Somebody please explain this quotation from Barry M Goldwater in 1961:

" Sometimes I think this country would be better off if we could just saw off the Eastern Seabord and let it float out to sea."

Was he referring to economics, to politics, to the supposed undue influence of East Coast people in the nation's affairs or to something else? What's the context in which he found it worthwhile or pertinent to make this observation ?

He was referring to what some call the Eastern Liberal Establishment of NY, NJ, Mass, et al. Both on the Democratic side and the Republican. It must be remembered that Goldwater and Rockefeller were candidates for the GOP nomination in 1964. The NY Times and Washington Post are generally referred to as the official mouthpieces.