...to place the concept of secession in the mainstream of political thought. Our intent is to proclaim that secession is a viable and legal right and a practical solution to contemporary problems. Secondly, we desire to build a coalition of groups seeking autonomy and independence within the current United States. Mutual support for the concept of self-determination and secession will eventually benefit all groups seeking freedom.How exactly has the project measured up in achieving this goal you might ask. Certainly much has been accomplished over all in terms of placing secession closer to mainstream thought and certainly coalitions have begun to form with the notion of mutual support. These are wonderful events, two national Secessionist Conventions have occurred since the formation of the ASP. It would be dishonest, and narcissistic, to believe that the ASP actually had much or anything to do with this progress. Our great allies in this struggle accomplished these feats, we owe much to The Middlebury Institute, The Vermont Commons, The League of The South and the Second Vermont Republic. One cannot mention the current secession movement in America without thinking of Kirkpatrick Sale, he has been the most vocal advocate for secession as a legitimate and legal resource of the people and states over the last three years. There are of course many others that have championed this cause and forced the issue into the national media. Cory Burnell was the driving force and face and voice of Christian Exodus - this forced the issue of secession into the news media. The League of The South published the Grey Book, a manifesto for Southern Independence, and groups in Hawaii and other states expanded their membership base.
I would not lose any sleep if the Scots voted to repeal the 1707 act. Independence need not end the United Kingdom: Scotland and England shared a monarch before 1707, as Britain and Canada do today. Separation need be no more radical than the partial autonomy of a dozen European countries from their neighbours. Borders were not sealed or passports cancelled under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. If eastern Europe can handle partition, so can Britain.
The phased withdrawal of the subvention would be traumatic, but it would do Scotland nothing but good to learn that public money does not grow on English trees. If economic history teaches anything, it is that huge inflows of aid rot an economy, while "unearned" wealth, as from oil, is usually wasted. The phased end of the subsidy would be thoroughly good for Scotland, not bad.
Partition is the new politics, despite being the hobgoblin of centralism. It is through partition that Ireland is booming, Slovakia reviving and the Baltic states prospering. The British government is in favour of it for everyone else, even forcing it on the former Yugoslavia and Iraq/Kurdistan. This year it welcomed Montenegro to Europe's community. By what hypocrisy do Westminster grandees ridicule Scotland's ambition?
Big federal states were fine when governments were small and unobtrusive. Today's governments are elephantine and unresponsive to local sentiment. That is why Spain, France and Italy have all opted for constitutional devolution in the past two decades, fending off separatist pressure. Anti-federalism is why European public opinion revolted against Brussels last year, and why there is no more talk of a Scandinavian union. As for size being crucial to viability, this is corporatist rubbish. If Denmark is viable, why not Scotland?
All such considerations must anyway bow before self-determination. If the Scots want to repeal the 1707 act (as some Britons want to repeal the European Union's treaties), the British cannot deny it. The story of the past quarter-century is that states enjoy no legitimacy without the consent of their territorial minorities. Britain went to war for this principle in Kosovo.
Peoples who have in the past been forced into submission and denied their right of self-determination are increasiingly re-asserting their identity and fundamental right to preserve their culture.
North American Secessionist Convention
Kirkpatrick Sale, Founder of the Middlebury Institute, wrote an excellent article in Counter Punch discussing the upcoming Secessionist Convention and Secession in general. (link via Dru)
Carol Moore discusses the convention here.
Lara DeLuz argues for Cascadian secession.
One thing you can do to support this effort is sign the Declaration of States' Rights petition. Not all secessionist agree that the concept of nation-states has any role in modern secession talk (primarily libertarian theorist) however a significant number of others do believe states have a role and retain sovereignty.
Regardless of which side of that philosophical fence you find yourself on one thing is clear - the nation-state does exist and our home states are agents of our will. A resurgence in states' rights would be a key step toward achieving a more decentralized form of government and would very possibly open the door to peaceful secession. Once that is accomplished those that advocate a nation-state model or the libertarian community based model can figure out how and if decentralization should continue in their home.
The American Secession Project plans to present the petition with signatures to the Middlebury Institute prior to the convention - as a measure of support for the cause, our small contribution.
Pass the word around, sign the petition, there are still a few days remaining.
Iraq IS a multicultural nation, which is why the Neocons have resisted partition for so long, just as the US resisted partition as a solution in that unfortunate multicultural experiment in the Balkans called Bosnia—even to this day, UN troops are the only thing preventing a resumption of inter-ethnic conflict.
An independent commission set up by Congress with the approval of President George W Bush may recommend carving up Iraq into three highly autonomous regions, according to well informed sources.
