patar4097 : California has the 7th largest economy in the world by itself. Before the recession, it was the 5th... they'd do just fine.

From what I can tell, it's because Obama won... which is just bitter and childish.

I seceded from the United States a long time ago but technically I still live there

Now let me put on my tin foil hat on for a minute. This is an inside job. The US polices the world and a few states think they can withdraw inside America? I don't think so, not without bloodshed. Signatures are for weaselheads working for big brother. This is just propaganda, no intelligent human would think for one minute shadow government would give them the ok on withdrawing unless it was all designed on purpose.

Texas seceding from USA is hiss(as in snake)terical. Colorado wants to withdraw too? LMFAO good luck with that with NORAD up in your arse. This is all nonsense.

On the plus side, if my state were to seced maybe my debt will be erased

vizwiz123 :

It's in the North too.

JigSaw :

Colorado got pot legalized you know. They're already so high on the stuff that they think seceding despite being landlocked is a brilliant idea?

Or did you make that up? Either way, it's kind of funny any state would want to "secede". It's just not feasible right now, for any state.

Although I will admit, it'd be kind of funny, what with Puerto Rico passing a vote that is in favor of joining the union. Imagine a Texas leaving, only for Puerto Rico to become the new 50th state. At least then we don't need to make a new flag

legacyme3 : Yup I know, I live there Pot heads all over the place especially in Boulder where all the rich college kids toke outside on 420 in the masses.

John Connor tried to secede from the terminator, only difference was he used lots of weapons for it, not 25,000 signatures.

JigSaw : Yeah, but look where that got him. I bet if he took the nice route and did the signatures, SKYNET would have been a lot cooler about it. I mean, how would you react if someone used 'lots of weapons' on you instead of being nice? 

darthyoda : and where did you hear that? When making such a claim, it is best to back it up. As a matter of fact, Obama's response to Colorado legalizing marijuana for recreational use was this: "I don't think that legalization of drugs is going to be the answer.” There have been legitimate claim to back up the weed thing here. It is still illegal on the federal level. So it will be just like when California made medicinal marijuana legal. The police in California couldn't do anything, but the FBI could. I can say with most certainty that Colorado will go through what California did. They will think they are not breaking any laws, but will find out otherwise once the feds bring them in. 

I PM'd darthyoda this exact message, so I won't summon him, but I think everyone should read this. I'm sure most of you will already know this if you bother reading the article.

I read through the article twice. There is not one sentence that states that Obama is trying to legalize marijuana (or that matter, even supports it). The title doesn't even state this. The title is saying that ObamaCare, gay marriage, and legalizing marijuana is a big mandate on STATE ballots. It is just talking about the states that are putting these issues on their mandate ballot. But again, even the article and title specifically say STATE ballot, which the President has no control over. This is why things like marijuana can be legal on a state level, but not on the federal level, which is where Obama has power. You need to read more carefully before making these claims.

Again, read the article he provided. You will see there is not one sentence in that article that states that Obama is trying to legalize marijuana (or that matter, even supports it)

I thought it was interesting that, what state was it, Texas or something, hit 25,000 signatures.
I saw it on BBC news.
I was unaware that the white house promises to respond to any petition that gets that many, so Obama is probably going to talk about this, or some white house rep will clear his throat, go "no" and walk out stating they now have there reply.

thenumberone : Haha. Yup. But in all reality, that is exactly what would happen no matter who was President.

rcarter2 : Correct, I'm surprised that this is an issue. Only way the Federal Government would legalize marijuana on the federal side is once a good number of states legalize it and there is "hard proof" that the income of legalizing marijuana provides outweighs the risks.

thenumberone : Yeah Texas does this like Once every 4 years or so (depends on who gets elected President/wins control of Congress). I'm almost hoping that Texas does leave the Union so we can invade and recapture the state.

This is hilarious, "WAHHHH, Obama won the election! WAAAAAHHHHHH!!"

I actually think this is a fantastic idea. The United States is far too large of a country to be reliably run from one central location. This was the original idea of the sates, but it's been corrupted by federal government. I'm all in favor of dropping as many of these bible-thumping luddite states from our country as possible. It sucks that some of the more progressive states want to go but I say let them. If each state was an independent country that only worried about itself and its direct trade partners, we wouldn't have constant debates over the stupidest little things.

I just don't want Georgia to secede because I'm a federal employee and I'll have to move if they do. Actually, come to think of it, get me out of this hell hole.

Lazlo Falconi :

Actually, that would put me in an interesting situation. I'm in New Hampshire, and my gilrfriend lives in Oregon, one of the states that got enough signatures to pass the petition stage.

Obviously, Oregon is staying regardless, being a mostly blue state, but it raised an interesting hypothetical, on what would happen to my budding romance with my girlfriend.

I'd need a pass port to visit her.

So, I just want to point out that we tried to have the country function with the states being that autonomous... it was called the Articles of Confederation and it failed miserably.

Ruling the country from more than one location. The Roman empire did that... the western half fell soon after.

I say if they want to leave, let them know first that their new "country" will be taking half the debt for the wars (because they are equally accountable for them, as their representatives voted for them) as well as having to pay back every federal dollar spent in their states that is part of the current debt. The government spent a lot of money in those southern states in particular.

Elara :
On the note of the roman thing, they divided in 2 because they couldnt manage the entire empire.
The east survived an insane amount of time. It probably would have all fallen if it didnt split.
In terms of management it would help if the capial wasnt on the fringe of your territory.
Like poland. There capital used to be krakow,in the south.
They moved it to warsaw which is pretty much square in the centre of the country.
Thats the problem with distant government. Theyre out of touch with the local needs.

Oldschool41 :

"I find it interesting that Florida who elected Obama would file a seccesion petition (then again I expect that the Democratic areas...South Beach to leave Florida and rejoin the United States)."

I don't find it that odd actually.

Keep in mind how heavily contested Florida was. There are significantly more than 50,000 people living in Florida. It wouldn't be overly difficult to get enough signatures to get a petition recognized.