Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who has long defended the right of a State to secede from the once-voluntary Union, was recently interviewed by talk radio host Brian Wilson and was asked specifically about the prospects of a State seceding in the near future. Congressman Paul said that it was unlikely and noted that the Feds are heavily armed and would likely react violently against an independence movement in the so-called ‘land of the free.’ He went on to say that he believed the States and people would eventually begin to ignore Federal dictates as the system breaks down and the economic situation further deteriorates. The congressman added that he thought the right of secession should have been included in the US Constitution.
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Sadly, the heart of the Federal government’s military power is in the South. In fact, I could see many Southerners leading the charge to put down any rebellion.
Anti-Federalist,
I think that’s exactly true, ironically. These days, I think if a state were to actually secede, or attempt to, it would likely be a very “blue” state that wanted to get away from the mass of “red” states in the South and Midwest.
Question for Michael, why would you support Pat Buchanan over Ron Paul? Paul is pro liberty, pro decentralized government, and openly supports self determination. Pat has his good points but he has a Whig trade policy and constantly mistakes what he calls the Nation with the the Federal empire. I know you would prefer his immigration policy over Ron Paul’s. However, one of the biggest incentives for people to come here illegally is the welfare state that’s in the US. Pat Buchanan doesn’t advocate dismantling the welfare state but Ron Paul does.
Pezman419,
I think there is a lot of truth to what you are saying. Noticed that Ron Paul performed better in blue states in the northeast and Midwest than he did in the South. The South, for all intents and purposes, rejected Ron Paul’s message of peace, demilitarization, decentralized govt, sound money and freedom. I can recall Ron Paul getting booed constantly during the SC debate. Sadly, modern Southerners are the most fervent unionists in the Federal empire.
‘Sadly, modern Southerners are the most fervent unionists in the Federal empire.’
That’s true, Anti-Federalist, and very sad. It’s something I think (and hope) will change as Southerners realise that pretty soon there will always be a Democrat in the White House. Hopefully it will turn folks against the empire knowing that their party is going to be a permanent minority party from here on out.
Correction: Sadly, modern Southern VOTERS are the most fervent unionists in the federal empire.
If you want to find some anti-union Southerners, the last place you need to look is the voting boothe or your local political gathering. Most folks I associate with are at the ‘vote with a bullet’ stage. Sure, the fairy tales of voting our way out sounds nice, but the reality is, the revolution will be a phsyical one. The only way it will be peaceful is if the empire collapses and we balkanize. Who knows how long that will take though. Time isn’t something we have alot to work with, considering the demographic trends.
Pat Buchanan’s “Suicide of a Superpower” is a great book. He discusses the anarchy that’s resulted from illegal immigration, abortion, and the dissolution of morality amongst the States and specifically the Fed.