This isn't 1860 when the US wasn't even a hundred years old. It was also a country that most of the advanced countries didn't really consider a big deal. The South could possibly have existed on its own for a few years at least, especially since Britain was willing to help them (cotton being king, of course). But in today's world - nope. BTW, not sure what you mean about SS disappearing - existing recipients would still get their money. The future recipients - nope. And remember, most of the red states need federal money, the blue not so much. Talk is cheap, thinking isn't.