States want to secede from the United States

This past week "People Who Want To Secede From United States Hold a Convention" in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Don't blame Tennessee, we're just holding the convention, doesn't mean we're whackos too. OK, maybe we've all thought about it at one time, but not seriously. The Middlebury Institute, based in Cold Spring, N.Y met with with The League of the south in a two day convention targeting how to peacefully, and legally, secede from the union. It's called the second annual North American Secessionist Convention: (all emphasis mine)

If this sounds like what happened 150 years ago leading up the the Civil War, it is, kind of, but without the violence.

It's the second annual North American Secessionist Convention and it includes people from all walks of life from many states.

From Alaska to Alabama, from Vermont to the West Coast, organizations have sprung up with people who say they are fed up with corrupt politicians and politics.

They hold differing political views, from the far left to the far right. But one thing they agree on is that they say Washington has too much control.

Dr. Micheal Hill of the League of the South said "from a political standpoint we all agree that the whole political system has been compromised by big money. The candidates are bought and paid for and they work in the interest of those who pay them. They don't work for the interest of the common people."

"Congress, like the presidency, is corporate run and owned. You can't make any headway there so you have to absent yourself from it," according to Kirkpatrick Sale who leads The Middlebury Institute.

That organization is the co-sponsor of the convention. (more)

WAIT! Hold the presses, I AGREE with the above. Oh. My. Goodness! But not so fast. While the group claims to be from all ends of the political spectrum, read this:

The U.S. was talking about partitioning Iraq, and if they view that as “a budding democracy”, then what the President believes is good enough for the Iraqis should be good enough for America! Can you imagine being able to move to a state where the right-wing Christians had no voice? Neo-conservatives would relocate to the states that were pro-Bush, and the the radical Christians and Neo-conservatives would be able to impose their will on anyone in the state they chose to - and the rest of us could live in freedom and peace…

Imagine the individual states building their own economies, and if corporate America wanted a piece of the pie, they would have to reinvest in that state rather than outsourcing everything to countries that will work for peanuts that are breaking the American economy. It’s ironic, but if we allowed all of the right-wing warmongers and fundamentalists to have their own states, when terrorists struck - it would probably be in those areas inhabited by the hate-mongers rather than bombing innocent Americans. (more)

I'm not sure how this would work, after looking at the map. We all laughed when "Vermont Passed A Resolution To Secede From The US" Slate in November 2004 asks, "Could the Blue States Secede? Is there a legal way to opt out of the Union?" Daily Kos talked about Liberals and/or Christians breaking off from the rest of the U.S. in 2005. G-News reports:

Thomas Naylor, a former Duke University Professor and the founder of a group named the Second Vermont Republic, believes that the future of the United States is "grim." He states that more than 25 states currently have organizations in favor of secession. And, he believes the numbers are growing for these groups. The Second Vermont Republic is in favor of secession.

Other bloggers and news sources on the subject:
Eyes In The Shadows
Energy Bulletin
Atlantic Free Press
Crock.com

Other news:
Rice puts cameras on Blackwater convoys, Reuters
U.S. Embassy Security Practices in Iraq Overhauled, NPR
State Dept. to Step Up Monitoring of Blackwater Firm, Washington Post
Mounting Fears of Assyrian Genocide in Iraq, AINA
Hight: Don't like coal, don't like nukes; what's left?, Statesman

NY Times Finds A Way To Find Haditha Marines Guilty, Pirate's Cove
Church and State OTA and St. James Art Fair OTA at 123Beta

Comments

[Debbie]

Normal: I agree with you completely. A kindred spirit.

[Normal]

Jesus... I stumbled on this by mistake. Here's a thought... You want freedom? Earn it... Financially! True freedom is financial freedom because with time and money you get more choices in life. And YES everyone in this country has that opportunity still! There is an unseen war in this country: Social Liberals bent on taking away the incentive to produce through overtaxing and "giveaways" to the nonproducers (welfare, etc) versus the producers who believe in the power of Free Enterprise/Capitalism and know that the key to maintaining a free country is a free economy. Knowing this fact and picking the correct side to be on will do more for this country than the succession of states ever will. Start a business... Earn your freedom. Expect it to be hard... Freedom isn't free! God bless Virginia, but God Bless the USA even more!

[Debbie]

Kent: Thank you for the comment. As to you're last question:

"wonder what kind of country America will be in 50 years? Will it be a republic or a confederation? These are interesting rhetorical questions."

Yes rhetorical questions, but worthy of discussion. Decisions we make today will certainly have consequences to America's future. No way to know for sure.

[Kent]

I came across your website by virtue of the Kosovo situation today to find out if our states have the right to secede from the Union. I knew about Vermont and its movement, but that is deep-rooted since the American Revolution. The Civil War obviously settled that question preempting states from doing so. Another interesting development is California: the Northern part of the state has always contemplated splitting CA from their southern neighbors because they have very little in common with each other. I wonder how the Supreme Court would view this case if it ever comes to pass? They'd probably give their blessing as they did when W. Virginia split with Virginia after the Civil War. I also wonder what kind of country America will be in 50 years? Will it be a republic or a confederation? These are interesting rhetorical questions.

[Mark Thomey]

My, the sarcasm and vitriol in some of these comments is too thick to cut with a knife. But, they do betray the ignorance and shallowness of mind of the respondents. Secession is, 'antiAmerican', 'antiChristian'? Does the mental midget who wrote this not realize that America was born from secession? Secession is the first and fundamental American principle of liberty and self-government! As Jefferson stated, we have a right and a duty to alter or ABOLISH any government that is destructive of life, liberty, and property and establish a NEW ONE that will. Don't you people get that? Or have you been that brainwashed by the empire? Our allegiance should be to our liberty and not to a particular form of government. The former is true patriotism, the latter is a slavish nationalism. As for unChristian, what could be more unChristian than, 'all men are created equal'? Show me two people in all of God's creation that are equal. You can't. That's one reason why we're to love our neighbour as ourself - precisely because we are NOT equals. And before you jump to an erroneous conslusion, we secessionists/lovers of liberty DO believe in equality before the law. Once again.... loving our neighbour. Inequality before the law, no matter the noble sounding titles under which it masquerades, e.g. 'civil rights', 'affirmative action', 'voting rights', etc., should be repugnant to those who value liberty.
And just because you haven't heard of us doesn't make us less credible. We've been on the internet and on the ground in our local communities for years. Has it occurred to any of you as to why the mainstream media, which is the lapdog of the empire, denies all but the most scoffing attention to us? If we are just a bunch of nuts, why not bring us onto their TV shows, radio shows, etc. and expose us for the buffoons we are?? Hmmm?? Because they may be evil, but they're not stupid. They don't want you to hear about real liberty because you just might realize that the empire has taken yours away
and want it back. Can't have that!!
So scoff if you will, but the tide of history is on our side. The age of the centralized nation-state is ending. Decentralization through secession and independence for smaller, more homogenous republics IS coming. May God save the South and grant her a name and place among the nations of the earth! [><]

[Jack]

Just one more group of wackjobs to watch out for.

[Debbie]

CAINE: Exactly. When they say they are all about inclusion, (Left, Right), they are not. It's Anti Christian, Anti American, Anti everything that makes America what she is. This is a group of NUTS!

[Stormwarning]

Just what is this world coming to? Once again, I agree with "the Grouch from the couch."

And Debbie, while you haven't ever heard of them is a point...the fact that I lived there all my life until 2006, was involved in the community, and never heard of them, I suspect, makes them a fringe group.

I'll ask some of my friends and see if they've ever heard of them.

[Caine]

I think what is more interesting is the political or philosphical "leaning" of the secessionist group. Though they say they are "from all walks of life" and "have differing political views" don't believe it. Just look at their printed arguments in favor of their views.

"the radical Christians and Neo-conservatives would be able to impose their will on anyone in the state they chose to - and the rest of us could live in freedom and peace" Okay, so those rotten Christians who have been all about "imposing their will" on everyone else can have their own state. They are against "peace and freedom" apparently. Yeah, Liberals have NEVER forced their will on anyone for anything..expect taxes, regulations, etc. Who started us up in Viet Nam again? Wasn't that a liberal Democrat named Kennedy? Just put those Christians in a state bordered gulag and everything will be rosy again. Uh huh.

Then the fantasy gets worse. "It’s ironic, but if we allowed all of the right-wing warmongers and fundamentalists to have their own states, when terrorists struck - it would probably be in those areas inhabited by the hate-mongers rather than bombing innocent Americans." The same tired philosophy used for "gun control." Stats coming out now show that states with more liberal gun control laws are actually safer than those without. Even the "blessed" Canada, with gun control out the wazoo, is admitting that their society actually has more violence per capita than does the supposedly wild west of the United States.

And as far as I know, those were pretty much innocent Americans in those two towers. I submit that the cowards who blow up buildings will target the innocents more. That is the whole purposed of "terrorism."

So I agree with Thomas Naylor that "the future of the United States is 'grim'" but not for the same reason. Such groups show a hatred of the very things that have made and will make our society work. Rather than acknowledge that reality, they dive further into a fantasy world. I fear even more those who accept their viewpoints but have not the fantasy of secession. Those people, when they vote, will do even more damage. They will "impose" their fantasies on the rest of the nation when now as never before, a hard nosed reality needs to rule.

[Skunk]

On one hand, I wouldn't be bothered by Vermont, Massachusetts and Califorlornia secession; but they'd have to promise to take Moron.arg with them... ;)

[PLADIN]

WELL I SURE HOPE THE GOOD OL U.S.A. NEVER BREAKS UP. ALL YA GOTTA DO IS GET RID OF ALL THOSE SOCIALIST LIBERAL BUMS........... JUST KIDDIN!!!!!!!! YOU COULD SEND EM TO RUSSIA??? OR MAYBE CHINA??? WE,VE HAD A SEPARTIST MOVEMENT UP HERE IN CANADA FOR 40 YRS. EVERYTIME THEY START TALKING ABOUT IT OUR DOLLAR GOES DOWN, AND IT CAUSES ALL KINDS OF CHAOS. THE PROVINCE THAT WANTS TO SEPARATE IS QUEBEC. BUT DON,T BE FOOLED THEY KNOW WHICH SIDE THEIR BREAD IS BUTTERED ON. PERSONALLY I WISH THEY WOULD SEPARATE. SAY WE,LL TRADE QUEBEC FOR FLORIDA, SOUND GOOD??????? LOL!!!!!!!!

[Debbie]

PAUL CHAMPAGNE: Was that book the one written by the editor of THE RELIGION OF PEACE website? Glen Reinsford? "AGE OF TOLERANCE"? If you have not read that book, I highly recommend it. Go here:

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

and scroll down to the bottom.

STORMWARNING: I had not heard of the group either.

BUTCH: I'm sure you have your reasons.

ANGEL: You're not the only one who had not heard this.

GROUCH: I knew you would jump on this one.

[Grouch at Right Truth]

I should have said they suck at the later.

[Grouch at Right Truth]

I am fed up with the power and spending of the federal gubment. I have always said the the only thing the federal gubment should do is print money and defend the shores. They suck at the former.

The masses have become addicted to federal gubment spending and all the entitlements it provides.

If the CSA had been victorious on 1865 I speculate that both nations, the CSA and USA would have survived in a long standing partnership and might have eventually reunited. Slavery would have been abolished in any case but might have survived a little longer in the CSA.

In 1865 the CSA and USA were protected by a vast ocean and they did not have enemies abroad bent on the absolute destruction of our lifestyle.

Today, our oceans no longer protect us. Islam is hellbent on invading and infiltrating our society and replacing our system with Sharia law.

Secession of states now would result in the total fall of our great nation. A non-united United States could not defend itself against Islam. It is barely hanging on now.

I vote we simply abolish the federal gubment and start from scratch, assigning the task of money printing and defense to the new federal gubment and returning the remaining funds to the individual states to use as they see fit.

NEVER HAPPEN.....

[Angel]

where have I been Deb..I hadnt even heard this latest!!

[Butch]

Actually, I wish Vermont WOULD secede...

[Stormwarning]

I lived on LI for my entire life until 2006. I never ever heard of the Middlebury Institute, nor ever heard of the guys running it. Also, when I read this article http://vtcommons.org/node/193 by one of the principals, I scratched my head.

[Paul Champagne]

I read a book last year about Conservatives seceeding from the Union and taking residence in Wyoming and Montana. I guess this would be "My Country ... Love it or Take a piece of it with you".