These dudes want the American Empire to get the fuck out of Vermont...
177 replies, posted
[quote]
Jan. 13) -- Come November, Vermont voters will be greeted by ballots showing nine candidates for governor and senator listed under "independent." Not an uncommon sight in the free-spirited Green Mountain state, except some of these would-be office-holders really mean it: Gubernatorial hopefuls Dennis P. Steel and Peter Garritano are running under a platform based on the secession of the republic of Vermont from the United States of America.
Regardless of their chances of victory, their candidacies represent a milestone with potential implications for America's increasingly fractious electorate. Because while the idea of secession is simmering in states such as New Hampshire, Texas, Alaska and Hawaii for years -- and lately gaining momentum thanks to the same currents of discontent fueling the Tea Party's rise -- this is the first time a secessionist group has fielded multiple candidates for statewide office since the Civil War.
Secessionists have been a small but vocal presence in Vermont politics for about seven years. Thomas Naylor, a Ben Franklin-looking retired economics professor, launched the movement against the backdrop of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and his concept of scantly populated Vermont breaking with American empire has persisted ever since. Candidates such as Garritano and Steele are the movement's new front lines.
Toby Talbot, AP
Jacob Grossi, owner of Riverwalk Records Montpelier, Vt., shows off a ``U.S. Out of Vt.!'' T-shirt.
"The only hope is to just say, 'Look, this isn't working for us. We want to start fresh again, with a real democracy,'" Garritano told The Associated Press. "I think that's the answer. Hopefully, it won't take another horrible economic breakdown to realize that the people running things don't look out for the little guy, or us, or the soldiers. It's all about profit and getting the last drops of oil on Earth and trampling people's rights."
Radical ideas find fertile ground in Vermont, where both the right and the left wings carry a libertarian streak; it's the sort of state that legalizes gay marriage while at the same time having some of the laxest gun laws in the nation. One of its senators, Bernie Sanders, publicly identifies as a socialist. And the state has actually been an independent republic before, under the purview of Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys from 1777 to 1791.
The Vermont secession movement was founded out of the liberal discontent during George W. Bush's presidency, and so it slumped during the build-up to the 2008 election, as Thomas Naylor's brand of bitter radicalism was swamped by the Obama-inspired wave of hope. But the true-believing secessionists were themselves immune to Obama-mania, believing that Obama, well intentioned though he may be, would not be able to single-handedly reverse the direction of the American Empire.
"The engine of U.S. empire is in motion; it doesn't matter who's driving," puppeteer and activist Ben Matchstick said at the time. "Can we really ask one person to step into a train, deconstruct it and turn it into a sailboat?"
One year into Obama's presidency, the persistent presence of Guantanamo Bay and the continuing wars in Iraq have done little to disprove the secessionist's arguments. That said, most political observers -- and many secessionists themselves -- don't foresee a break from the union coming anytime soon.
But Rob Williams, editor of secessionist newspaper Vermont Commons, is in it for the long haul. Asked when the movement will reach its goal for Vermont, he answers: "In my lifetime."[/quote]
Source: [url]http://www.sphere.com/politics/article/vermont-candidates-join-growing-secessionist-ranks/19315386[/url]
[img]http://o.aolcdn.com/photo-hub/news_gallery/6/4/644996/1263420291041.JPEG[/img]
:wtc:
I thought the whole point of the Civil War was to be rid of whackjobs like these.
:moustache:
if they want em out then so be it
[QUOTE=justin gurel;19623574]if they want em out then so be it[/QUOTE]
bunch of whackjobs vs. US government
I bet on bunch of whackjobs.
[QUOTE=w1z v2;19623580]bunch of whackjobs vs. US government
I bet on bunch of whackjobs.[/QUOTE]
you sound bias
[QUOTE=justin gurel;19623590]you sound bias[/QUOTE]
And the whack jobs sound like idiots.
i don't see whats wrong here,can you explain to me?
[QUOTE=Fables;19623595]And the whack jobs sound like idiots.[/QUOTE]
Really? Not everybody is happy with the way the country is being run.
They won't win.
If by some god forsaken chance they did we'd probably just annex it with the help of a few hundred guardsmen.
[QUOTE=mastermaul;19623652]They won't win.
If by some god forsaken chance they did we'd probably just annex it with the help of a few hundred guardsmen.[/QUOTE]
I think your government would let them secede. Civil War 2 in the "world's superpower" would make you the laughing stock of the planet.
so how is this a bad thing either from them being 'crazy'
Good for them. I doubt they would be able to do much as a sovereign nation, however. They are better off as a part of the USA. It sends a good message, people are pissed off with the "fascists" who have been running the country lately.
People don't understand it works differently in the States then it does in Europe.
[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;19625744]People don't understand it works differently in the States then it does in Europe.[/QUOTE]
What works differently?
Wasn't there a law that annexed states cannot do that anymore due to previous colonies constantly joining and leaving the US?
[QUOTE=Tetsmega;19625911]Wasn't there a law that annexed states cannot do that anymore due to previous colonies constantly joining and leaving the US?[/QUOTE]
I don't think there is a law against it. We wanted all the colonies to be in willingly, which is why it was so hard even founding the US. New York had a different agenda than Virginia, for example.
[QUOTE=toxicpiano;19625871]What works differently?[/QUOTE]
Our Culture and Politics are drastically different than Europe's, is what I think he is meaning to say.
Every state has the right to leave the Union if the constitution is violated, it is the job of the citizens to make sure the government doesnt fuck with our shit. I think this is just the beginning, the Patriot act was just one of the first steps to pissing off a lot of people.
Since when was America an empire?
usa usa get out of my united state united state get OUT
there's the door, america. i don't want your filthy one-world government ideas toiling on my grounds, GET OUT
who do you really think is going to win this battle come on what is wrong with you
[QUOTE=Ferret+;19626582]Since when was America an empire?[/QUOTE]
ever since obama decided to turn us in to a one-man socialist totalitarian nation obviously don't you know anything about radical citizen militia!!!
[QUOTE=Ferret+;19626582]Since when was America an empire?[/QUOTE]
OP is just compensating for ~500 years of futureproofing.
[QUOTE=Ferret+;19626582]Since when was America an empire?[/QUOTE]
I guess you have never heard of Imperialism or that Britain and the USA were both heavy into taking colonies in the 19th century, and that this so called "War" is not authorized by Congress and is in direct violation of the law.
But oh well I guess its alright to just throw the balance of powers out the window and let the president do as he pleases, sounds like a great plan to me. :downs:
If enough people want independence, then give them it. You can't force people to stay as part of your country, that just makes you look like some kind of asshole dictator.
[QUOTE=Deadly-Virus;19627150]If enough people want independence, then give them it. You can't force people to stay as part of your country, that just makes you look like some kind of asshole dictator.[/QUOTE]
Well you see thats what makes America great, states joined the Union by CHOICE not by FORCE. It is the duty of every state to leave when the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are shit on and looked upon as 200 year old pieces of useless paper, the very fact we have the Federal Reserve is enough to warrant secession from the Union.
stupid idea.
Only large states like California or Texas would survive if they seceded, not the small pussy Vermont.
I mean, only two candidates wants to secede.
Actually, fuck it, let them secede. We'll use our US Black Magic to revive Ulysses Grant from the dead!
[img]http://gryphonscry.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/ulysses-s-grant.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=lolwutdude;19627579]stupid idea.
Only large states like California or Texas would survive if they seceded, not the small pussy Vermont.
I mean, only two candidates wants to secede.
[/QUOTE]
It is not a stupid idea, the reasons for wanting to secede are perfectly reasonable.
Large and small states all hold the same power, and they all have the right to use it.
Even if its just 2 candidates if things continue to go the way they have been going, more people and more states will follow.
I'd like to see that happening. Not even the great Lone Star State could last on its own for long.
[QUOTE=StupidUsername67;19627766]I'd like to see that happening. Not even the great Lone Star State could last on its own for long.[/QUOTE]
The fuck is everyone on?
Every state has the capabilities to support itself, each state joined the Union on its own by its own choice. I have yet to see a state that could not provide for itself.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;19627741]It is not a stupid idea, the reasons for wanting to secede are perfectly reasonable.
Large and small states all hold the same power, and they all have the right to use it.
Even if its just 2 candidates if things continue to go the way they have been going, more people and more states will follow.[/QUOTE]
Their only equally powerful in the senate, other than that, they're weak. If they become their own country, then who the hell is going to support them? If they secede, they'll anger the shit out of our Government. We'll tax the fuck out of Vermont if they want to ship anything, they'll get absolutely zero support from the Government, and etc. It's what happened long time ago.
[QUOTE=lolwutdude;19627579]
Actually, fuck it, let them secede. We'll use our US Black Magic to revive Ulysses Grant from the dead!
[img]http://gryphonscry.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/ulysses-s-grant.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
And Ulysses S Grant as a president would do nothing.
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