Venice Looks To Leave Italy

The people will take their voices mostly to a symbolic referendum.

Anyway.

I'm tempted to compare Venice's situation with Quebec. 

I don't profess to know the intricacies of the Venetian, nay Northern Italian, situation (other than what I read and the odd conversation I've had with my Italian friends and relatives) I understand the frustration they feel but there are, I think, differences between all sovereignty movements.

First off, it's less a desire from Venice proper as it is the Veneto region and by extension Northern Italian angling for detachment from Rome (through political parties like the Lombard League). Venice only has a population of 38 000. It's a city that's sinking and is no longer a maritime empire or power. It can't sustain itself. In this way, we come to the first difference with Quebec. Where Venice is not necessarily a driver of the Veneto or Northern region, Montreal by contrast is the engine that powers Quebec - and it want's little to do with separation save for some parts of the city mostly in the east end.

Another difference is the North claims to put into into the coffers of Rome (including the wretch of the mafia - though its reach goes far beyond Italy itself some argue. Thus, creating an independent issue altogether) than it gets back. With Quebec, it's the opposite. It's considered a have-not province whereby it takes in more than it gives.

Venice and Northern Italy operate, from what I can tell, despite massive regional and fragmented differences that never quite jelled into a unified Italian state as one may have hoped, in a more centralized political structure than Canada. Quebec has more autonomy than Venice does as it operates within a highly decentralized Federal state. Ironically, Canada does leave Quebec alone for the most part.

Canada, at least ostensibly, is a more stable country which also contributes to considering whether separation is worth it. Economically and politically, there's no question Quebec benefits.

Which brings me to the point of the European Union and United States - the two great hegemonic entities in the West. There's always been a certain under current and displeasure with the EU's technocratic rule which sits on top of a centralized Italian state that's has lost some of its power to Brussels. Many of my conversations with local Europeans has been to the effect of "What does Brussels know about Provence, or Calabria or whatever region?" This is followed by the concern of loss of local customs, culture and language.

Again, I argue, it's different for Quebec. The elephants in the room for Quebec is English-speaking Canada and the United States. But there's a difference. We're not a unified block. Which is why it's bizarre Quebec nationalists look to "copy" a EU style association. This would be actually bad for Quebec whereas in the current construct, Quebec is allowed and able to govern itself within a united Canada that has for the most part come to accept Quebec's unique situation. Canada, in other words, serves as a buffer against U.S. cultural, economic and political might.

Which is all semantics anyway because we're already a branch-plant society. Our talk is just fluff. In the end, we're just a protectorate of the American empire. A much more glorified Puerto Rico in some sense. Alas, this is neither here or there.

Venice too is a unique city with a unique history and demographic, however, its decline took place well before unification. Quebec's success mostly came first under British rule and then Canadian.

My impression is these regions are not being logical. They want to secede in order to recreate new associations. Why not just renegotiate those terms they disagree upon? In the end, they will end up tying themselves into new alignments that will problem create new problems than it solves. We're too entrenched into one another to split up. Yet, part of me thinks, as Western civilization continues to fracture, this may be the inevitable outcome. I'm just thinking out loud here.

We may see a reorganization of boundaries where values - not culture which is nonsensical to me - are the main concern. For example, California has recently discussed dividing the state into six regions. The main reason for it - and really, any similar movement - is to rid itself not of the state but of the welfare state. In other words, these are libertarian movement looking to put power back in the individual.

When the EPA goes into a person's private property and threatens it, through coercion and fines (to the tune of $75 000 per day in some cases), even though the property owner received proper documentation from his home state, you know you have a runaway Federal government crushing the freedoms of people. Never mind about the increasingly more radical IRS and SCOTUS rarely siding with the people. Or the DEA breaking down doors and killing innocent people based on faulty information. Or NSA keeping a catalog of private message that only furthers the coming dystopia.

Again, while Canada is further along the line on the socialist scale, where individual rights are secondary to the collective, Quebec doesn't have secret RCMP agents breaking down its doors. Or face a petty political crackdown from Revenue Canada or have to worry about a War on Drugs or CSIS which is way too immature a secret agent service to begin with.

I digress.

Maybe not.

The next great wave of independence won't be defined in the classic nation-state construct.

It will be of the individual reasserting its rights in the face of a tyrannical government.