Here's the political opportunity here: making the case for how we're all better off together.

Red states feel they can live on their own.
Blue states like to point out they tend to receive more fed dollars then they send.

Neither of those arguments are why we're better off together, and convinces the other side to try to work together.

Sign the petition. Make DC make the argument.

But ... they won't ... *sigh*

Minor correction: Midwest city dwellers are metered. People who live on a farm have to build their own well, pay for the electricity to operate it, and pipe infrastructure.

You know .. I find your reaction to #2 most interesting. Here in Iowa we do pay by the gallon, not much, but usage is metered. The poor do not go unwashed.

But, the metering by the gallon was very effective this summer. Nobody went unwashed, but a lot of lawns were brown.

Honestly, I was stunned when I learned this summer that large sections of California pay flat rate for water. No wonder you abuse/misuse it so much.

Maybe we should drop the code requirement.

Oh wait, that's HAM radio.

So, if I bench 225 lbs it means that I'm a nerd only when in countries that use metric?