WaPo OpEd: The Once and Future Republic of Vermont (Great piece)

[cali]

By Ian Baldwin and Frank Bryan
Sunday, April 1, 2007; Page B01

BURLINGTON, Vt.

The winds of secession are blowing in the Green Mountain State.

Vermont was once an independent republic, and it can be one again. We think the time to make that happen is now. Over the past 50 years, the U.S. government has grown too big, too corrupt and too aggressive toward the world, toward its own citizens and toward local democratic institutions. It has abandoned the democratic vision of its founders and eroded Americans' fundamental freedoms.

<snip>

Today, however, Vermont no longer controls even its own National Guard, a domestic emergency force that is now employed in an imperial war 6,000 miles away. The 9/11 commission report says that "the American homeland is the planet." To defend this "homeland," the United States spends six times as much on its military as China, the next highest-spending nation, funding more than 730 military bases in more than 130 countries, abetted by more than 100 military space satellites and more than 100,000 seaborne battle-ready forces. This is the greatest military colossus ever forged.

Few heed George Washington's Farewell Address, which warned against the danger of a permanent large standing army that "can be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty." Or that of a later general-become-president: "We must never let the weight of endanger our liberties or democratic processes." Dwight D. Eisenhower pointedly included the word "congressional" after "military-industrial" but allowed his advisers to excise it. That word completes a true description of the hidden threat to democracy in the United States.

<snip>

Vermont seceded from the British Empire in 1777 and stood free for 14 years, until 1791. Its constitution -- which preceded the U.S. Constitution by more than a decade -- was the first to prohibit slavery in the New World and to guarantee universal manhood suffrage. Vermont issued its own currency, ran its own postal service, developed its own foreign relations, grew its own food, made its own roads and paid for its own militia. No other state, not even Texas, governed itself more thoroughly or longer before giving up its nationhood and joining the Union.

<snip>

The present movement for secession has been gathering steam for a decade and a half. In preparation for Vermont's bicentennial in 1991, public debates -- moderated by then-Lt. Gov. Howard Dean -- were held in seven towns before crowds that averaged 230 citizens. At the end of each, Dean asked all those in favor of Vermont's seceding from the Union to stand and be counted. In town after town, solid majorities stood. The final count: 999 (62 percent) for secession and 608 opposed

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/30/AR2007033002076_2.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Amazing as it may seem, more and more people here are taking this issue seriously. It's being discussed as if were a serious option.

[cassiepriam]

1. I wish my state would do the same.

I don't like being an American any more :(

[cali]

2. I think of myself as a Vermonter

way before I think of myself as an American. I'm really close to supporting this move, even if it just ends up being about making the statement that Frank and Ian make so eloquently in their piece.

[cassiepriam]

4. To paraphrase John Kennedy: We are all Vermonters now.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

19. ich bin ein Vermonter

I'd suggest it for Illinois, but we have too many corrupt pols to clear out first. Despite Fitz's great work here.

[Cha]

36. Oooh, I like that!

I'm a Vermonter @ who happens to live in New York. Although, I do love my Guv my now I like the idea of suceeding from the Union because it's so corrupt.

[Marrah_G]

23. I can relate

I think of myself as a New Englander. The more time goes by the less I feel any connection to the country outside the Northeast. More and more people here are feeling the same way. Tired of having the will of midwestern/southern mega-churches forced down our throats. We all know what happens when you push New Englanders to far..... Tea anyone?

[Tesha]

38. Tea? Yes thanks. We'll meet you down at the harbor for a cuppa. (NT)

[CarbonDate]

3. Cute story, but....

...we all remember what happened last time some states got uppity and tried to secede, right? Didn't go over so well.

[cali]

6. No doubt about that,

but I think the authors are not only semi-serious about this, but see it as a great vehicle for making their points about how corrupt, agressive and anti-democratic the federal gov't has become. And as they managed to get this hard hitting slam on the the OpEd page of the WaPo, I'd say that they're right about that.

[cassiepriam]

21. Wonder if Americans would kill other Americans if a US civil war happened now?

[loudsue]

33. I'm afraid they'd do it in a heartbeat.

I've been surprised for the past 6 years that it wasn't already happening, with all of the divisions rush limpballs started creating back in the early 90's.

But if there was a civil war to start right now, I'm afraid bush would just declare martial law and throw all the Dems in one of those detention camps, and have the Blackwater dudes posted as guards. THAT is the main danger of having a "privatized" (mercenary) military branch....it has nothing to do with the oath of soldiers to defend the country against all enemies, foreign AND domestic.

:kick::kick::kick:

[cassiepriam]

34. Sadly you are correct. They would do it. And there is already a psychological civil war.

I guess actual violence is not out of the question.

[Selatius]

5. The Supreme Court decided this issue in 1869.

They declared secession unconstitutional in Texas v. White and not enforceable under statutory law. With that said, though, if a state wishes to secede, I can't think of anyone better to decide than the people of the state in question.

Of course, I have to ask: Is this an April Fool's joke?

[cali]

7. No. Frank Bryan

a political Science prof at UVM has been pushing this for years, and it's starting to develop real steam here. Did you see the part about Vermonters from several towns, voting on this issue in 1991? 62% supported secession then. I'll wager that it's even higher now.

But read the whole article. It makes many excellent points.

[Selatius]

8. If it can be done peacefully, I support you guys 1000 percent.

If you guys secede, for instance, you could draft a constitution that allows a multi-party system to emerge (like proportional representation or a mixed system)instead of the more restrictive two-party model D.C. utilizes. In the end, that would help all of us arguing to break up the two-party stranglehold on power.

[cali]

9. Well, even if we don't secede

we're working on creating a viable third party here. There's already a handful of Progressives in the Legislature, including one Chair of an important committee. Trouble is that sometimes the progs have been less than wise about statewide races. If not for that, they'd have even greater support.

[cassiepriam]

20. If enough states joined the movement, who would prevent it?

[cali]

26. I don't see any other state

even talking about it.

[cassiepriam]

27. Too bad. Wish we could annex to Canada.

[rox63]

11. Not a joke - There's been a secession movement in VT for a long time

Another snippet from the article:

"Vermont seceded from the British Empire in 1777 and stood free for 14 years, until 1791. Its constitution -- which preceded the U.S. Constitution by more than a decade -- was the first to prohibit slavery in the New World and to guarantee universal manhood suffrage. Vermont issued its own currency, ran its own postal service, developed its own foreign relations, grew its own food, made its own roads and paid for its own militia. No other state, not even Texas, governed itself more thoroughly or longer before giving up its nationhood and joining the Union."

[cassiepriam]

22. Did England give the American colonies permission to revolt?

Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence
said we need no man's permission to be free.

[gaspee]

10. I would like to see

All of New England succeed. But that's wishful thinking. If we get another repuke president, I think there might be mass support for it up this way.

[cali]

12. How about all of New England and NY

That'd be quite a viable little nation, I'd imagine.

[Marrah_G]

24. I think it will happen eventually.

I think the entire north east will break off. Frankly our system of government was never meant for such a massive land mass and population. In my opinion this is why our country is breaking down. We are no longer represented in the way the forefathers had envisioned. It was meant to be a participatory govcernment with elected officials beholden to their nieghbors. With our size this has become impossible. The closest thing we have, I believe, is new england town coucils/town hall meetings. To many very different regions with different ideas. I truly do think in the future we will see 4-5 smaller countries emerge.

[democrank]

13. Interesting article.

I requested some Vermont Commons information a few months ago and was impressed with the author`s insight. Thanks for posting this thought-provoking article.

[cali]

15. Yeah, it's a great article

and it's wonderful to see the authors points about the corruption of the Federal gov't, get a wide readership.

[JNelson6563]

14. That's it. I'm moving to Vermont.

:toast:

[KatyaR]

16. Take me with you--

I've been wanting to go for years, but I just can't afford to make a new start. Sad, huh?

Go for it, Vermont . . . .

[Tesha]

40. As long as you can stand the cold, you'd like it. (NT)

[Clark2008]

17. Proves a point

Northerners talk about succession much more often than Southerners.

:)

Oh - and it also proves that maybe State's Rights was a big issue, afterall.

[cali]

18. I think you mean secession

and read the whole article! It's well worth it.

[Bucky]

29. "maybe State's Rights was a big issue, afterall"

Ah, but the states' right to do what?

Hold slaves, of course. It was a right implicitly protected by the Constitition and explicitly unassaulted by Lincoln. The core reason for secession was neither slavery nor states' rights, but the emergence and divergence of two cultures contained in one Union. The South had been mumbling about secession for 30 years prior to Fort Sumpter. The federal government had always said they couldn't do it. The crisis was bound to occur (even if the war itself wasn't inevitable).

And then they proceeded to kick our asses for four years, so I think that ought to settle any remaining legal questions.

[UTUSN]

25. VT-ers tossed Minutemen out & revealed them for the fools they are!!1

***********QUOTE******

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2005/10/16/volunteers_get_cold_reception_in_vermont?mode=PF

Volunteers get cold reception in Vermont

They run into protest and walk through wild to watch Canada border
By Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff | October 16, 2005

NEWPORT, Vt. -- It's hard to save the United States from illegal immigrants when you can't find the border. ....

But these Minutemen were forced out of town by a larger crowd of protesters, who denounced their opposition to illegal immigration as a front for racism. ....

Back on the bike path, the three Minutemen trudged on in the rain. Finally, they knocked on Amy Audet's door to ask directions.

The border, she told them, was in the opposite direction.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/30/AR2005103000822.html

On Patrol in Vt., Minutemen Are the Outsiders

Along the Border, Group Targets Illegal Immigrants

By David A. Fahrenthold
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 31, 2005; Page A02

.... They began scouting out potential sites several weeks ago, poking around this hamlet with a downtown almost directly on the border. It was in Derby Line that they had their first problem with the elusive border. On one scouting expedition, member Bob Casimiro said they became, for a moment, illegal visitors in Canada.

Then came their first official patrol two weekends ago, which was dogged by protesters who assembled downtown and shouted slogans such as "Take your hate out of our state." The Minutemen had to patrol a bike path away from town, and then -- as the Boston Globe reported -- got lost and had to ask a local for directions. ....

**********UNQUOTE**********

[Flaxbee]

28. hmm - could Vermont comfortably hold the

100,000+ DUers who might want to move there if Vermont secedes? ;-)

Or how about just me, my husband and 7 cats?

[cali]

30. LOL!

We've got room, but how do you like winter?

[riverdeep]

31. I don't know about the practicalities of something like this,

for examlple, how much would Vermont pay for national defense, how much benefit would they be allowed to get? Would it be okay if China dedided to position warships outside of Vermont? But I still am attracted to the idea somehow. I like winter, and nature, and ice cream. And the thought of not having to send my money to warmongers and corporatists would be a draw.

[cali]

32. I don't think Vermont has to worry about Chinese warships

we don't have any coastline. sure would be interesting to see them in Lake Champlain though.

[riverdeep]

35. Ha!

Yeah, I think y'all are in striking range though. But it would be funny if 'Champ' turned out to be a Chinese sub.

[Tesha]

41. If a Chinese ship sailed up to the King Street Ferry Dock, ...

If a Chinese ship sailed up to the King Street Ferry Dock,
an instant Burlington-style celebration of multiculturalism
would break out, with free Ben & Jerry's for everyone and
all-night partying on Church Street.

Tesha

[cali]

43. LOL, Tesha n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

37. If that should happen, Vermont will have a huge population surge.

Hopefully, my state, (WA) would follow suit so I could avoid all that snow.

[Marrah_G]

39. Nah

Most people aren't well suited for Vermont life :)

[mmonk]

42. If they don't send troops in and you (Vermont) succeed

with no problem, looks like a plan.