What's the population swing in "Cascadia?" Would your population continue to grow, when all the able-bodied workers grow too old to work? I could see where your precious $450B economy would come crashing down, if not held within such a delicate balance.

For instance, the Midwest would never survive a secession, because our population is not being refreshed fast enough with able bodied people. St. Louis itself, only recently started an upswing of immigration. We've been stagnant because our populace has been getting older and older, and that affects things like income tax, business tax, etc.

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"I should be calling collect from jail for the things I commit each night in my head" - D. Mustaine.