How can you have an enduring nation with so little social cohesion?

Even otherwise reliable moderates like former American comedian Al Franken, hesitates before supporting an automatic gun ban.  Why?  Because he is like so many Americans – he doesn’t trust anybody.  Guns are seen, not just as hunting items but as vital to protect yourself.  The  Second Amendment that allows individual gun ownership referred to “local militias”.

Most countries have reservists (militias) and an HQ where guns and ammunition is locked up pending an emergency.  Hunters are content to lock up their guns, buy a license and submit to periodic inspections.  Not in the US.  That is because the greatest perceived threat is the government itself. 

So my question is, if there is so much distrust, what is the future?   A pessimist can potentially foresee a former “United” States developing into four for five mutually suspicious and independent political blocs by the end of this century, all armed to the teeth. Ridiculous? Then look at what is happening to the European Union, now a shadow of its former self.  Catalonia and Scotland both want independence.  Jugoslavia is now an bunch of independent states and so on.  The difference is that the citizens of those areas are not armed to the teeth with an estimated 300 million guns.

And by the way, if you have the right to arm yourself against your own government that has armaments of a bewildering sophistication, should not American citizens who can afford it be allowed jet aircraft, tanks, aircraft carriers, and private armed or surveillance drones?   Some nutcase will start buying them as sure as eggs are eggs.  Just a matter of time.

Civilised?  You decide!