An Argument for Secession

I've been hearing on and off about a secession movement in California since the beginnings of the energy crisis. Remember, when the federal government couldn't help us out after we got cheated out of energy and had to institute rolling blackouts that might have been a disaster, but they could help flood victims in Texas? I've heard a few more rumors since Bush began talking about war in Iraq. Now Mr. Bush (I refuse to call him the President; I didn't vote for him and neither did California) is making eyes at Syria and Iran. Because of the war, he's been ignoring unemployment. Bills in Congress have and will overturn rights that Californians have decided on in the past, such as medicinal marijuana. Meanwhile, we're still getting bankrupted over the energy issue despite the fact that we have the largest population and the largest production in agriculture, entertainment, and technology in the United States. In fact, we've been dragged down; we were the fifth largest economy in the world until the energy crisis and Bush's economic crashes. We're still the seventh largest. And that's California, not the United States.

So why shouldn't we secede? Jefferson said, "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature entitle them, a descent respect to the opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation." Has secession become necessary? It has when Bush is attacking the things that many Californians stand for, such as the environment, clean energy, gun control. The list goes on. And what about this "endless war"? Where will Bush imagine weapons of mass destruction next? Do we, as citizens, really stand behind this war? I know we're doing things about it, both with peace marches and rallies, and by electing people who will work for peace or for rights of Californians. It doesn't seem effective, though, and we're still supporting Bush. Californians pay more to federal taxes than any other state. They pay more to federal taxes than to state taxes. In this case, even though we're trying to work against Bush's moves toward war and reduced civil liberties, we're still supporting him simply by being part of the Union.

It really saddens me to say this. I love the United States of America. I love what my country is supposed to stand for, and the ideals that were supposed to be reality here. But they aren't reality, and the U.S. is quickly beginning to stand for imperialism and "pre-emptive strikes" instead of freedom and opportunity, something that began when the United States moved inexorably toward the Pacific Ocean and became clear to us all with current actions. And Bush's weakening of the fabric of out country is clear; there are active secession movements in Hawaii, Alaska, Vermont, and even Bush's "home state" of Texas.

Can California secede? We can certainly afford to. We have the basis for an independent government. We won't even need to change our flag.