End of the US?

A Russian professor apparently has developed a rather elaborate and considered theory about the demise of the U.S. as a functioning entity. The Cliff Notes version of the theory is that the States begin squabbling over tax revenue and the union dissolves, with allegiances of US regions going to their strongest economic partners: California and the West in the Chinese orbit, the East Coast in the EU orbit, etc. This is fascinating stuff on a number of fronts:

1) It's a healthy reminder that we were not always the Imperial Superpower and World's Policeman that we are now. The fact that there are enough chinks in the armor for anyone to even pay attention to such a theory is news enough. The fact is that this country rose from relative political obscurity and certainly could return there. It would not happen without disastrous worldwide economic and political consequences, but it could happen.

2) It's a healthy reminder that our strict constitutional construction is as the United States of America, not the United States of America. It's not coincidental that the spoken emphasis-for the entirety of my lifetime, anyway- has always been on the last word in that phrase. For those of you that are historically challenged, that was not the original idea. We morphed into a huge imperial power just after the turn of the last century, but prior to that, it was a different story. There was a time in the not-too-distant past when a citizen's allegiance was to his State first and the Union OF those States second- a laughable idea today.

In any event, its a little sad its come to this, but its also a welcome development in my mind in that it reminds Americans that our position of global prominence is one that must constantly be earned. We've definitely had some serious issues lately but the first step to recovery is self-awareness. Perhaps this will illustrate the fragility of our prominence to the American public.