Secession: Today Spain, Tomorrow The United States?


My line on secession is the same as it always has been, which is that the question of whether states have a right to secede was decided during the Civil War and the answer was “No.”

….Calling for secession was, is and for the very immediate future, will probably continue to be a fringe position.

However, there is now an event on the horizon that could change that and bring the idea of secession into the mainstream: That’s the impending bankruptcy of the United States of America.

…If that does happen, if the government checks have to be cut back dramatically, the economy starts to fall into a depression, credit begins to get tight and national disorder begins, secession may become an attractive option for some of the more economically vibrant states or regions. It could allow them to get out from under that crushing debt, get the credit flowing again, and start from scratch under their own rules. Certainly no state would do that today, but if being a part of the United States becomes a burden instead of a blessing, it might be very tempting. Moreover, would the rest of the country have the will to use the military to prevent a state from seceding if that’s what the majority of its citizenry wants to do? Considering how squeamish we’ve become about causing civilian casualties in other nations, it seems unlikely.

If a secession ever does occur, it will be a terrible day for the country, but actions have consequences. We don’t have all the time in the world to deal with our debt crisis and the ramifications of continuing along our current path, which we seem intent on doing, could make the unthinkable become realistic sooner than we anticipate. –: John Hawkins, Nov 14, 2012

Sadly, this process is: already beginning in Spain.

Four separatist parties in Spain’s Catalonia looked set to win a majority in regional elections on Sunday, partial results showed, but the main one was on course to lose some seats, possibly undermining its bid to call an independence referendum.

…Regional President Artur Mas, of CiU, had campaigned on a pledge to hold a referendum on independence, in response to a resurgent separatist movement among Catalans who are frustrated with Spain in a deep economic crisis.

Opinion polls had forecast that CiU would retain 62 or more seats in the local Parliament and that all four separatist parties would have more than two-thirds of the seats. Neither of those projections was met as the results began to come in.

Without the psychological backing of a two-thirds majority, analysts have said, it may be hard for Mas to defy the constitution and the central government in Madrid and try to hold a referendum.

Turnout was very high in the election, 68 percent, 10 percentage point higher than in the previous vote two years ago.

It may be that without that 2/3 majority, they won’t defy the government and vote on independence from Spain. However, it shouldn’t slip past anyone that the MAJORITY of seats will now be held by people who want to break away.

When the government becomes so corrupt, incompetent and debt laden that being part of a nation becomes a hindrance instead of a help, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that there are people who want to vote their interests. Unless something changes, this country is headed towards the same fate as Spain and if, God forbid, we end up in the same place, don’t be surprised if we start to see the same sort of reaction.

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