I'm also a hopeless romantic who adores the 50 states. Warts and all. And hates to even contemplate the notion of yard-saling her. Mark my words: We will be the less for it if we do this. America will cease to be what it was - and will never (at least in our children's lifetimes) be here again. Any dissection of our nation will certainly weaken us and make us more vulnerable to attack, both from without and from within.
We have already ceased to be America in the sense you discuss it. America is already gone and it will never again be what is was in our children's lifetimes. I don't see any path that will restore her to greatness or turn back time. The very people are corrupted. What you want and romanticize about is simply not on the menu. What is on the menu ( as I see it) are three basic courses:
1) Hard Civil War : A hard civil war is a huge risk. Most such wars and revolutions in human history end up on the French Revolution Road - with winners eating their own till a tyranny is established. The American Revolution was very unique , and while me may have to be forced to try for another such a unique outcome in the end, its hardly a guaranteed event, and in fact its an unlikely one. Far more likely is that the Generals in power refuse to relinquish it, or that factions refuse to relinquish power to others, and we balkanize. Infrastructure and GDP will be destroyed, and we will be more at the mercy of foreign powers and markets. If we are very, very lucky, we can unite again as one Nation - geographically. However our infrastructure will be damangedand we will have half or less of our population left and grievances that will be difficult to put behind us.
2) Soft Separation : A Soft separation like the one I propose will certainly weaken America somewhat - but it preserves a lot of infrastructure that will other wise be destroyed. The outcome is negotiated and planned and not subject to whatever vagaries of war , personality , and law of the jungle a hard civil war would result in. Trade continues. Defense continues. We live among each other, are friends with one another and our differences are no longer as relevant because what the left wants, it cannot impose on the unwilling ( which is why such a compromise is just about as likely as the ideal "one nation" outcome of a hard civil war ). Its not a defeat - its a recognition that humanity comes in two forms - a Liberty Minded Individualist K-Type individual and a R-Type Herd animal. The herd wants to live as a herd. The Individual wants the dignity that should be afforded to that station. As humans become prosperous , R-type individuals form into clumps, procreate heavily, and eventually destroy the civilization. Recognizing this and forming a system that adapts to it will make the collapses less impactful.
3) Socialist Creep : We do nothing, and liberals continue to infringe until America is essentially living under a European style "Democratic Socialist" state - each generation is indoctrinated to be more socialist than the last, and finally the Dollar collapses, The Federal government becomes irrelevant and , if there are any freedom loving people left, pockets secede and the US Balkanizes. If they can kick the can till after I am dead, my kids inherit a United States version of Venezuela.
Is there another way forward I don't see?
We are already out of the frying pan.. the question is where we land - in the fire is the hot civil war, in the pot of boiling water full of frogs is doing nothing. On the ground and able to get up-- that is the middle road I propose.
My fourth point was offered rhetorically, but does reflect my likely plight (as well the plight of literally millions of Americans) who would be displaced if such a realignment were to occur. I live in a state and region that is overwhelmingly leftist. It is truly unfortunate because (leftists notwithstanding) it truly is God's Country.
The realignment would be by COUNTY, not by STATE.
The final map would look similar to this :
http://metrocosm.com/election-2016-map-3d/ The 3d-map there roughly shows population ( its # of votes per county )
Under my plan there would be nothing at all (except left is being jerks) that would prevent you from living in a "blue" county. You would declare to be a Backwater Citizen. You would therefore not pay taxes to Blue America. You would still pay sales and property taxes in the Blue county, and get any benefits offered by your employer if your employer's place of business is in blue county as well. You would not be eligible for any benefits ( like social security ) as a Backwater Citizen, unless the City-States offer a means of participation and you CHOOSE it.
Nothing would displace you -- unless the Blue county rules became so offensive that you could no longer live with it. As it is NOW , that is likely to happen anyway, and NOW you have no where to run. If the National Government passes red-flag laws , or magazine banns or gun registry, or what have you- your choice is to become a criminal and fight or to lay down and surrender.
If a soft separation is effected, you simply move out of the county. Sun Tzu in The Art of WAR suggested a good general will always leave their enemy a place to retreat to. Failing to do so only ensures they fight all the harder and fiercer - since they don't have the option to quit and leave. Napoleon said “Never interfere with your enemy when he is making a mistake. " I am simply proposing a way that we can get out of the left's way as they make their mistakes, and therefore be in a better position to pick up the pieces once they are done.
The America you and I grew up in and loved is over. She was mortally wounded during the civil war, and then repeatedly raped - Income Tax, FDR's New Deal, The Great Society, and then once she was dead, they skinned her, and now wear her skin like a shield while demanding the respect of the original institution Grieve for her, and then accept we have to move on and make the best decisions for our children. She is dead and she is never coming back .