I think that we're in agreement on all this.

This news blurb is interesting because it's a deliberate plan. But the same thing happens constantly in a more natural and subtle way. People with like interests tend to seek each other out. It's a simple fact of life. Urban areas tend to have liberals in them. The countryside tends to have conservatives. If you look at most major cities, there is almost always some self-imposed racial segregation going on. Whites feel comfortable living next to whites, and blacks feel comfortable living next to blacks. So you have neighborhoods. You get Chinatowns, etc. in most cities.

This is just another instance of that phenomenon.

Look at various internet communities to see another example of it.

It's nothing new, either. The US was founded by the Puritains and Pilgrims after all.

I wouldn't mind having all the NeoCon's and other religious wing-nuts North and South Dakota and allowing them to secede as long as we can prevent them from entering the USA without a passport. Hell, as a libertarian, I wouldn't mind if every state became its own sovereign country.

[sarcasm]That sure would make trade more efficient.[/sarcasm]

Yes indeed, people do naturally 'graze' in 'herds' of like-for-like. I prefer to push my comfort levels and try to mix with as many different people as possible, often testing my patience considerably. Not saying herding is wrong though. All my friends are like-minded (generally) and it is comforting to know there are others who share your conceptions. Do you think this is why we have barriers (countries, borders, religions) which in turn leads to conflict (nationalism, racism, fascism)? Maybe if people didn't congregate in such groups there wouldn't be cause for segregation, stereotype or prejudice?

Well, the Cellar is certainly a good place to be exposed to alternate views. Whether one visits solely to argue, or in the hopes of reaching enlightenment is a personal choice.

I think I have about as much chance of reaching enlightenment as a pig does resisting shit.

Radar's correct on this one gang ... I went to my best "horses mouth" source ... a former Mormon who lives in Las Vegas.

She had this to say:

As far as Las Vegas goes, it's pretty much true. Up until 10 or 15 years ago it was absolutely true. However, we've had an average of 5,000 people moving here per month for about 15 years now...from all over the country...with the Hispanics being one of the faster growing groups...so I imagine the power base has been diluted to some degree. Las Vegas was first settled by Mormons and the gambling came later. In the early days, the two main sources for money to build the hotel/casinos were Mormon bankers and mob money (via the Teamsters union).

What it really comes down to is adherents of LDS don't have a problem with gentiles engaging in the use of caffiene, alcohol, and loose women, and they love money. Nothing in the Book of Mormon says they can't make money hand over fist.

Let me put this in perspective.
Arkansas. Sovereign. Nuclear weapons.

Originally posted by jaguar And therein lies the problem with RadarWorld. If all 50 states are independent countries, who's job does it become to go in and wrestle the nukes away from Arkansasania? Certain things are only possible when the 50 states (or in this case, 49) act as a unit.

Says right on our front door, here ... "e pluribus, unum" not "e pluribus, pluribus."