Bingo! And 19th we tried. We should have been successful then. Now those opportunities are gone. Now it appears all that is left is revolution against an oppressive government and loopy (non-American) citizens. And it ain't gonna be pretty. But, without them, we will recover.
Let's get our timeline straight first. The 1800s was the 19th century. The 2000s is the 21st century. The 19th century was a terrible time for Southern secession. The North has industrialization, three times the population of the South and thus more soldiers, a navy of 100-ships compared to none for the South, and a standing Army. The South had cash crops of cotton and tobacco but little large-scale food crops to feed an army, most of the best military officers "went South", and the South fought for a cause and against an invasion. No superpower aided the South as France had supported the fledgling US. Even so, had the North adhered to civilized warfare without attacking non-combatants, the South might have triumphed. But there was no international tribunal to police Northern war crimes.
The 21st century offers a better opportunity for secession, IMHO. Secession has now been declared illegal, but that law is untested by the SC. The secession would be primarily against New England and California. Most of the mid-west and western states would join the Old Confederacy in adhering to a Constitution and acting as a Republic. New England could continue with solar experiments and undeclared wars of fuzzy intentions while the secessionist states could pursue freedom and liberty, energy independence, and a foreign policy that relied on peace through strength. As Mr Washington suggested, our treaties would be few. Our technical expertise in both land and sea-based agriculture and ranching would be second to none, and we would maintain friendly relations with our customers worldwide. We would fight no undeclared wars.
Rights belong to individuals, not groups; they derive from our nature and can neither be granted nor taken away by government.
All peaceful, voluntary economic and social associations are permitted; consent is the basis of the social and economic order.
Justly acquired property is privately owned by individuals and voluntary groups, and this ownership cannot be arbitrarily voided by governments. Government may not redistribute private wealth or grant special privileges to any individual or group.
Individuals are responsible for their own actions; government cannot and should not protect us from ourselves.
Government may not claim the monopoly over a people's money and governments must never engage in official counterfeiting, even in the name of macroeconomic stability.
Aggressive wars, even when called preventative, and even when they pertain only to trade relations, are forbidden.
Jury nullification, that is, the right of jurors to judge the law as well as the facts, is a right of the people and the courtroom norm.
All forms of involuntary servitude are prohibited, not only slavery but also conscription, forced association, and forced welfare distribution.
Government must obey the law that it expects other people to obey and thereby must never use force to mold behavior, manipulate social outcomes, manage the economy, or tell other countries how to behave.
Secession is an American 21st century solution. Always looking for the easy way out. Secession will not solve our problems. Not now.
ReplyDeleteIt was the 20th century solution, but we sadly failed.
DeleteBingo! And 19th we tried. We should have been successful then. Now those opportunities are gone. Now it appears all that is left is revolution against an oppressive government and loopy (non-American) citizens. And it ain't gonna be pretty. But, without them, we will recover.
DeleteYes, Sir.
DeleteLet's get our timeline straight first. The 1800s was the 19th century. The 2000s is the 21st century. The 19th century was a terrible time for Southern secession. The North has industrialization, three times the population of the South and thus more soldiers, a navy of 100-ships compared to none for the South, and a standing Army. The South had cash crops of cotton and tobacco but little large-scale food crops to feed an army, most of the best military officers "went South", and the South fought for a cause and against an invasion. No superpower aided the South as France had supported the fledgling US. Even so, had the North adhered to civilized warfare without attacking non-combatants, the South might have triumphed. But there was no international tribunal to police Northern war crimes.
ReplyDeleteThe 21st century offers a better opportunity for secession, IMHO. Secession has now been declared illegal, but that law is untested by the SC. The secession would be primarily against New England and California. Most of the mid-west and western states would join the Old Confederacy in adhering to a Constitution and acting as a Republic. New England could continue with solar experiments and undeclared wars of fuzzy intentions while the secessionist states could pursue freedom and liberty, energy independence, and a foreign policy that relied on peace through strength. As Mr Washington suggested, our treaties would be few. Our technical expertise in both land and sea-based agriculture and ranching would be second to none, and we would maintain friendly relations with our customers worldwide. We would fight no undeclared wars.
& follow
DeleteThe Ten Principles of a Free Society
by Ron Paul
Rights belong to individuals, not groups; they derive from our nature and can neither be granted nor taken away by government.
All peaceful, voluntary economic and social associations are permitted; consent is the basis of the social and economic order.
Justly acquired property is privately owned by individuals and voluntary groups, and this ownership cannot be arbitrarily voided by governments.
Government may not redistribute private wealth or grant special privileges to any individual or group.
Individuals are responsible for their own actions; government cannot and should not protect us from ourselves.
Government may not claim the monopoly over a people's money and governments must never engage in official counterfeiting, even in the name of macroeconomic stability.
Aggressive wars, even when called preventative, and even when they pertain only to trade relations, are forbidden.
Jury nullification, that is, the right of jurors to judge the law as well as the facts, is a right of the people and the courtroom norm.
All forms of involuntary servitude are prohibited, not only slavery but also conscription, forced association, and forced welfare distribution.
Government must obey the law that it expects other people to obey and thereby must never use force to mold behavior, manipulate social outcomes, manage the economy, or tell other countries how to behave.
I tried dearly to find fault with at least one of these concepts. I could not.
DeleteHe's one in a million, that's for sure.
Delete