Secession Fever (“Vermont Libre” column)

By Thomas Naylor

Secession fever is spreading across America just as it did back in 1776 and 1861. More than forty states now have active political independence movements committed to the peaceful withdrawal of their respective states from the Union. As a result, the United States may never be the same. Indeed, in the not too distant future, it may cease to exist, just like its former nemesis, the U.S.S.R.

How can this be? Our government has lost its moral authority. It has become a cross between an oligarchy and an autocracy disguised as a democracy—just like the former Soviet Union. Our nation is no longer sustainable economically, politically, militarily, socially, culturally, or environmentally. Because of its size, it is ungovernable and, therefore, unfixable.

Not unlike every other empire throughout history, the American Empire is going down, and it is going down at a much faster rate than most Americans realize. Although the historical origins of America's death spiral can be traced back several decades, it was President George W. Bush's response to September 11, 2001 that has provided the impetus for our final demise. When we look back over time, it is the war on terrorism that will have proved to have been our death knell with all of its economic, legal, social, and geopolitical implications. Technofascism, the cheap oil endgame, unconditional support for Israel, full spectrum dominance, imperial overstretch, and unbridled American hubris are all part of the drill.

The prospects of $100 per barrel crude oil, $4.00 per gallon gasoline, and $1,000 per ounce gold, as well as the rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East are causing an increasing number of Americans to reconsider secession as a viable option. Not since the end of the Civil War has there been this much interest in political independence by the states. A recent statewide survey conducted by the University of Vermont found that more than eight percent of Vermont's eligible voters now favor secession. There are few third party movements in the United States that ever achieve this level of political support—and it's growing. Every time George Bush opens his mouth the price of gold goes up, and Vermont's independence movement, the Second Vermont Republic, recruits more members. The two are not unrelated.

Alaska and Hawaii have the oldest and best-known secession movements. The independence-minded League of the South, founded in 1994, now has chapters (separate secession movements) in 27 states including California, Michigan, and New York. When asked why the League of the South has experienced such rapid growth, League president Dr. Michael Hill explained that an increasing number of Americans want to “free themselves from the web in which the Empire has entangled them.” The Second Vermont Republic now has members in 24 states and 5 countries. California has more SVR members than any other state than Vermont.

Secession politics is a form of radical politics, cutting to the core of the 2st century problems that plague us. It stands in stark contrast to traditional, politically correct, electoral politics, which is dead in the water—particularly at the national level. Secession represents a peaceful call for rebellion against the state driven by a positive vision of the future. It is confrontational, aggressive, and very hard-nosed. Its message is, “Enough is enough!” Secession politics has its own set of rules and a playbook that is different from conventional electoral politics. It is not for the faint of heart.

On November 3-4, 2006, secession leaders from across the continent will gather in Burlington, Vermont to attend The First North American Secession Convention sponsored by the Middlebury Institute. Kirkpatrick Sale is the convention leader. Delegates are expected from Alaska, California, Hawaii, Texas, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Vermont, Quebec, and throughout North America.