It's absurd -- and unconstitutional. Texas v. White is all that need be said on this issue.

Agreed. It must be a descendent of Trumball trying to shake things up again.

I wonder how many people didn't know what "secede" meant, and filled in their brain blanks with "succeed?"

We have two options. We can go down economically when hyper-inflation hits and suffer ruinous taxation and poverty, or we can seccede and states can create their own free society.

We're not going to fix any problems if you take a hard look @ the politicians we just elected. Voters have obviously not learned from their mistakes. I'm curious as to what those who wish to secede in Texas plan on doing with their illegals. The illegal immigrant issue is a huge problem in this country and virtually ignored in this state. As far as silly goes, I don't think the issue is silly at all. The government regulates every aspect of our lives and abuses that power every day.

Anita, this is Texas we're talking about. Their solution would probably begin and end with a hollow needle full of sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride.

But in all seriousness, there is no legal or logical basis for secession. The people spoke. We want to give Barack Obama another four years to finally do what the Republicans have endlessly attempted to block.

Honestly, just look at Mitch McConnell yesterday, attempting to filibuster his own bill. If that isn't enough proof that the GOP is holding this country hostage for political gain, I don't know what is.

Oh, and of you do secede, just be aware that you will lose ALL US defense contracts, and all government contracts period. There will be no more aid. There will be thoroughly reduced trade. And everyone who didn't want to secede will leave.

But good luck anyway!

I always enjoy CGP Grey's videos, mainly for the history, including this one, "Can Texas Secede from the Union?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S92fTz_-kQE

Though I am a conservative and my heart understands the movement that is going on out there, it is simply a manifestation of the frustration they feel. It will never garner any serious adherents, nor a single vote on this subject will ever make it to the floor of the state legislature. These folks are pissed and this is simply how they express it. Nothing more. Everybody should untwist their knickers and get off their high horses.

Ron Paul said it best, "We are a nation founded on secession." The phrase in our pledge "individsible" was instated by a communist. The idea of secession is only as strong or silly as we make it. But ask yourself if our fore fathers had determined seceesion from England to be silly, where do think we would be today? Which would you have chosen? What do you choose now? Because ubless you're blind and completely ignorant, then you can see the direction our "nation" is heading. Obviously we don't need the government's permission to secede.

To add to my last post, for you who want to fear our U.S. armed forces since you're obviously looking for any secession to be gruesome, think about this. The federal government is wanting to put drones over your house. The federal government a.k.a Obama, because he wants us to know whose in charge, has a kill list with no rules and no consequences because he is not held accountable. He also is persitently trying to take our guns away. Also our last two Presidents have consecutively declared war without the consent of Congress. Do you really think that trying to stay in the good graces of the military leaders is really going to matter? Whether we remain "United" or not is irrelevant when your rights are completely stripped and the executive powers are all but kept in check. So if you want to live in fear then live in fear but don't expect it to change anything for the better.

Please tell me one positive thing that Barack Obama has accomplished and what do you think he will finally be able to accomplish? Besides the fact that China will soon own us? This country has become a joke; a bad one.

I agree with Anita. But the joke is on us. For those of you who voted for Obama I feel no sympathy for you. For the rest of us its our fault. We aren't getting our voices heard, partly because the Democrats, mainly Obama, wants to bully anyone who doesn't see it their way. And guess what we are just sitting around taking a beating. The idea of secession wasn't a temper tantrum. The reason that we didn't want Obama in the first place is because we don't want this socialist reform. However the idea of secession isn't being done the way it should be. First off to truly secede we don't need to ask Obama's permission. Thats just fluffing his fascist ego. We need to get off of our tails and truly take a stand. Because obviously the Republicans aren't going to do it for us. So if we continue to rely on Republican negotiations then the bad joke really is on us!

@ Sonny and Bridget- seriously get a clue, idiots! first off the government likes to keep their sheep on the farm. Moving to another country is no easy feat morons. Secondly thanks for proving my bullying point you moocher loving parasites

Steve Floridia, an Internet consultant from Wayland, writes: read your article on Secesssion. It got me to thinking about NH which actually seceded to form Indian Stream in the mid 1800's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Indian_Stream also: http://video.nhptv.org/video/1638277020/.

Here is a link to the town website and excerpt:
http://www.pittsburg.k12.nh.us/articles.php?lng=en&pg=1818

At one point, our little town even seceded from the Union and became known as The Indian Stream Republic! That’s right! We were an independent country from 1832-1835! If you follow this link, you can find out more about the Indian Stream Republic.

There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't reduce the federal government's authority. I recently read an article that compared different states seriously contending recession and it showed those states federal government intake being more as opposed to what they pay to the federal government per dollar. Basically they want us to believe that we are a majority of moochers and that if we wanted to secede to go ahead . Because they want us to think that what would be left would be a democratic union with profittable income versus spending. So clearly democrats think that they've got it figured out. But what they didn't consider, for my "commonwealth" of Va. that the federal government has declared war on one of our biggest industries which is coal which in turn affected another one of our leading moneymakers, the railroad. Naturally our unemployment is up and we are creating less revenue. So if Federal government would stay out of our affairs in the first place then we wouldn't be considered moochers. Which incidently I am blessed to be apart of the working class but I find that our commonwealth being considered to be made up entirely of moochers , its an ignorant suggestion and it misrepresents the idea that we can govern ourselves. Another thing to consider is when, not if, but when the dollar collapses, what then?

Sonny-
OK....now THAT was funny....

Isn't there talk of a penny a mile for each mile we drive, whether on Massachusetts roads or otherwise? How does that make us moochers? I'd say more like fools for falling in line like good Massachusetts citizens. I see why those who can take the food stamps, the fuel assistance, the EBT cards, the illegal cable boxes. It merely neutralizes all the inequities and injustices we all face every day!

Does anyone really believe Obama is going to fix the economy? That's quite an optimistic yet maive statement. Look @ our national debt. Doesn't it bother those of you who voted for Obama that your children are not likely to achieve your level of affluence? As for the illegal immigrants, our borders should be closed. I was invited to apply for a job in Laredo, Texas. Definitely NOT!

andreabeth7... Right on.
Aaron.. Do you honestly think Obama will fix things in the next four years? What have the Republicans blocked? With Obama, it's his way or the highway. Raising taxes and not ending the spending is insane, but like all Democrats you can't see the forest for the trees. Four years from now, you'll be living in a country much like Russia.

What have the Republicans blocked?

Well first there's this (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57517160/senate-gop-blocks-veterans-jobs-bill/).

Then there was the Disabled Rights Treaty that the GOP blocked just this week, literally stabbing Bob Dole in the back as he sat in the chambers in his wheelchair.

Then there was Mitch McConnell's OWN bill that he ended up filibustering yesterday.

Don't forget Senate Minority Leader Yurtle the Turtle's claim that his number one goal was 'to make Barack Obama a one term president.' Or has that conveniently slipped your mind?

And yes, I do believe that President Obama can put us on the road to recovery. It will probably take another ten or fifteen years to finally clean up Bush's mess, but I'm sure the president can lay a strong foundation for his successors to build upon. That is unless the GOP feels they need to keep holding the country hostage in order to make the president look bad.

I'm going to wager that Aron is under 30 and smoking some of that medical marijuana that many of us voted for yet no town seems to want in its perimeter.

Anita, you're right on half of that. I'm twenty-six, but I don't smoke reefer. I smoke cigars and pipes. But my age is completely irrelevant.

I've studied long enough to know what works and what doesn't in the real world. If you feel that your greater age imparts greater wisdom, that's your prerogative. But it also smacks of ageist chauvinism.

Do you really want to go there, Anita?

You have the idealism of youth and more than likely grew up in the privileged yet sheltered communities of either Brookline or Newton. I have twelve years on you and I'm sorry, buts your posts tell me that you are young. You say the people have spoken but Obama would not be president were it not for the youth and minority vote. And I don't have a problem with anyone who smokes marijuana, either legally or illegally. It could be decriminalized, legalized and taxed, generating income for the Commonwealth.

I agree with you on the marijuana front. But once again, you are wrong on two counts. I grew up in Lexington to a fairly privileged family (a mere technicality, so I will call it a draw), and I am about as cynical as a person can possibly be.

But just because I'm a cynic and a realist does not mean I cannot see the world for what it really is. And the GOP is doing terrible things to this country. I long for the days of the Rockefeller Republicans who were actually willing to compromise and see their opponents point of view.

Now we have a party that says 'we lost the election because we alienated more than half tend country? Let's move even further right!' They are doubling down on a nineteen when the dealer shows ace.

I know the President will likely fail. But considering how much that man has already compromised and caved to Republican demands, I don't think he's the one we should be blaming.

What's the difference between beer nuts and deer nuts?
A. Beer nuts are a $1.50 and deer nuts are under a buck.

Andreabeth7 you want to get away from me? Odd, I hadn't thought we had ever met.

But the door is right over there. Feel free to show yourself out.

And Sonny, you're right. I got some really stupid info about NZ. Their economy is pretty ok.

If secession is the answer will they build Casinos to support public works and services? I think Republicans were the Carpet Baggers after the Civil War? Every state has a right to file for secession. I wonder what happened in 1832 that drove Lexington to secede and what happened in 1835 to make Lexington come back into the union? It's worth reading. Politics, politics, politics....

In the words of James Madison, “Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of.” Read the rest of Federalist 46 for Madison's expanded comment on the role of state governments when "ambitious encroachments of the federal government, on the authority of the State governments" occurs because "the people and the States should, for a sufficient period of time, elect an uninterupted succession of men ready to betray both.”