Nat'l divorce wouldn't be optimal unless EVERY CITY seceded. 20,000 choices produces better and cheaper goods/services, and it'd work the same way w/ political units.

"B-b-b-but this really blue city will..."

"B-b-b-but this really red city will..."

Yes...that means some cities will ban ALL firearms, and some will ban ALL abortions, etc. Not most, but some. How much time do you spend thinking about guns/abortion fights in Denmark or Chile??? Over time, eventually people will immigrate to their preferred "product," and figure out that it's a waste of time trying to control others. Especially when you've so much more influence in your particular city. If a supermajority of red/blue citizens want something that you consider extreme, you'd have to learn to let go...like you do w/ Denmark or Chile today.

I'm NOT telling you that it'd be an instantaneous panacea, w/ no serious rights violations(or substantive problems). Just a whole helluva a lot less terrible than you spending 24/7 trying to get five supposed Yodas in black robes to force your values down the throats of each other. The hatred would reduce significantly, and we'd go back to having political OPPONENTS, instead of political ENEMIES.