> If one has to have either a civil war or a world war (bizarre choice), a world war would actually serve to unite us, although our existing division is a weak starting place. A civil war destroys us from within, full stop.

If those are your options, what is wrong with being destroyed from within? The two sides can split the country and each get a share - say, in proportion to their numbers.

The British aren't exactly suffering after their empire dissolved. Life still looks pretty good for them.

There is no reason to unite people who do not want to be united.