If every state of the USA declared war against each other, which would win?
I’m not sure if I really believe it, but since no one else here is making the case, I’ll name my home state.California.California is bordered by three states: Nevada, Oregon, and Arizona. Oregon and Nevada would have to be out of their minds to attack CA directly simply due to overwhelming numbers (as well as geographic barriers). Oregon troops would have to travel hundreds of miles just to reach Sacramento, and the Sierra Nevada gives a perfect defensive barrier against Nevada. Meanwhile, the border between Arizona and California is largely desert, and while Arizonans might be able to mount a significant first offensive, they’d get beaten back pretty quickly.While the other western states scramble to get organized, California could send troops as far as Canada and the Great Plains before it encountered an army large enough to stop it. This is ignoring military bases and military hardware (both of which CA has in abundance) and assuming that territorial gains are the goal of the war. If the goal is simply self-sufficiency, California could easily beat back attacks from other states given its strong natural borders, all while running a perfectly healthy economy off of agriculture and tech. It could also form a potential alliance with Mexico— the only other contestant for that not-insignificant prize would be Texas.In time, other states (especially Nevada) would be forced to give up resistance to California simply due to a need for resources. We practically upended the entire country’s food supply due to a measly drought— what will happen when we cut off those food supplies completely? Then there’s the fact that tax dollars levied from states with larger economies (California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia) end up going to expenses in smaller states, making them even more vulnerable economically. While Texas would certainly be able to push for a military victory, California would win the economic war.
What are some ugly truths about Los Angeles?
Born and raised here, so I’ll give my input.It ain’t the paradise it is on TV. The rich and famous segregate themselves in little bubbles.You need to be rich, friends of a landlord, own property, or be ripped off in most cases.The price of housing is insane. I can’t even afford to live in my former neighborhood due to gentrification.Public schools are a complete joke.You need a car, despite Uber having made things much better. But people will find you strange if you lack a driver's license.You are definitely going to need a roommate if you desire affordable rent.The LAPD are thugs if you’re a minority expect some third world treatment and even if not it's not going to stop them from pulling you over to give you a ticket.Schools are insanely segregated.Most public schools are pretty terrible.Gang culture is absurd and people get shot for the dumbest of reasons.People are either really straight forward and real or very fake.Scammers and con-artists everywhere.The homeless. By age 16 I had heard every terrible homeless story. Yep people are so desperate they ask kids for money. A lot of them have severe mental illness. This can be very scary as a child. This problem has gotten much worse there are literal tent cities. It seems to be the new normal and the rent being raised is making the problem worse.The entertainment industry is about who you know, who you screw, and who your parents are. You’ll meet plenty of talented actors and musicians who sadly will never earn anything.Criminals of all stripes flock to Los Angeles. I had a female friend that got shoved into a car and dragged off by Russian dudes. She had to jump out of a moving car to survive. She was 16–17 years old. I’ve met numerous people that got mugged or their home burglarized.You’ll hear some pretty depressing stories.Most outsiders are brainwashed by the LA of the 50s-70s and it simply isn’t the same. The stuff my grandparents pulled simply is impossible to do these days.The traffic is terrible! I cannot even count the time in years of my life that may have been spent in a car adding up all the hours and minutes.