(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



The Balkanization of America? [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-06-08

I was born at the end of the Baby Boom in '59. I grew up watching the Vietnam war on the national news and listening to the domino theory that the war was necessary to prevent the spread of communism in southeast Asia. As a young child, it was the common belief that the USSR was America's biggest and most dangerous enemy. While I was a bit too young to take part in nuclear missile drills in school, I was definitely a child of the Cold War era.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the USSR collapsed. As the 80's ended and the 90's began, the Balkanization of Eastern Europe spread and rapidly fractured the region into numerous independent states, often at odds with their neighbors.

We all are aware that Putin was a product of the Kremlin and the KGB. We are also aware that one of his most fervent desires is to reform the greater Soviet state, but under his heel. But, what about the other side of the coin? I believe that Putin actually has two goals. Not only does he want to restore Russia, he is also actively working to destroy the USA as payback for the role we played in the dissolution of the USSR.

By now, there can be little doubt that Trump is a Russian asset. The only remaining issue is whether he is a "useful idiot" or a "fellow traveler" consciously working to destroy America.

I write this diary in response to the snafu that is the ICE incursion into LA. I watch Trump and his minions head into LA and incite a response with their ham handed tactics, and then use any protest as a pretext to up the intensity of their response.

I watch Trump, once again prove his desire only to be the president for Republicans, by threatening to withhold all Federal funds for California (over this and the fact that California won't bow to his petty demands on Trans athletes). And, I watch Newsom posture back by reminding Trump that California pays in 80 billion more than it gets from the Federal Government and threaten to somehow withhold it.

To get back to my history at the beginning of this diary, I can't help but see the similarity between what is happening now and what happened to the USSR. Balkanization is defined as the division of a state into smaller entities, typically along cultural, ethnic or political lines.

MAGA, as a movement seems designed to heighten the differences between them and everyone else and to turn the concepts of working together and compromise into dirty words. It is hard to work with, or even talk to someone who refuses to even consider different points of view. (And yes, I have, as I believe many of you have, tried on numerous times to talk to MAGA-ites)

I am a firm believer that a country needs more than one functioning political party to function properly. I'm not stupid enough to believe that every one of my ideas and beliefs is the best possible option for America. In my 66 years on this earth, I have had numerous satisfactory conversations and arguments with people of every political stripe that have served to both educate and hone my beliefs. All it takes is an open mind on both sides of the discussion.

But with MAGA, it seems that open mindedness is anathema. Their leaders, beginning with Trump, actively encourage their followers to not be open to new ideas. As Trump famously said back in 2016, he loves the poorly educated, and his administration is doing its best to make sure this describes more and more of his followers.

My concern is that as Trump works diligently to divide us, at some point we will reach a breaking point. A point of no return. Whether it is the result of his ratcheting up the tensions to declare martial law and call out the military, his destruction of the economy, or his blatant refusal to fund programs in blue states, I can easily predict a day when one or more states reach a breaking point and America starts its own Balkanization.

And Putin sits in Moscow and smiles at a job well done.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/6/8/2326670/-The-Balkanization-of-America?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/