The United States is rapidly heading toward a future that will require a decision from political authorities and elites of all types. The choice will be between peaceful radical decentralization—possibly including secession—on the one hand. On the other hand will be a ratcheting up of coercion and enforced “unity” to ensure political centralization. The speed with which American polities proceed toward this situation will depend on two factors, both of which are already at play and contribute to ongoing talk of “national divorce” in the United States. The two factors are: 1. A growing