Interesting article and not surprising in the least. I have felt for some time now that by the time I am an old man (I am 30 now) that the U.S. probably won't look the same as it does today, that some state or region is likely to break away at some point. Vermont isn't the first state to seriously discuss secession in modern times.

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Carolina Politics Online

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Vermont is right. More states should threaten to leave if the Federal Government does not embrace the kind of government our founding fathers had invisioned for us. It's a disgrace what is happening in our government today.

I'm pretty sure the Civil War settled the question of whether or not states were allowed to just pick up and leave the Union.

And I can't actually believe this is a serious measure in Vermont. At least not without seeing some argument on things like food production, import/export ratios, public funding and so forth that implies that Vermont could sustain anything like its current prosperity if it were not only seperate from but also competeing against the States around it.
Maybe they could be self-sufficient; but I doubt it.

Well Sam, on that one we wholeheartedly agree!

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"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

President George W. Bush, 8-5-2004

Carolina Politics Online

THIS IS REAL HOPE AND CHANGE!

Are you aware that our founding fathers did not envision a socialist style government? As such, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Welfare etc. would not have been enacted under them.

Kramer

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“It's time to admit that public education operates like a planned economy, a bureaucratic system in which everybody's role is spelled out in advance and there are few incentives for innovation and productivity. It's no surprise that our school system doesn't improve; it more resembles the communist economy than our own market economy."
Albert Shanker, former president of the American Federation of Teachers

They also did not envision airplanes, nuclear submarines or super highways, are we to assume that we should have no air force, a wooden navy and a nation connected by dirt roads to better implement the vision of the founding fathers?

Tax supported schools were an American invention, tax supported Fire Departments were an American invention, tax supported Police Departments were an American invention, Yes, the founding fathers didn't call themselves Socialists, but they were heading down that road, and the Founding Fathers did ordain a Constitution that could be changed, that established a Congress to make laws, because they did not envision that all progress should come to a halt in 1800. So the actual vision of the founding fathers is that the nation would be different in the future, and they trusted the people of the future to make the difficult decisions in the future. What the Founding Fathers thought is that they had given it their best shot, and come up with something that worked in the 1700's, and they set up a system that could change to meet the challenges of the future, precisely because they recognized their own inability to envision what the future might bring.

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“The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine.”

Senator Thad Cochran, Mississippi (R)
on McCain

“I decided I didn’t want this guy anywhere near a trigger.”
Senator Pete Domenici, New Mexico (R)
on McCain

“My anger did not help my campaign ... People don’t like angry candidates very much.”

McCain on McCain

Vermont appoints JUDGES who let Pedophiles go free. BOYCOTT VERMONT!!

The Constitution calls for defending America. As such, submarines, airplanes and other future technology fall under that catagory since they are used for defense. Just like the first amendment protects freedom of speech on the internet or airwaves.

Yes, of course the Constitution can be changed by amendment. Regarding socialisim, based on what I've read about the founding fathers, there is no way they were headed down the road to socialisim.

- Mark

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“It's time to admit that public education operates like a planned economy, a bureaucratic system in which everybody's role is spelled out in advance and there are few incentives for innovation and productivity. It's no surprise that our school system doesn't improve; it more resembles the communist economy than our own market economy."
Albert Shanker, former president of the American Federation of Teachers

They had already rebelled against a King, and created a government of the people, that was pretty radical for 1776. They had turned their backs on centuries of tradition and created something that had not existed for over a thousand years. What's socialism, but a logical extension of government of the people, by the people, for the people. What's the main principal of Socialism ? Equality.
Wasn't it the Founding Fathers that wrote "That all men are created equal".

What the Founding fathers would not understand is Ann Coulter, they'd hate that bitch.

__________________
“The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine.”

Senator Thad Cochran, Mississippi (R)
on McCain

“I decided I didn’t want this guy anywhere near a trigger.”
Senator Pete Domenici, New Mexico (R)
on McCain

“My anger did not help my campaign ... People don’t like angry candidates very much.”

McCain on McCain

I don't know nearly enough of Vermont politics, nor the USAs for that matter to make an informed post on this matter, however I can relate to the idea of a referendum and its consequences, having lived in Quebec my entire life.

The single most important thing to ask yourselves is "What exactly will change if we separate?" The answer although few like to admit it, is absolutely nothing positive. You will still be essentially part of USA, since you can't move where your state is located. You will now have 0 say in how the USA is run. Your economy will go down the toilet, in fact the simple act of holding a referendum regardless of outcome will have the economic downward spiral. I often wonder how anyone thinks separating from a democratic country will solve any problems.

Forgive me for being so negative, but after 27 years of dealing with the possibility of separating from Canada, I'm sure most of you would feel the same.

You're absolutely right. If Vermont left the United States, it would be merely to 'stick it' to the Federal government at the detriment of it's citizens. There are much more productive ways to solve these issues other than to just quit.

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I want nothing to do with
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I agree--secession would be detrimental for what was just said from a practical standpoint. Moreover, IMO, secession was a piece of political heresy that was settled in 1865 as being verboten without full consent of the rest of the nation.

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Shock and awe time for Montpelier.

But Sam, they would probably do away with Welfare programs and then you'd accuse them of "killing old people and babies".

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"Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is Divine. . . . Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants.
" - James Wilson, U. S. Supreme Court Justice and Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution

I personally wouldn't mind if they left. Whenever I fill out an online form and have to choose my state from a drop down box, I hit the "v" button to quickly access my state, only to be brutally reminded that I still have to skip past that god damn Vermont. If they left the US, I would save 0.1 seconds on each online form. It may not seem like much, but it all adds up. Wasting 2 seconds of my precious life every year for Vermont is certainly not worth it.

If they changed their name to "Virmont", I think I'd be okay.

__________________
"Anyone that needs what they want, and doesn’t want what they need
I want nothing to do with
And to do what I want
And to do what I please
Is first on my to-do list"
-Gnarls Barkley, "Going On" lyrics