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JustAnotherGen

(33,288 posts)
6. I read this book in August
Mon Oct 8, 2012, 05:38 AM
Oct 2012
http://www.amazon.com/Better-Off-Without-Manifesto-Secession/dp/1451616651


Better Off Without 'Em: A Northern Manifesto for Southern Secession -

Chuck Thompson takes a hysterical look at the "threat" of "The South Is Gonna Do It Again" and turns the tables on the Take Our Country Back Crowd.

I have hesitated to post a review because we do have so many staunch liberal and progressive members at DU who come from the 14 states he makes a strong argument *nudge* for the rest of the country INSIST the South leaves the union.

The serious side of the book (layered throughout the humor) is the vast inequality that still exists in the South today. Example - how can we head into the future when the public school system is broken and RE- segregated? With people who wish to continue the inequality by their push of "charter" schools and the massive number of "Christian" (read whites only) schools that have sprung up in retaliation to the Brown V Board cases? Would the US be better to leave those 14 states Thompson outlines behind? Allow them to go so they can take science off the table and teach creationism without United States interference?

He touches on everything from the SEC College Football shakedown to the Jesus/Creation Museums, to the very definition of a Southern Strategy by one political party who benefits from the entrenchment of Confederate values, and how it could even become a huge tourist point for Americans . . . IE - made into an exotic foreign locale akin to Tanzania or Belize.

Might be worth a read - because while funny - its also a terribly sad analysis of perhaps WHY non Southerners and those who have no roots in the South (I'm in the North East - raised here but have Alabama red clay in veins) say . . . Why didn't we just let them go when we had the chance?
"4 Big Reasons, Plus A Bunch Of Smaller Reasons, Why The South Won’t ‘Rise Again’". . . Journeyman Oct 2012 #1
Ha! Are_grits_groceries Oct 2012 #2
I'd add all that northern tax money that gets redistributed to them. Historic NY Oct 2012 #3
considering the first four are among the poorest i have no problem roguevalley Oct 2012 #21
I don't think many people on this site have a problem with it. Mariana Oct 2012 #31
Thats the point. Historic NY Oct 2012 #32
dc is poor? HiPointDem Oct 2012 #40
the big scandal of DC is beyond the beautiful buildings are slums filled with poverty. roguevalley Oct 2012 #49
I was in shock as an Innocent 17 yr old . n/t orpupilofnature57 Oct 2012 #52
That's why we won the war , New Yorks wealth alone was orpupilofnature57 Oct 2012 #53
But there are only 3 Southern states on that list Art_from_Ark Oct 2012 #72
Tellingly, "Honey Boo Boo" was on the list. I must agree with that. Buns_of_Fire Oct 2012 #5
We don't need your grits. Pab Sungenis Oct 2012 #29
Uh, Babydoll HillWilliam Oct 2012 #50
I know that. Pab Sungenis Oct 2012 #63
Just wait until we have a get-together HillWilliam Oct 2012 #74
Texas, take a chance of being kicked out of the NFL, no way. Downwinder Oct 2012 #4
I read this book in August JustAnotherGen Oct 2012 #6
The "let 'em go" crowd are as big a bunch of dumbfucks as the secessionists. Bucky Oct 2012 #10
No JustAnotherGen Oct 2012 #20
'Had the Chance' Are_grits_groceries Oct 2012 #11
Um JustAnotherGen Oct 2012 #19
SELL the South to Canada or Mexico. ErikJ Oct 2012 #54
The people who want a fight know nothing about history malaise Oct 2012 #7
Most don't know much about holding down a job, either Bucky Oct 2012 #9
That's rather a broad brush, don't you think?.... OldDem2012 Oct 2012 #18
Nobody took the South seriously in the 1840s-1850s Confusious Oct 2012 #57
What I was trying to say is nobody believed the South would actually secede.... OldDem2012 Oct 2012 #67
The only states who should be talking Secession are the BLUE States coldwaterintheface Oct 2012 #8
Viva Cascadia! Viva_La_Revolution Oct 2012 #24
Time to start a movement nt fadedrose Oct 2012 #27
So the Moon Landings WERE a hoax! kentauros Oct 2012 #33
Gee back when the internet was ARPA/DARPA net nothing was in the red states coldwaterintheface Oct 2012 #45
I wasn't talking about WHERE these things were done. kentauros Oct 2012 #47
We became a SLAVE nation because of the red states at this countries founding coldwaterintheface Oct 2012 #48
And you're not paying attention to your own statements. kentauros Oct 2012 #56
Well, first off, a breakup isn't going to happen Confusious Oct 2012 #60
I know a breakup won't happen, kentauros Oct 2012 #61
Maybe you should take a look at this PBS site: Slavery and the Making of America".... OldDem2012 Oct 2012 #69
Wrong. cordelia Oct 2012 #58
Any Particular Reason For Raising This Issue At This Point? (nt) Paladin Oct 2012 #12
Because almost every effing week somebody Are_grits_groceries Oct 2012 #13
OK, I Made My Choice. (nt) Paladin Oct 2012 #14
Ha! Well played. nt Are_grits_groceries Oct 2012 #15
Do I hear the StayPuft Marshmellow Man Fawke Em Oct 2012 #22
Even during the Civil War there were counties that remained loyal to the Union vinny9698 Oct 2012 #16
Winston in N.Alabama Are_grits_groceries Oct 2012 #17
Knoxville, TN Fawke Em Oct 2012 #23
You beat me to it! This time around, i can't se cities like Miami, New Orleans or Atlanta hedgehog Oct 2012 #25
Hell, West Virginia became a state during the Civil War because its patriots coalition_unwilling Oct 2012 #30
And at least one Union town seceded and joined the south 4th law of robotics Oct 2012 #35
This message was self-deleted by its author NoGOPZone Oct 2012 #81
Lee fought for the south only because his beloved bluestate10 Oct 2012 #65
Not all soldiers from Union states fought for the Union, either Art_from_Ark Oct 2012 #80
NCAA Football and Basketball get the red out Oct 2012 #26
There are hard core secessionist in Missouri such as State Senator Brian Nieves. gordianot Oct 2012 #28
It's just talk...won't ever happen. n/t sharkman25 Oct 2012 #34
The only way I could see it happening is with some major crises 4th law of robotics Oct 2012 #36
If the scenario you lay out happend, all bets are off EVERYWHERE in the U.S. n/t sharkman25 Oct 2012 #38
I say let 'em see their no government government in action - in a month they'll come crawling back. Initech Oct 2012 #37
Yeah, that happened the first time too nadinbrzezinski Oct 2012 #39
The Southern states are different than they were in the 1800s. Are_grits_groceries Oct 2012 #41
Yeah but I am not talking of the Southern States, you are nadinbrzezinski Oct 2012 #42
In some senses we are. Are_grits_groceries Oct 2012 #43
I never said it would be nadinbrzezinski Oct 2012 #44
I agree with you. nt bluestate10 Oct 2012 #66
How many posts are you going to make on the subject? Scootaloo Oct 2012 #46
Maybe they can stop when this type of ignorance stops. cordelia Oct 2012 #59
Aren't you a charmer? Scootaloo Oct 2012 #62
As many as I want to or think I need to. Are_grits_groceries Oct 2012 #70
Everybody needs a hobby Scootaloo Oct 2012 #73
Unlike you, yes I am. cordelia Oct 2012 #75
It's a point the OP has made in a few other threads Scootaloo Oct 2012 #78
Well if these people are so set on doing it then I will sell my property and move to Maryland southernyankeebelle Oct 2012 #51
Good riddance BainsBane Oct 2012 #55
I think we will stick together in the end. hrmjustin Oct 2012 #64
There is nothing sweeter than the smell of secession Ter Oct 2012 #68
You worry too much! cbrer Oct 2012 #71
The North? faith woos science Oct 2012 #76
Secession? What do you call the Southern States away from the Union? Raster Oct 2012 #77
Come to Missouri RC Oct 2012 #79
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