It is June 2035 and twelve days into the 60-day public comment window on “Project for Two Americas”—a two-track blueprint being negotiated by the U.S. congress and current administration that (A) empowers clusters of states to coordinate policy now via interstate compacts, and (B) if voters consent later, enables a lawful partition into two sovereign American republics—the split of the United States of America. The comment docket is live, thick with acronyms and earnestness. Two lifelong friends—Jack Harris, a retired Republican congressman from Missouri by way of Colorado, and Maya Patel, a Democrat and former Secretary of Defense—have been arguing the plan for years and now take on the comments.
Subject: Two Americas — the signal vs. the noise
From: Jack Harris jharris@prairieforum.org
To: Maya Patel m.patel@strategiccommons.net
Date: Wed, June 6, 2035 at 8:14 AM
Maya—
Let me lay the table the way my grandmother would’ve before Sunday supper: we’re at Day 12 of 60, and folks are staring at two options on the table: chicken and beef. Track A (interstate compacts, block-grant waivers, do-it-now federalism) is what folks in town halls are actually chewing on today; Track B (the Two Republics Amendment with national consent votes) is the beef everyone argues about because it satisfies this national anxiety. The opinion docket’s organized by short codes—coalitions, agencies, trade groups, a few handwritten gems—and for once the comments read like people who did the homework.
My highlights so far:
CTN-43-118 — the Tribal Nations coalition. Our ancient residents seem calm and firm: treaties must cross the split; trust management pooled; water compacts sacred, not souvenirs. Best line: “We were here before your Union; we will still be here after any of your disunions.” That’s the tone I wish I’d learned in my first term instead of my last.
RMA-2-091 — retired missileers. Dry Air Force humor: “One nuclear chain of command is not romantic; it is necessary.” They’re fine with Track B only if nuclear C2 stays unified through transition, audited, no first-use drift. I can sell that back home without spraining anything.
ACUL-13-007 — credit unions. Dollar continuity for five years under a Monetary Coordination Agreement; joint playbook for failed banks so Main Street never learns the word “bail-in.” My Greeley barometer says: if the farmers in Kersey sleep, vote aye.
Pushback worth heeding: WWC-21-300 — Western Water Compact folks. They warn the 10-year “realignment vote” at the county level would shred basin management. They want a single state-level mulligan at Year 10. I’ve seen a dry riverbed. I don’t argue with people who measure in acre-feet.
What’s catching your fancy? Let’s compare notes.
—Yours in friendship,
—Jack
Subject: Re: Two Americas — you’re finally reading footnotes
From: Maya Patel m.patel@strategiccommons.net
To: Jack Harris jharris@prairieforum.org
Date: Wed, June 6, 2035 at 11:02 AM
Jack—
You’re not soft; you’re specific. (Do you find today’s date ironic for this exchange?!)
The missileers get stapled to the front of the Amendment: (1) single nuclear C2 through transition, (2) independent fissile-material accounting, (3) no first-use drift until successor treaties are ratified. Deterrence isn’t a vibe; it’s a wiring diagram.
ACUL-13-007 tracks with every bank run I’ve ever war-gamed. Five years minimum of the dollar under a Monetary Coordination Agreement, either a bi-republic Fed treaty or a hard, audited off-ramp for anyone who wants their own currency later. Credit unions hear panic before politicians do.
My red lines, stated plainly:
— Dual citizenship by default at Independence and also permanent freedom of movement. Think at least EU! MMF-55-230 (Mothers of Mixed-Status Families) is devastating; children shouldn’t be border-hostages to adult theories of federalism.
— A binding dispute forum with teeth. GOJC-14-500 (grid operators) want a tiny permanent court so the lights don’t go out when attorneys general discover the television camera. Three judges, fast filings, no theatrics.
— Agree with WWC-21-300: one state-level realignment vote at Year 10. Rivers and grids do not read our county maps.
CTN-43-118 is the center of gravity. I wish I’d had that line during the land-acknowledgment wars that produced more posters than policy.
As for you coming on TV: I know you prefer the diner to the green room. I’m going to need you in two green rooms anyway. Prepare to speak.
—M.
Subject: Re: Footnotes, fences, and the compacts that calm people down
From: Jack Harris jharris@prairieforum.org
To: Maya Patel m.patel@strategiccommons.net
Date: Wed, June 6, 2035 at 6:40 PM
Madam Secretary (you hate the moniker, I know; tradition compels me),
Three guardrails from the cheap seats:
Track A compacts are winning the ranch hands. People liked the Jefferson myth until they met Article IV. Give them interstate compacts with real waivers and block grants, and the temperature drops. State Superintendents Coalition (SSC-4-119): “We want to teach Tuesday under a rulebook that won’t be ripped up Wednesday.” Put that on a billboard.
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