Secession? Even foolish ideas are reborn as memory fades

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November 21, 2012

Secession? Even foolish ideas are reborn as memory fades

Guest Editorial

By The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger: The Picayune Item Picayune Item Wed Nov 21, 2012, 06:50 AM CST

PICAYUNE — “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, will react in the most shortsighted fashion possible and break away from this tyrannical republic, because (insert name of petitioner’s state here) is well-equipped to stand on its own since our candidate lost the presidential election.”

That statement should perhaps serve as a guiding preamble to the seemingly hottest trend in the country — secession of states from the United States. In the wake of the election, people in Mississippi and the other 49 states have filed petitions asking that their states be allowed to peacefully secede from the union. Some have gotten at least 25,000 signatures, which would require an official response from the White House.

That response should be: This is ridiculous. Because we all know how it went when states last seceded in 1861 to 1865. At least the petitioners this time aren’t calling for a revolution.

Eric B. of Picayune launched Mississippi’s petition two days after the election, in which Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney lost despite gaining most of the Magnolia State’s votes. He writes that Mississippi should be allowed to withdraw from the U.S. “and create its own NEW governmen (sic).” At least 11,000 people have signed Eric’s screed.

True, the effort to break away likely will easily fail. But the fact that the thought of succession has gotten this much traction is more than a bit alarming.

Many will undoubtedly ask, though: Why can’t Mississippi stand on its own?

States like Mississippi need federal dollars and support for a host of quality-of-life issues. That, of course, would go away with secession. The state would have to rummage through its already bare-bones coffers to offer the range of services the federal government provides in the state now. Beyond that, the state would have to create its own security forces and military when it can already barely fund education. ...

But as for secession talk, we don’t need two Americas. The Civil War should have been a resounding reminder of that. Even if it means passionate yet constructive disagreement, or your party not always winning every election or majority in Congress, we are much stronger, and always will be, as one America.

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