Reading the title, a person could think that America is suing the United States in court. Nope. It is simply a double or perhaps even triple playful address to the name of the continent/s, how people address us outside of our nation, or how it feels and goes within the nation.
America is often the name used to describe the United States around the world, while America used to be the name of the continent prior to the distinction between North America and South America, and furthermore – the United States of America. Isn’t it interesting that if you are a citizen of any country physically located in Europe, you are European. Yet, if you are a citizen of a country in South America you are not American.
Merriam-Webster dictionary suggests several definitions to the word/phrase “nation”:
1. “A politically organized nationality”
2. “A community of people composed of one or more nationalities and possessing a more or less defined territory and government”
3. “A territorial division containing a body of people of one or more nationalities and usually characterized by relatively large size and independent status”
4. “A tribe or federation of tribes (as of American Indians)”
The United States definitely seems to be a nation according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, yet at the States’ level, as a person that has immigrated to this nation, I am not sure that the word United is the right adjective to use anymore (if it ever was…).
The nation is in love with the notion of being a nation, that’s my impression, yet as it pertains to the states themselves, they function in many ways as fifty countries of their own. They are big enough to be countries of their own, have their own flag, own government, own symbol, own culture, financial independence in most cases, have state pride, and more.
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The states have customized state educational, health, banking, insurance, transportation, government, and other systems. Each one supervises and regulates itself with similarities to other states, yet not necessarily with dependence to them. As is the case around the world, the more localized the functionality, the more it becomes tailor-made to the locals.
Thus, the America that you will meet depends on where you will be physically within the fifty states. Religion, politics, educational philosophies, cultural differences, and much more influence what you will experience, yet one impression might be the same while in America – the states are not so united.
Yes, there are topics that most Americans seem to agree on and will rally behind for a while (only for a while) such as the fight for the Ukraine, racism, the military, and veterans, and more. Yet very quickly everyone seems to return to focus on themselves and the only ones that insist to milk certain topics dry are the news networks. I am not under the impression that America cares to the extent that the networks are broadcasting (perhaps because they have nothing better to broadcast 24/7).
If the federal government is the unity of the states, then the United States is united just at the technical level. At the power, monetary, religious, and cultural levels (some would say they are one and the same), America is very much divided, and it is becoming more and more frightening all the time. Thus, the Ununited States of America of the Divided States of America may be the next name of our nation if seeking to describe reality.
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The idea that America is truly united reminds me of how it makes me laugh that Iran is a republic (a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch. Oxford Languages) …
The last point that always makes me feel that the states are their own entity, rather than one nation is the fact that the same American citizen does not necessarily have the same services given, that should pertain to one nation (disregarding normal localized expected differences in services).
For example, there should be one driver’s license, an American driver’s license that is renewed every few years for a fixed sum of money for all Americans and residents, independent of where they reside. Then, the states receive they relative share of the jackpot according to their percentage of the population. Why – because this makes it easier on the citizens and residents and could be more efficient.
Licensure should be at the national level, not on a state-by-state basis, in accordance with professional criteria. Once more, it is more than okay for the states to want their share of the loot, so give it to them. The states are giving localized services, yet why not make it as easy as possible for everyone? – Especially when transitioning from one state to another?
Imagine a nurse having to be re-licensed just because they accepted a new job in another state in the America? This does not make sense to me. The same goes for having to take a driving test in some cases just because you have moved to another state even though you have dozens of years of driving experience in America.
Imagine being a resident of Oregon, driving through California back and forth all day long. No need to have a California driving license. Yet, if you move to California, you must pass the driving test within 3 weeks. What’s the point of that from a realistic-functional aspect?
It’s about money, not identity, and not unity. Money for services and infrastructure is more than fine, but why present it as anything else? The fact that millions drive everywhere through California without passing its driving test means there is no true need (not from a driving standpoint). This is common sense. This is clearly a financial issue and perhaps an ego issue to re-enforce the state’s status. “We the people” should be okay with the payment part, just leave us alone with the bureaucracy part as much as possible.
Why are taxes not solely at the national level? - yep, left taxes for last. What’s your answer?
Anyhow, how many Americas do you think actually exist in the United States of America?
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