(I never thought I'd get to post this poster)
Posted on 10/03/2007 6:23:44 AM PDT by free_life
Charleston Daily Mail Secessionists from South and New England to meet
The Associated Press
Wednesday October 03, 2007
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- In an unlikely marriage of desire to secede from the United States, two advocacy groups from opposite political traditions -- New England and the South -- are sitting down to talk.
Tired of foreign wars and what they consider right-wing courts, the Middlebury Institute wants liberal states like Vermont to be able to secede peacefully.
That sounds just fine to the League of the South, a conservative group that refuses to give up on Southern independence.
"We believe that an independent South, or Hawaii, Alaska, or Vermont would be better able to serve the interest of everybody, regardless of race or ethnicity," said Michael Hill of Killen, Ala., president of the League of the South.
Separated by hundreds of miles and divergent political philosophies, the Middlebury Institute and the League of the South are hosting a two-day Secessionist Convention starting today in Chattanooga.
They expect to attract supporters from California, Alaska and Hawaii, inviting anyone who wants to dissolve the Union so states can save themselves from an overbearing federal government.
If allowed to go their own way, New Englanders "probably would allow abortion and have gun control," Hill said, while Southerners "would probably crack down on illegal immigration harder than it is being now."
The U.S. Constitution does not explicitly prohibit secession, but few people think it is politically viable.
Vermont, one of the nation's most liberal states, has become a hotbed for liberal secessionists, a fringe movement that gained new traction because of the Iraq war, rising oil prices and the formation of several pro-secession groups.
Thomas Naylor, the founder of one of those groups, the Second Vermont Republic, said the friendly relationship with the League of the South doesn't mean everyone shares all the same beliefs.
But Naylor, a retired Duke University professor, said the League of the South shares his group's opposition to the federal government and the need to pursue secession.
"It doesn't matter if our next president is Condoleeza (Rice) or Hillary (Clinton), it is going to be grim," said Naylor, adding that there are secessionist movements in more than 25 states, including Hawaii, Alaska, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Texas.
The Middlebury Institute, based in Cold Spring, N.Y., was started in 2005. Its followers, disillusioned by the Iraq war and federal imperialism, share the idea of states becoming independent republics. They contend their movement is growing.
The first North American Separatist Convention was held last fall in Vermont, which, unlike most Southern states, supports civil unions. Voters there elected a socialist to the U.S. Senate.
Can we question their patriotism?
A World Of Warcraft convention would be more interesting, and infinitely more practical.
I have a better idea:
Repeal the 14th amendment and return to the original structure of government.
States can be free to be as liberal or conservative as they please. They will also be in competition for people and jobs.
Who do you think will win?
not again!
rather then let this spin out of control into another civil war leading to the deaths of thousands how about we pre-emptively dispose of these twits now?
LOL
Vermont was once an independent state (that was the first VT republic); so was Hawaii (not a republic). If the US ever crumbles these 2 flaky edges will be the first to fall off.
I can. Kooks ready to start a civil war.
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Before we start the talk of secession, we need mass migration of armed conservatives to the seceding state(s).
I vote for California. A few million red-staters could knock over Los Angeles and San Francisco in a few hours, and the state would be ours. From there we take Oregon and Washington and own the coast.
Being stuck in a blue state i would hate for the country to break up. The southern states keep the lunatics in check
There is recipe for success. no population and no guns to protect them from expansionist Canada.
Between the overthrow of the monarchy and annexation by the US, Hawaii was a republic.
Do you really think a meeting of kooks qualifies as breaking news?
I somehow doubt that an independent Vermont would have much gun control at all, just as the current State of Vermont has probably some of the best gun rights in the entire country.
Yeah? Them and what army?
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