About this time 150 years ago, tens of thousands of Americans were fighting to get their states out of the Union. In part this was because they resented having the central government in Washington impose on them its policies of social engineering. Many thought President Lincoln's plans would lead inevitably to the mongrelization and decline of American society.
Well, the Federals prevailed, the slaves were emancipated, everyone became "equal" -- somewhat later, you understand -- and American society became the best on earth. Or not, depending on your point of view.
It took 143 years for Americans to elect a (somewhat) black president, the one who just got re-elected with the support of just a hair above half of those who voted. The rest -- a hair under half of those who voted -- don't seem to be taking it to well.
Should the disaffected minority take up arms to leave the Disunited States? Certainly lot. It wouldn't go any more good now than it did in 1861. Besides, the Supreme Court ruled unilateral secession unconstitutional.
So all you good ole boys can put your muskets away. However, America being the democracy that it is, you can still exercise your democratic right to petition for rederess. In fact, the Formerly White House has set up a website to accommodate your online petitions, including, if you so wish, petitions to secede from the union.
Well, guess what? Within a week of Al O'Bama's re-election, citizens from no fewer than twenty-one -- count `em, 21 -- states have filed petitions asking to secede from the United States.
The rule is that if you get 25,000 signatures or more, the White House has to respond to your petition. [Does "Chuck you, Farley!" count as a response? Ed.] Louisiana was first, posting its request on November 7th. It was joined by Texas on November 9th. There are 14,879 signatures on the LA petition as I write, and 22,375 on that of Texas.
Similar petitions from Alabama, Tennessee, and Oregon [Oregon? Really? Ed.] are also gaining traction, with each receiving thousands of supporters over the weekend alone. Other states trying to secede include Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, Colorado, New Jersey, Montana, North Dakota, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and New Jersey [Shome mishtake, shurely! Ed.].
All the petitions quote a passage from the Declaration of Independence, which says: "Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and institute new Government."
To sign one of the petitions, or post your own, go to "We the People". Let's see what happens.
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