Utahns have filed not one, but two petitions – each with the exact same phrasing. One currently has over 5,000 signatures and was created on Nov. 11. Another created on the same day has reached over 7,000 signatures. In order to earn an official response from the Obama Administration, a petition must meet the current threshold of 25,000 signatures.
The petition with fewer signatures states, “We the people of the great state of Utah, do see that in today’s world the Federal Government has not led our citizens justly and with honor. We…do believe that it is time to take matter upon ourselves to ensure our continued freedom, and to enact our own laws and here by govern ourselves without the federal government’s involvement in our internal matters from this day forward.”
The statement is accompanied by a quote by Benjamin Franklin. The other petition gives no explanation other than an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence.
Nothing in the Constitution gives a state the right to secede from the Union. Some feel that citizens may be using petitions as a means to express their irritation from the results of the election.
“Americans are so spoiled,” said Dennis Farnsworth, a political science professor at UVU.
Recently, one student brought up the subject of the petitions in his American Heritage class. Farnsworth explained to the class that states cannot secede and the U.S. needs each state because it isn’t be feasible for a state to leave – they wouldn’t be able to support themselves.
“It’s hard for me to believe that the majority would [sign] it,” Farnsworth said.
The petitions on We The People seem to be written out of resentment for various decisions of the government, though some petitions state, “Keep the United States United.”
“I could see it as a temper tantrum thing,” said student Logan Voorhis. “It doesn’t make sense. Obama’s obviously not going to let them secede, and even if he were, that would be an excellent way to call a bluff. Most of these states don’t have the unity to secede just because they don’t like the president.”
Utah seceding may seem over the top, but citizens of Texas seem to pose a legitimate concern.
Texas is independent in many ways, exemplified in their petition with the words, “Given that the state of Texas maintains a balanced budget and is the 15th largest economy in the world, it is practically feasible for Texas to withdraw from the union, and to do so would protect its citizens’ standard of living and re-secure their rights and liberties in accordance with the original ideas and beliefs of our founding fathers which are no longer being reflected by the federal government.”
Because Texas shares a border with Mexico and the ocean, the state isn’t awkwardly positioned in the middle of the country like Utah is, if it were to secede.
It isn’t likely that the government would allow Texas to leave. However Texas’ petition to secede has gained over 100,000 signatures, so an official White House response should follow soon.
In addition, a second petition was created for Texas stating, “Peacefully grant the city of Austin, Texas to withdraw from the state of Texas and remain part of the United States,” and continues, “Austin, Texas continues to suffer difficulties stemming from the lack of civil, religious, and political freedoms imposed upon the city by less liberally minded Texans.”
The constitution does not say a state cannot secede. Our founding fathers would support the states wanting to secede. I hope to see different states fighting the federal government. The constitution even says we the people need to stand up and form a militia against a tyrannical government. If this is to be done then it needs to be done while we still have guns. If you think it is bad now then imagine how much worse it will be by 2016 under the socialist liberal president we have. What cracks me up is that he still blames Bush and refuses to accept responsibility for his failures. Obama acts like a child the makes mistakes but blames everyone else. I proudly fly my American flag upside down. It is upside down just like our nation and it means distress and that is the state of our nation. It will fly that way until Obama gets it right or until he is gone. The late great USA.
^^^ Kc9ixv seems to conflate movies w/ reality & probably plays Call of Duty all day long.
Kc9ixv, stop your hagiographic imbecility w/r/t so-called ‘Founding Fathers.’ They are absolutely not the angelic conservatives you’d like to believe.
So please leave your dreamworld in haste, or at least temper down your stockpiled-weapons frenetic fanaticism and slowly come back to the reality that you seem to have denied yourself for so long already.
Read the essay, The Secession Amendment. Available on Amazon as an ebook. The solution change the Constitution to allow secession. Very interesting discussion.
Jack-Obama supporter obviously. Tyrannical government in the USA indeed. I don’t go to the doctor so i do not need insurance but being that we have no freedom here in the late great USA i am forced to buy something i do not need. I am not like most people that go to the hospital for a headache or a cold etc. Forcing someone to buy something is what communist nations do. I will be signing the Indiana petition because i want some damn freedom. What the states should do is team up together in groups and form a new nation. Lets face the facts that the feds do not protect our border with Mexico and all we gotta do is look at poor Arizona being forced to love all of the criminal illegal aliens that drain the system but do not pay anything towards it. The good thing is that Obama will bankrupt America and the dollar will become toilet paper and the government will collapse. Form a new gov.
The problem is that Obama is all about helping the his bottom eating welfare recipients that voted for him. The ones that do not want a job even if it was handed to them on a silver platter and his other voters that voted for him cause they feel guilty over slavery “whites”. I vote based on success and failure no matter the race or color etc. I don’t really like Romney but the way i feel is go with the least of two evils and if you fail i vote you out. Companies said if Obama was reelected that they would have to lay off employees and they are big time. America wanted unemployment to go up i guess. Obamacare is bad for small businesses big time. If you want a job then good luck with the job hating pres we have. Democrats do not represent blue collar people that work or want to work. It is sad.
WE SHOULD SUCCEED IF WE CANNOT AS A CURRENT COUNTRY STAY WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. AND OUR FREEDOM THAT OUR ANCESTORS DIED FOR IS BEING TAKEN AWAY. THE STATES THAT WANT TO SUCCEED SHOULD BAND TOGETHER, THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE INDEPENDENT. IT WOULD NOT MAKE SENSE OTHER WISE.
The free state of Deseret was conquered and occupied by the force of arms. The U.S. should reverse the results of this act of aggression and set Deseret free! Consider this as adding my name to both petitions!