Duncan all I can say to you about is this:
"If you remove slavery from the equation, you have no Civil War, becuase there is nothing left for them to fight over that would lead to a Civil War."
But alltough its been an interesting side bar, it really has little to do with the topic of the thread, other than to point out the pitfalls and extremes those who tie their wellfare soley upon greed at the expense of one's fellow man can drive a population to do when its the main motivating factor in opposition to ones government.
Or are you sugesting that we the people should follow in the path of the South and rebel becuase we are not happy with our current political leadership? (You know, the topic of this thread)
Should we really go down that road?
Havent we allready fought that fight?
Wouldn't it be better if we instead worked to remove every incumbant politican from office at the poles instead?
Have you lost faith in our Constitution?