An Argument For Blue State Secession

[Baron2024]

This is an older article from the New Republic in 2017 but it is even more relevant in the age of Trump 2.0-

It is Time for a Bluexit- by Kevin Baker

For more than 80 years now, we—the residents of what some people like to call Blue America, but which I prefer to think of as the United States of We Pay Our Own Damn Way—have shelled out far more in federal tax monies than we took in. We have funded massive infrastructure projects in your rural counties, subsidized your schools and your power plants and your nursing homes, sent you entire industries, and simultaneously absorbed the most destitute, unskilled, and oppressed portions of your populations, white and black alike.

All of which, it turns out, only left you more bitter, white, and alt-right than ever.

Some folks here in self-supporting America like to believe that there must be a way to bring you back to your senses and to restore rational government, if not liberal ideals, sometime in the foreseeable future. Everyone seems to have an answer for how to do this. Every day another earnest little homily finds its way to me over my internet transom: “Think locally, act globally,” or “Make art and fight the power,” or the old Joe Hill standby—“Don’t mourn. Organize."

To which I say: Don’t organize. Pack.

Not literally, of course. Not even the good people of Canada should have to stomach a mass migration of moping American liberals mumbling, “Live locally … make art.” What I mean is that it’s time for blue states and cities to effectively abandon the American national enterprise, as it is currently constituted. Call it the New Federalism. Or Virtual Secession. Or Conscious Uncoupling—though that’s already been used. Or maybe Bluexit.

The rest of the article is at the link.

https://newrepublic.com/article/140948/bluexit-blue-states-exit-trump-red-america

[mahina]

1. We would be immediately gobbled up

We feel like sitting ducks out here in the middle of the Pacific.

Of course it may be the only alternative, other than pleading to be part of Canada.

There are many who think we would be fine on our own. I wish they were right.

[hlthe2b]

9. There have been many issues where HI, WA, CA, OR, NM, CO have been allied...

So, along with whatever Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest states that want to come along there is critical mass. And I am sure Canada would welcome this new alliance. 'Not sure where Alaska would choose to go, but...Puerto Rico too... Maybe Guam.

Just saying... If you want to fantasize, may as well look at the "whole enchilada!" LOL

[Baron2024]

13. The West Coast

The article is light and humorous in tone, but I think that the idea is serious. There have been small secessionist movements through much of our modern history, but they have been mostly fringe movements. That said, if we entertain the idea, the whole west coast would be Blue. Hawaii could easily be a part of any Blue West Coast political entity.

[elleng]

2. Ridiculous

Ridiculous

[Baron2024]

4. Have You Read The Article?

It is a bit humorous in tone. It is also from the New Republic, which is a reputable magazine.

[H2O Man]

7. Absolutely.

As it has been each time the same general thing has been posted here.

[hlthe2b]

11. Fantasizing is a good coping mechanism. I don't bemoan anyone THAT.

[Baron2024]

12. A Reasonable Response

I think that it is a pretty radical idea, but frankly it is not an unreasonable response to our federal government being taken over by a fascist regime. If we can no longer have our federal government, maybe blue states should chart their own path and provide the government services that their people need. And maybe we could have a divorce from the MAGA parts of the country and be rid of this growing tyranny.

[Tribetime]

3. Great.I'm stuck in Ohio. Guess I'm screwed

[Baron2024]

6. Move To Blue America?

If there were some sort of New Federalism, as the article suggests, we could perhaps have assistance and resources for people who want to move from Red States to Blue States. We would welcome you with open arms. The more Blue Folks that we have, the better.

[SheltieLover]

10. Sounds great to me.

Where do I sign up?

[mcar]

16. So you'll cover the difference?

I can make about $200,000 if I sell my Florida home. That's not even close to what I'd need to buy a comparable, even smaller, home in a "blue" state. Who's going to help me with the difference?

[Baron2024]

18. Blue State Subsidies

The Blue States could maybe set up a subsidized home loan program to make home ownership cheaper for people moving from Red States to Blue States. HUD has similar programs for lower or moderate income people seeking to save money and own a home. Blue State government is of course just speculative, but the idea would be to reproduce federal government programs, just in Blue States.

[mcar]

19. I'm retired. I'm not taking out a mortgage

[Tribetime]

24. I'm just living pay.Check to paycheck I do my own plumbing work

I'm 65.It's too late to get started somewhere else.I can afford it

[yellow dahlia]

5. I've mused on this subject. But those of us who are collecting Social Security will be denied access.

"They" have it.

[Baron2024]

8. Social Security

The article is a bit humorous in tone, but the author suggests that the Blue States in the New Federalism would have the means to set up their own system for a new Social Security.

[Baron2024]

14. The Wikipedia Article On Secession In The United States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secession_in_the_United_States

[mcar]

15. "Blue" states have Republicans too, you know

Maryland and Massachusetts, for example, regularly elect Republican governors.

Oh, and "Red" states have Democrats.

This is a dumb idea that keeps coming up here.

[Baron2024]

17. The Article

The article addresses the fact that Blue States also have Red Areas. Also, I don't think that Blue States acting in concert is a bad idea. The fact is that our federal government is being taken over by a nascent fascist regime. That is a pretty radical development. Radical situations may call for radical responses.

The article in the link in the OP is humorous in tone, but I think that the underlying intent is at least half serious. If we are going to lose the American Republic, I do not think that it is wrong to speculate on creating alternative forms of government.

The entire country was founded on principles of democracy and self government. If those principles are being violated, we have a right to consider alternative forms of democratic government. So I disagree with your assessment.

[Baron2024]

20. Section From The Wikipedia Article On "The Right To Revolution"

The Declaration of Independence states:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.[4]

Historian Pauline Maier argues that this narrative asserted "the right of revolution, which was, after all, the right Americans were exercising in 1776"; and notes that Thomas Jefferson's language incorporated ideas explained at length by a long list of 17th-century writers, including John Milton, Algernon Sidney, John Locke, and other English and Scottish commentators, all of whom had contributed to the development of the Whig tradition in 18th-century Britain.[4]

The right of revolution expressed in the Declaration was followed immediately with the observation that long-practiced injustice is tolerated until sustained assaults on the rights of the entire people have accumulated enough force to oppress them;[5] then they may defend themselves.[6][7] This reasoning was not original to the Declaration, and can be found in many prior political writings: Locke's Two Treatises of Government (1690); the Fairfax Resolves of 1774; Jefferson's own Summary View of the Rights of British America; the first Constitution of Virginia, which was enacted five days prior to the Declaration;[8] and Thomas Paine's Common Sense (1776):

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; ...mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms ("of Government", editor's addition) to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing...a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.[9]

[Ping Tung]

21. My country is the world and my religion is to do good. Thomas Paine

It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot one must become the enemy of the rest of mankind.
Voltaire

[Baron2024]

22. I Very Much Agree

I very much agree with the thought of Thomas Paine as well as the Philosophers and Thinkers that established the basis for America's Constitutional Democracy. We need bold and clear thinkers like those that came before us. We are once again threatened by a Despot, and it is natural to turn to the thinkers that helped to found the United States. Thanks for your comment.

[Ping Tung]

23. There is always a strong vein of anti-intellectualism in tyrannical movements.

Freedom for supporters of the government only, for members of one party only, no matter how big its membership may be is, no freedom at all. Freedom is always freedom for the man who thinks differently.
Rosa Luxemburg