Gas-Rich Region Secedes From Socialist Bolivian Government

This isn't going to be pretty:

(CNN) -- Tensions were rising in Bolivia on Saturday as members of the country's four highest natural gas-producing regions declared autonomy from the central government.

...Council representatives vowed to legitimize the so-called autonomy statutes through a referendum that would legally separate the natural-gas rich districts from President Evo Morales' government.

The move also aims to separate the states from Bolivia's new constitution, which calls for, among other things, a heavier taxation on the four regions to help finance more social programs.

The tide of socialism may well have been halted in Venezuela when Hugo Chavez lost in his national referendum a few weeks ago. This is just further proof that socialist policies divide nations, not unite them.

Imagine if the US government, led by say, John Edwards (shudder) levied an oppressive tax on Alaska because that state has the most oil in the nation under the auspices of using that tax to fund anti-poverty programs in Mississippi. How do you think Alaskans would react? This situation is analogous to that.

While civil war is never good for a nation, many South American nations are in the midst of throwing off the chains of extreme socialism and communism (again) and we'll see this play out in that region more often I would guess.

Map of Bolivia here. Other reactions here and here.