The way they prevent people who desperately want to be together and do business pretty much guarantees never-ending war. Confederations of private property owners is infinitely more sensible and adaptive to the residents' needs than static treaty borders.
The cure for high prices is high prices. Expect deflation which will get the bankers throwing fits like the toddlers they are so they can suck on the federal tit.
Now a cabbie in Florida, but who could have told the USA a great deal of interesting information in advance. Too bad it looks like he was being paid hush money by the CIA.