In the wake of Barack Obama's reelection as president, residents in several southern states have started signing petitions asking to be allowed to secede from the United States. Secession didn't turn out so well for them last time, did it?
States in Secession, 1860
Photo: Interim Archives/Getty
At least they are consistent: whites with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement wanting to leave the game when brown-skinned people are allowed to play as equals. It's tough to take their whining very seriously but we should probably take seriously the fact that the secession-talk is an expression of real desires and fears.
Why, though, do they insist on seceding? Why do they think that entire states should be removed from the union just because they personally don't like how things are going? There is a much simpler solution that's available to them: self-secession. That seems appropriate for a group that's touted self-deportation.
A forum member suggests a response that Barack Obama could use:
Thank you for your recent petition.
While we share your anxiety, the course of action you request is prohibited by the Constitution of the United States and we have sworn to uphold this Constitution.
If you feel that you can not live with this Constitution, please feel free to leave this country. Be aware that if you are on this list and do leave, you will be cut off from all benefits of this country, including Social Security and Medicare which you would also lose if your state were to secede. Most likely you will also lose many of the freedoms that your fathers and forefathers have fought for.
We are busy trying to make this a better country and be more fair for all. Again this is the purpose of the Constitution. This is known as the land of opportunity and we should all be working to make that true again. We do feel sorrow that you do not think you have that opportunity.
Thank you for your concerns:
Barak Obama
President, United States of America.
I think we should perhaps encourage self-secession for those who can't bear the thought of America turning into a socialist Kenyan republic. Self-secession is certainly a lot easier to organize and accomplish than state secession.
Add your thoughts to the comments here or join the ongoing discussion in the forum.
I can’t help wondering where those desiring to self-secede might find the kind of government they might approve. I feel sure they’d require a place where a white population openly suppresses and discriminates against darker people. The ruling class would have to be anti-science Christians who restricted or prohibited other religions and atheism. There could be no social safety net other than personal or family wealth, and only the under-classes would pay taxes. I can think of a number of other things that would be deal breakers for them, but this is enough for now. Where would they find such a place?
Well this was a disappointing post. I could address a number of things, but my biggest concern is that for some reason you think secession was banned by the Constitution. How you came to think this is beyond me, but when America was founded most people were only convinced to join the Union because they were in fact guaranteed the state right of secession. The threat of secession used to be a safeguard against the Federal government getting out of control.
I’m quite disappointed that someone who would call themselves a free-thinker would use such pitiful arguments. Why do you assume that the only reason people have for secession is that Obama was reelected as president? Believe it or not, even the most stereotypical redneck conservative doesn’t blame ALL of America’s problems on having an African-American president. Also, why do you assume that the only people who are signing these petitions are white southerners? There are in fact signatures from every state on the white house website. And from what I’ve seen not one of them mentions their reasons as Obama’s reelection.
I support the secession movement as a symbolic protest against the way ALL branches of the Federal Government are acting.
So you could address any number of things, but choose to address something I didn’t say. How convenient.
I might have considered taking you seriously if you had addressed something I did write instead of something you made up out of nowhere.
Something is beyond you, that’s certain.
Yeah, that’s why it’s guaranteed in the Constitution. Right?
Well, the arguments you attribute to me seem to exist nowhere but in your own imagination. So since they are “pitiful,” what does this tell us about you?
Well, all of the petitions for secession were started in response to his being reelected.
True. Some blame America’s problems on having a Kenyan, Muslim, foreign president. Some blame America’s problems on non-whites generally. Some blame America’s problems on Jews.
I didn’t say they were. The fact that most signatures in favor of secession are in southern states rather than northern states is not, however, irrelevant.
Then leave as a symbolic protest. You won’t be missed.
Sam, I admit that my one undergraduate Constitutional law course was nearly a half century ago, but a quick skim through my copy finds no reference to states’ right to secede. I realize that some may argue that the fact it isn’t mentioned means the right exists, but it is my impression that a precident against the states’ right to secession was set by the outcome of the Civil War, if it ever existed in the first place.
@Sam: I don’t know what your credentials are. but you are repeating hearsay. It is erroneous to believe that a state is able to secede from the union. Today,s “Republicans” are the most ignorant I’ve seen when it comes to facts.
Just because you people say something doesn’t make it true.