Updated 11:34pm (see bottom)
Ok so at last count residents in something like 20+ states have posted secession petitions on the white house website since the elections, and it seems to be getting a fair amount of attention on the right wing.
Now last I heard at least two of these states already reached the threshold to be considered by the president, TX and LA. And the right wing is pushing that as major proof of a secession movement. Now major probably requires a little clarification: in other to break said threshold you only need 25,000 people, a tiny percentage of any states population. As of the last time I checked Texas has the most signatures with a bit over 60,000 or .002% of the state population and less then the full capacity of the Cowboy's stadium (about 100,000).
Now all that said, Obama should still go ahead and approve all the petitions.
Yea you read that right, Obama should approve them ALL. I know what your thinking, wouldn't that destroy the country? if something like half the country left wouldn't that destroy the US? and the answer is no not at all, if any thing winds up being destroyed it would be the states rights movement.
See all of these petitions are contingent on the support of the state governments, and so far exactly 0 governments have supported them, and wont no matter how many people agree to the petitions.
Over the last decades 49 states, (all but VT) have passed a balanced budget amendment to the various state Constitution requiring the state balances it's budget every year. Now all the states actually do manage to do that, but usually by borrowing money from the federal government to do so (increasing the National Debt in the process). In fact only 15 states were able to balance their budgets last year without federal help, a number that will likely be down to 13 this year, given that two of those states NJ and NY got devastated by Sandy, which did more in damage then the annual state budgets.
And of those 13 states that are left, even they still get some form of federal money, say for example on federal highways or on border security, things they as the state benefit from but dont directly have to pay for. If they seceded they would suddenly have to bear this additional burden as well, not to mention the loses of other forms of Federal money like many research grants. This would tip all 13 of those states over the brink past the level where they could balance their budgets as their own state laws require. And in most cases it would be a server enough shift that even jacking taxes up to 50%+ wouldnt cover the difference.
So as a practical matter, no state can do it. They have no choice but to refuse to go along with the petition as being part of the federal system is the only thing that keeps them compliant with the state Constitution. And that's why Obama should OK all the petitions, it puts the governors and legislators on the spot and they are forced to say no.
Think about it, every single pro "states rights" elected official would basically be forced to go on the record as saying when it comes to a major states rights issue (free association) they dont actually believe it when it comes time to put their money where their mouth is, and easily could also be seen as an endorsement of the supremacy of the federal government, totally undermining the credibility of the states rights movement and probably forever changing the debate about the roll and relationship of the federal and state governments.
If your a supporter of a strong federal government as Obama is, thats too good an opportunity to pass up.
And lastly the "walk back" by state officials has already started, yesterday the governor of Texas Rick Perry who two years ago claimed to openly support secession said "no" to the petition. He may not have elaborated his reasons, but a no is still a no.
From Perry's office "Gov. Perry believes in the greatness of our Union and nothing should be done to change it. But he also shares the frustrations many Americans have with our federal government. Now more than ever our country needs strong leadership from states like Texas, that are making tough decisions to live within their means, keep taxes low and provide opportunities to job creators so their citizens can provide for their families and prosper. We cannot allow Washington’s tax and spend, one-size-fits-all mindset to jeopardize our children’s future, undermine our personal liberties and drive our nation down a dangerous path to greater dependence of government."
If your the president, might as well push the issue and get it off the table, and discredit the movement associated with it, while making it easier to advance your own agenda as a result (since no one will be as receptive to your opponents states rights argument). At least if I was president that's what I would do.
Update: turns out even without Obama forcing them to comment a second GOP governor, Bill Haslam of Tennessee “I don’t think that’s a valid option for Tennessee, I don’t think we’ll be seceding.”
So yea, like I said if Obama was smart, he'd force them all on the record like this, I mean he's already got two down, just another 30 or so to go...
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