[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "No one has a right to force someone to associate with them. That would be slavery."

Of course, you are totally free to leave the United States, any day, any hour, for any reason, real or imaginary, or for no real reason at all, it's 100% your right to separate at pleasure.

But the US Constitution is, in effect, a contract voluntarily entered by "we the people", a contract which can only lawfully be broken under two conditions:

1. Mutual consent, meaning the approval of Congress, or
2. A serious breach of contract such as "usurpations" or "abuses of power" having the same effect.

Unilateral declarations of secession, "at pleasure" were not intended, and are not authorized by our Founders.

[cowboyway]

But the US Constitution is, in effect, a contract voluntarily entered by "we the people",

A contract; not a suicide pact.

1.Mutual consent, meaning the approval of Congress, or 2.A serious breach of contract such as "usurpations" or "abuses of power" having the same effect.

Where is that in the Constitution? My copy doesn't seem to have that. (You got that 'mutual consent' from Texas v White. The other half of the Texas v White dicta was successful rebellion.)