All "new" ideas

NEW BLOG STUFF

 

Sigh…it seems that the politicos in this nation have not had a new idea
since the founding of this country.   Here a few "ideas" that have hit the
media circuit recently and unfortunately as a hobby historian I am usually
struck rather dumb at the ignorance that seems to accompany this comment.

Texas, yippee kai yeh…has tossed around the term "secession from the Union"
as though they made up the concept themselves.  In fact, secession is not
specifically forbidden by our Constitution and in fact, the 18th Century
Confederacy was in fact, within their rights to peacefully withdraw from the
United States.  However, the way it was done was anything but peaceful –
just ask the beleaguered soldiers at Ft. Sumpter.   Also lest anyone believe
this was a popular decision fully approved by the people of the new
Confederacy I refer you the tons of documents published on both sides that
positively prove otherwise.  In fact, it was small groups of wealthy landowners and
slave owners met in rooms in hotel lobbies and South Carolina State Houses who
spoke FOR the citizens without any type of vote or popular acclamation and
decreed their intent to withdraw from the Union.  Other States followed suit
but not even one of them made any attempt to exercise any form of common
suffrage.  The Union did over reach its authority but at least in the
beginning initial actions directed at the Confederacy were to avenge
military actions taken on the part of the Confederacy and an attempt by the
Union to reclaim and secure national properties lying within this new group
of States.  Now Texas wants to pull that rip cord again but it is obvious
they have not given due consideration as to the consequences.  Just give a
quick thought to the three or four dozen US owned military facilities that
lie within Texan borders.  Now toss in the hundreds, if not thousands of
Federally owned properties, office buildings, Parks, etc.  the "Union" would
have the right to reclaim and secure.  Pretty soon Texas would only have Gilley's

and the old set for Dallas to call their own.  I personally would not miss Texans

nor their rather obnoxious citizens.  On the other hand dealing with a million Lone

Star guzzling idiots with huge belt buckles and silly hats is not something I would

find to be enjoyable even if it probably would not take more than a long weekend

to complete. 

 

In my own "hme State" of Virginia (at least for tax purposes), they are hell bent

On reliving another wonderful aspect of the pre-Civil War days – the idea of

"nullification." In the mid-1980s, the forming confederate states, though still part

of the Un ion, decided that they did not have to accept laws originating from the

central government in Washington.  Originally these efforts were directed at

tariffs being levied on Southern cotton exports but eventually spread to the whole

concept of slavery and all things they chose to lay under the single mantel of

"States Rights."  Virginia wants to enact its own version of nullification that would

give the State broad based authority to disregard any and all laws originating outside

of Virginia which they chose to ignore.  Right now the law is targeted at the

administrations health care law but would also apply to other areas already mentioned

such as  prayer in school and other public facilities, equal rights provisions,

abortion rights and virtually all aspects of  EPA imposed regulations.  Here is

another State that needs to do a little historic research before it lets its mouth overload

its arse.  You don't play by our rules, we (the US Government) would simply take our

ball ($$$) and go home.  Most mega-mouths like the Virginia Attorney General 

Mr. Cuccinelli) have no idea just how much financial support the separate States receive

And just how much of that money is based on compliance for continued support.  Make

no effort to enforce traffic laws and watch how quick the States lose millions in fuel

tax money.  Refuse to fulfill national norms in education and you might as well close

all of your schools since the Fed provides literally billions to school systems that

would have to be made up with increased real estate taxes.  Decide to ignore EPA

guidelines and rules and the State would soon become unlivable in terms of water

purity, air waste management.  Good Luck with this Virginia but don't look now –

there are evil liberals hiding in your State who are prepared to remain loyal to the

United States and would make your life rather miserable in the process.

 

Yes, lets all look back to the really great things that the Confederacy gave to the

World and United States in particular.  Let's try emulate their wonderful ideas so

That we can again relive that great time in our history.   Yeh- right!!!!