maineman: The problem with that is that millions will swarm out like locusts out of the cities to grab that land. It would wash over flyover country like a tsunami–in fact they will flow put of the native cities of flyover country too. They may be led by government forces, as marshal law would be declared at that point. Deer rifles and shotguns are not going to stop tanks and planes, or even human wave attacks with pikes.

We are all in this together, there is no way around it.

Of course if it gets bad enough, there could be some form of succession backed up by national guards and spit off military units, but without the national government, we are open to attacks from foreign enemies. A notion of a few nukes in flyover country followed by an invasion would give governors pause in going out on their own or in regional coalitions. Such threats could keep the national military in check as well. I would not put it past the Feds to nuke a city in the interior themselves, particularly with someone like Obama in charge.

It is a romantic notion, yeoman in the flyover states beating back encroachments from the blue cities. The reality would be much different.

It would be much like being overrun by the red army, or maybe an ancient Asiatic army.

Even if this did not happen, a complete break down would likely devolve to local and regional “warlordism”. Well, I suppose it depends on the rate of the breakdown.

I will point out that without gasoline and all of the trappings of modern society, there would be plenty of hard times to go around. Farmers do not even have seed corn anymore. I bet that there are not enough draft horses in the continent to even farm the state of Iowa. Power goes to those who can control security, followed by those that can supply food and technology.

A real break down would break a much different way than the scenarios you describe.