It was recently reported that several petitions to secede from the Union are once again being circulated on the Internet, some seeking peaceful secession, others using more "strained" language. What gives with these petitions? Seems a group going by the name of We The People has forwarded Internet petitions seeking secession following the elections of 2004, 2008 and now 2012. Who is this group that goes by the name "We The People?" Actually, it is a part of the White House website calling on citizens to "petition their government under the First Amendment" so that the Obama Administration may look into matters brought by the people on the website. Interestingly, a large number of those participating are petitioning to secede.
But where do these folks get the notion that they can actually secede from the Union? Certainly not from the Constitution! Erroneously, many folks posting to the petition think they can use "insurrection" to overthrow the government "because we fought a revolution to become a nation!" For those lacking knowledge in U.S. history, the American colonies did in fact declare its independence from England and did fight a revolutionary war when the King of England refused to grant our petition. So essentially, we did begin our fight in 1775 and declared our independence in 1776, but we did not start out with our Constitutional form of government. Instead, we began with a government uniting our new states in name only and solely to fight the British. That form of government? One operating under the Articles of Confederation. It was not until 1787 that Americans decided to restructure our government under the democratic republican vision of our Framers under a new Constitutional structure of Federalism.
So when I read the reasons some of the signors of the petitions raise for seeking secession, I wonder whether they realize that their states are already receiving more in Federal revenue sharing than they pay in the form of taxes? So let's look at those petition numbers and their origins. The largest number of petitions are from the State of Texas. According to Federal records, Texas is scheduled to receive Federal Revenue Sharing to the tune of $53Billion! Gee, sounds like they receive a lot more money than they pay into the system. Then why the demand that they pay too much in taxes? I know, it makes no sense. The next state with a large number of petitioners? Florida? Really? Florida is the largest recipient of revenue. Florida receives $1.39 in Federal revenue sharing for every $1 it pays in taxes. Next comes Alabama, which receives $1.96 for every $1.00 it pays in taxes. Mississippi? Received $2.73 for every $1 paid in taxes. Starting to see my point? Texas, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi all have Republican Governors. All have some of the highest needs for Federal funds!
Should states be allowed to secede from the Union? Andrew Jackson said "no." Abraham Lincoln said "no."
Obama will certainly say "no" as well. Perhaps we should let them go their own ways like they did when they joined the Confederate States of America? Even that confederation fell apart before its armed forces surrendered to the Union in 1865. But does the 10th Amendment give them the right to secede? No. So if they really want to leave the Union, shouldn't we point out the folly of their ways?
But where do these folks get the notion that they can actually secede from the Union? Certainly not from the Constitution! Erroneously, many folks posting to the petition think they can use "insurrection" to overthrow the government "because we fought a revolution to become a nation!" For those lacking knowledge in U.S. history, the American colonies did in fact declare its independence from England and did fight a revolutionary war when the King of England refused to grant our petition. So essentially, we did begin our fight in 1775 and declared our independence in 1776, but we did not start out with our Constitutional form of government. Instead, we began with a government uniting our new states in name only and solely to fight the British. That form of government? One operating under the Articles of Confederation. It was not until 1787 that Americans decided to restructure our government under the democratic republican vision of our Framers under a new Constitutional structure of Federalism.
So when I read the reasons some of the signors of the petitions raise for seeking secession, I wonder whether they realize that their states are already receiving more in Federal revenue sharing than they pay in the form of taxes? So let's look at those petition numbers and their origins. The largest number of petitions are from the State of Texas. According to Federal records, Texas is scheduled to receive Federal Revenue Sharing to the tune of $53Billion! Gee, sounds like they receive a lot more money than they pay into the system. Then why the demand that they pay too much in taxes? I know, it makes no sense. The next state with a large number of petitioners? Florida? Really? Florida is the largest recipient of revenue. Florida receives $1.39 in Federal revenue sharing for every $1 it pays in taxes. Next comes Alabama, which receives $1.96 for every $1.00 it pays in taxes. Mississippi? Received $2.73 for every $1 paid in taxes. Starting to see my point? Texas, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi all have Republican Governors. All have some of the highest needs for Federal funds!
Should states be allowed to secede from the Union? Andrew Jackson said "no." Abraham Lincoln said "no."
Obama will certainly say "no" as well. Perhaps we should let them go their own ways like they did when they joined the Confederate States of America? Even that confederation fell apart before its armed forces surrendered to the Union in 1865. But does the 10th Amendment give them the right to secede? No. So if they really want to leave the Union, shouldn't we point out the folly of their ways?
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