Liberal Hypocrisy on Secession

While I fully understand the disappointment of liberals at the outcome of the presidential elections, their immature, often deluded and irrational, responses have been a perfect example of why they are unfit to govern a free society such as ours.  Mind you, I was rather dejected when Bill Clinton was elected, because at the time I saw America as having elected its first truly socialist president (of course I was forgetting FDR at the time).  I was even more surprised at Clinton’s re-election.

But unlike my liberal counterparts, I didn’t spend my time claiming the wrong guy won because those who voted for him are idiots.  I fully understand the battle of different ideologies concerning government and liberties.  I also didn’t miraculously discover state’s rights or the concept of secession merely because I wasn’t getting my way in the elections of 1992 and 1996.  No, I actually have taken the time to read the U.S. Constitution and the ideals of the founders to understand what they intended concerning our method of governing ourselves, and the importance of true liberty to people.  I’ve been a believer in state’s rights and the right of secession at least since I was in college (and that was the early 1980’s, which was in the Reagan years). 

I’ve noticed liberals on the left-coast as well as in the north screeching that their state, and the states around them, should secede from the American union.  These calls for secession aren’t born out of a desire to defend the rights of their sovereign states, and aren’t grounded in their understanding of the Constitution.  These are the rantings of mad, spoiled children demanding they get their way or they will stomp their feet and leave.  Oh, how I wish they really meant it.

The real hypocrisy in these liberal calls for secession is rooted in the fact they surely wouldn’t welcome the same calls for secession from the South or West if Kerry had won.  They would have arrogantly demanded we ‘honor’ the election results and follow the law as they interpret it (which I’m sure under a Kerry victory the Constitution wouldn’t have an option of secession in their interpretation).  I on the other hand remain consistent and welcome the liberal calls for secession.  It vindicates the South’s past (not that we need vindication from socialists).

Let’s check some facts real quick.  Which states were the first to threaten secession?  The answer is the New England states.  In fact, they did it on three different occasions, once even meeting in convention to vote on the matter.  The three events that caused these states to consider secession?  1) When the U.S. Congress was considering allowing Louisiana to enter the union; 2) the War of 1812; 3) and when Congress was considering allowing Texas to enter the union (there’s a pattern here: Yankees don’t like Southerners and don’t want them in the union; unless it is to tax them).  Oh, by the way, what did the South say about these threats of secession?  At the time of these events, it was generally accepted that the American union was just that, a union of sovereign states, not one monolithic state.  In general, the calls for secession were met with understanding, and even acceptance.  Thomas Jefferson provides a clear, concise comment concerning the right of secession in the American union:

"If any State in the Union will declare that it prefers separation over Union, I have no hesitation in saying, 'let us separate.'". 

All this to simply say that the sudden discovery/new love affair with secession that liberals are spouting is hypocritical.  After all, it is mostly liberals that love to declare the South wrong for seceding, how the South was violating the constitution and attempting to overthrow the U.S. government.  Let’s get this straight:  The South never attempted to overthrow the U.S. government, but was merely getting away from it.  In addition, for those that want to write me to say secession over slavery was wrong, the South didn’t secede over slavery, and the reason for secession is immaterial any way.  Either the right exists or it doesn’t, and it does exist, no matter what anyone says contrary to the matter.  Here’s another quote, this time from James Madison, the ‘father of the Constitution,’ in Federalist paper No. 45.

“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. “

In plain terms, if something isn’t expressly stated in the Constitution as the domain of the federal government, it remains a right of the member states of the union.  Secession isn’t mentioned, therefore it is a right held by the member states, not something under the control of the federal government.  All rights not mentioned in the Constitution remain a right of the member states of the union, whether they are specifically listed (enumerated) or not.

Some say secession is no longer a valid option thanks to the Yankee victory in the War for Southern Independence, that the South losing the war makes secession a moot point.  That is about as brilliant an argument as saying because a rapist isn’t caught and prosecuted, the victim was having consensual sex.  Might does not make right, even if it gets someone their way.  The Constitution is clear on the matter, and the fact government refuses to follow our laws doesn’t mean the laws don’t exist (although I know we all wonder some times).

Personally, I’d love it if the left-coast and the north were to secede and form a new union.  Heck, the seceding states could each reclaim their sovereign rights in total back from the U.S. government, each remaining their own independent country, and I would cheer them on.  It would save the South the trouble of seceding again.  Just remember that any departing state would have to take its share of the debt burden with it.  In addition, I would advocate building a wall around what’s left of the U.S., because once the liberals have free reign without any conservative influences to hold them back, they will destroy their economy and people just like the Soviet Union did.  I don’t want these liberal moochers flooding our free land after they’ve ruined their own place.

If the liberals fail to act on their threats of secession, I won’t be surprised, but I will be disappointed.  But you liberal weenies need to remember what you have been saying right now the next time a liberal Democrat gets in the White House.  We may call for secession then, and as history shows, Southerners are more likely to act on it.  So don’t try to stop us.

The opinions expressed in this column represent those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, or philosophy of TheRealityCheck.org, Inc.