Las Vegas Sun

May 25, 2013

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Letter to the editor:

Questions for secessionists

Another view?

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Regarding the recent talk of secession, I wonder how many of the idea’s supporters have actually thought this through.

Let’s assume Nevada actually achieves the “independence” they crave. There are myriad issues that need to be addressed.

First, given that Nevada will be its own nation, who will protect the borders from U.S. citizens attempting to enter or merely pass through? Or, from those who want to move here? Will prospective new citizens be required to wait in line for the nation to approve their application? Will the millions of tourists who visit our new nation be required to show a legal passport before being allowed to come spend their money? Will each conventioneer be issued a visa to attend?

Will Nevada issue its own money? How much would it cost to establish a Nevada mint for printing the new currency? What would that money be based upon?

Of course, we will need to raise an army to protect our borders. Who will pay for that? Where will Nevada get the funding for materiel necessary to outfit the new Nevada military?

How about law? Since the U.S. Constitution will no longer be relevant, what will take its place? Will a full-time Legislature be necessary to create the new laws and guidelines for our new nation?

Come on, Nevada secessionists. Grow up. While some are unhappy with the results of the last election, running away is not the answer.

Discussion: 18 comments so far…

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  1. Joel,

    You pose good questions. We have a poster with an LVS handle name of "Peacelily" who might shed some light on the subject since she has proposed here in the LVS comment section that "I(Peacelily) would like to split the country into 3-4 sovereign nations based on the political philosophy the people hold to. One for Republicans, one for Democrats, one for Libertarians, and one for Greens......If any of those countries want to be capitalists, fine. If any want to be democratic socialists, fine."

    I asked Peacelily to expand more on her idea to "split the United States into "3-4 sovereign nations based on the political philosophy" and she gave us her logic behind the idea in her post dated Oct 15th @8:42pm. A few of her reasons were:

    "Maybe each would be able to put their plans into action without the obstruction of other parties.

    Maybe the people could live in harmony and peace without the divisions that currently prevail.

    It might do alot to serve the intention of the Constitution for those who believe in it anymore."

    Perhaps it's out of frustration that those like Peacelily want a geographical split of the US or they just have a bold and creative way to solve our nation's issues with a little less political resistance and stalemate to deal with. Maybe those who either believe succession or similar geographical divisions of our country can jump on this thread and shed some light on their ideas and solutions.

    http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/oct...

  2. I have a better idea than secession.

    We decertify Wyoming as a state, cause it's useless anyway, and offer all the secessionists and the peace hungering Jews and Palestinians $2,500 each to move there.

    Then the crazies in the Middle East can continue killing each other, but no longer on our dime, and the secessionists will be given their own country.

    We can call it "The United State of Little Israel and Palestine".

    One rule though, y'all have to keep to yourselves. Don't come around here no more...

  3. Results of the last election are irrelevant to the sucessionist argument. The results of the American Revolution are. If a majority of Nevadans, or any Americans, vote for the right to sucede, they should be granted it. It is simple. It's called freedom and liberty. If the Sons of Liberty made peace with King George of England, rather than revolt and shed their blood, we would not be having this discussion now. Period. End of story.

    CarmineD

  4. The secessionists are a reflection of peoples' frustration with their inability to carry out their ambitions for the country and its future. All of us have a right to our opinions and perceptions and these form a vision of the future we each wish to create with the proviso to "be careful what you ask for". Our frustrations are too often reflected in making ourselves right by making others wrong. The exchanges in LVS commentaries too often reflect this with the use of unecessary adjectives to describe the intentions of opposing views. No one is wrong. We just see different pathways to create what we want.

    About the only thing we all seem to agree on is that we've made a mockery of the "U" word in the name of our country

  5. Good letter Mr. Rector, thank you.

    I'll bet those states who want to secede get more funding from the government than they pay out. They would be incapable of dealing with disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes without government intervention and funding. "Cut off your nose to spite your face" seems to be the latest GOP/Tea Party trend.

    Future - "If fact we will not need any national defense because we do not have one now. People are already overrunning our open borders."

    Wrong as usual, there has been a reversal of illegal immigration.

    http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/natio...

    "The number of illegal immigrants in the U.S., which stood at about 8.4 million in 2000, peaked at about 12 million in 2007 and has been tapering since, according to the analysis prepared by demographers Jeffrey Passel and D'Vera Cohn of the Hispanic Center, part of the Pew Research Center."

    "The decrease was driven mainly by a drop in the number of immigrants arriving from Mexico, the largest source of migration to the U.S. The Pew Hispanic Center reported earlier this year that net immigration from Mexico to the United States had stopped and possibly reversed through 2010."

  6. Rector, like so many, is blind to the truth about the "secessionist" movement. It's not about "seceding" at all. It's simply a matter of protesting the downward spiral Osama Obama and his fellow travelers have put the United States of America on. It's about voicing an opinion and, even while Osama Obama and his fellow travelers attempt to negate the 1st Amendment, still a fundamental right of the citizens of this country. While Osama Obama is a cretin, he is not an Emperor nor a King and I proudly give him and his fellow travelers the one-finger salute in their attempts to silence dissent!

  7. In reply to Jerry Fink, your words, "It's not about "seceding" at all. It's simply a matter of protesting the downward spiral the United States of America is on. It's about voicing an opinion."

    So, Mr. Fink, you feel this is an appropriate? I have to assume this old quote is true;

    "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." >Lewis Carroll<

  8. BChap, Why are you taking anything Jerry Fink writes seriously? He is obviously angry and incoherent.

  9. Thank you for your comments, but secession has had its 15 minutes of fame. We have far more important things to consider, such as.......RODEO!!!!!

  10. lvfacts101 - I don't see any evidence that anyone has silenced your dissent even though it pegs the obnoxious meter.

  11. People who call for secession from our nation never give it a second thought about who and how this will all be paid for.They only want out,but when the taxes get to high to pay for all new added expenses in running a seperate nation, guess what?
    This new nation will apply for and expect foreign aid from the good ole U.S.A. Think again.

  12. In reply to Mark Schaffer; I take every "TEA-bagger" seriously. I consider them far more than just a nuisance. I view them and their extremist views as a dangerous threat to our society.

  13. In regards to secessionism "Jeff from Vegas" wrote, "We decertify Wyoming as a state, because it's useless anyway. One rule though, y'all have to keep to yourselves. Don't come around here anymore..."

    I would love to make the same offer to this commentator.

  14. Comment removed by moderator. - -

  15. Willie,

    There are 25 million Americans who live in Texas. How many do you think want to secede from the state? .00000000000000000000001%?

  16. There's no reason for NEVADA to succeed - the majority of us pretty much voted for Obama. A better idea. Don't like the way the majority does things here? Take your foot in your hand and LEAVE! Try Somalia. Or Ethiopia. Or Congo. Or Nigeria. Or North Korea. They have no interest in what the majority wants either.

    Many of the states where residents are most vocal for succession have already tried that once. Since they are mostly the "taker" states (receiving more from D.C. than they send there.) I'm inclined to tell them "Go For It!" Texas, however, isn't a taker. For it I'll make an exception: How may I assist your efforts?

  17. "How about law? Since the U.S. Constitution will no longer be relevant, what will take its place?"

    Rector -- you're putting the cart before the horse. First the Nevada Constitution, what makes Nevada a state, will have to be repudiated. Article 1, Section 2, forbids secession.

    How come none of the rest of you caught that?

    "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -- Abraham Lincoln, first inaugural address, 1861

  18. Willie- I counter you with whaco Harry Reid.

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