There has been a lot of hype about the citizens of more than thirty states petitioning the government for secession from the Union. I think we need to talk about this.
First things first I’ll give my personal opinion about secession. I do think the States of the Union have the right to secede. I know that the Courts have had previous cases disputing that, (see Texas v White). In spite of this the Declaration of Independence outlines the formula for liberty for men. That when a government instituted among men becomes destructive towards those it is intended to serve it is the right and duty of the people to dissolve that government or, as displayed in the first paragraph of the Declaration, to dissolve the political bands which have connected them. The States came together and I see no reason why they cannot leave in like fashion.
Now, also drawing upon the Declaration, the reasons for secession should not be due to “light and transient causes”. King George was a tyrant and the constant rebuffs by his government as well as the institution of laws on a people without a voice for decades eventually led to one course: independence. In the end there was no other way. Fast forward a few years. Obama was re-elected. While I am disappointed to say the least about it, this is not reason for secession. Now, should he cut out the Second Amendment and make it rain with Constitution-destroying Executive Orders then by all means we need to do something along those lines.
But in the wake of the election there will be many ways in which people will try to make their voices heard. And that is a good thing. We as Americans have the right to speak our minds and we should. But there are intelligent and less so ways of going about it. Petition for secession probably falls towards the latter of the two.
I, like millions of Americans, am totally dissatisfied with the way Barack Obama has handled just about everything. I have spoken out about this verbally as well as starting this blog. I will continue to inform and educate in this manner as well as defend our liberty. Others have joined activist groups and posted signs. Some donate money to organizations and others make phone calls. But what is the one thing in common with all of these? Those people expressed no desire to leave the U.S.
I would not leave my country for anything. I love America and would defend her to the last if need be. I also understand that a good many of the people who signed the petitions for secession really have no desire to actually secede but are doing so to make a bold statement and that’s fine. But much like the hippies protesting war in the 60’s and 70’s, no one in the government is really going to take them seriously. I think a true petition of the Government for a redress of grievances, (see 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution), would be a far bolder statement.
Imagine if as many people that signed those petitions, heck let’s go bigger, what if millions signed a petition of the Government over Obamacare, over-regulation, executive orders or any other number of things Obama has done. That would pick up a few people’s heads. Now would that make everything better? Of course not. Laws aren’t changed and governments made responsible over night. But, it is a start.
Imagine if we could even organize another Continental Congress. That would wake up a lot of people. To have representatives from all the States convene to discuss the role of our government. Truly that would be a show of patriotism and solidarity we haven’t seen since the formation of our country. Now don’t take that the wrong way. I’m not calling for revolution. Keep in mind, “light and transient causes”. Obamacare is no reason to march on Washington. I’m a pissed American but I’m not short-sighted.
The fact of the matter is this: We need to make our voices heard. We’ve let the government do whatever it’s wanted for the last seventy or so years. We let them pass the Patriot Act without some much as reading it. We let them sign the National Defense Authorization Act without protest. We let the TSA turn our airports into police states. Why? For security? I have to invoke the words of one of our Founders on this one. “They, who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” That was Benjamin Franklin. Despite what a lot of people try to say their words are still applicable to this very day.
I know I got a little off topic from where I started this. But let’s sum it all up. We need to be heard and let the Government know we are not happy. A petition of secession is one way, but not the best. Get that many and more signatures on a petition sent straight to the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court and you’ll turn a few heads. The First Amendment is one of the most important and also one of our greatest weapons as citizens. We should use it more often.
Can the States secede? Yes I think they can. Should the States secede? It better be for a really, really good reason. It took our Founders years before they made the final decision to leave. It was not an easy choice so we today should not make light of such an act.
Thank you for reading. God bless all of you and God bless the United States of America.
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