. As they've realized. Catalonia, lacking the ETA loonies, has gotten somewhat further down the road. So your larger point is correct.

Not much further.

hi , im my opinion this two news, (eta annonce and catalonian "Estatuto" or "estatut" dont have any relation

most pro-independace people dont like the catalonian "estatut"

A months ago Zapatero (spain president) talk abuout the end of ETA , today this eta anouncce talk about a "democratic way" to resolve all

today is a historical day , a great day for all

sorry for my bad english

Yes, by democratic way though they mean that the Zapatero gocvernment will accept the independence referendum.

Well, since I live in Spain, I can offer a kind of inner point of view of what's going on here.
There ain't losers or winners yet. ETA has only announced a permanent ceasefire; it's only the beginning of the process. They haven't even spoken about stopping blackmailing basque business or even surrending their weapons.
The process taking place in Catalonia has little or nothing to do with all this. The Catalonian Estatut is only a treaty where both the Nation and the corresponding Autonomy agree on the obligations and rights of each. It's worked so far since it was established after the Transition and, apart from some alarmist crying from the Opposition, it's not tearing Spain apart and it won't be for a long time. The Autonomy model is similar to the States' one, but the cental government gets to keep more control over the important issues.
The message some people are trying to transmit that 'ETA has won' is wrong and worst of all misleading. ETA has been a terrorist organization (even if some people call it "separatist group", I can assure you that bombing, extortion and cold-blooded assassinations over the years makes you nothing but a terrorist) and their ceasefire can only be understood as a reaction to the repulsion the Basque society is constantly showing against a non-constitutional independency process under the threat of gunfire.

PS: Sorry for my English, it's kinda late ;)

"they mean that the Zapatero gocvernment will accept the independence referendum."
Posted by: oj at March 22, 2006 06:43 PM

if is a process without violence and complety clean i dont see nothing bad on this

ref:

Yes, it was always inevitable.