New 51st state! North Coloradans, give me more guns!

[myreality]

http://rt.com/usa/north-colorado-secession-vote-745/

Commissioners in Weld County, Colo., have unanimously voted to make ‘North Colorado’ the 51st US state. The Republican board hopes to secede from the state in protest of laws passed by the Democratically controlled state legislature this year.

The Weld County commissioners on Monday voted to add the 51ststate initiative to the ballot this November.


“Si se puede – yes we can,” Weld County Commission Chairman said before the vote, reciting a slogan that President Barack Obama used throughout his presidential campaign. Weld County commissioners voted in favor of the 51ststate initiative after several predominantly Republican counties in northern Colorado expressed their support for a secession in June.

“We’re not pulling away from Colorado, Colorado is pulling away from us,” Keenesburg resident Bruce Sparrow told the Denver Post after attending a 70-person public meeting to discuss plans for a secession.

Most of those who attended the July 29 meeting opposed many the policies that the state legislature has passed, arguing that the will of rural voters is not being represented. They oppose Colorado’s gun control measures, renewable energy initiatives in rural areas, expanded regulation of oil and gas production, and the reduction of ‘cruel treatment’ of livestock. Rural voters are also angry with Amendment 64, which legalized the recreational use of marijuana.

“I think people, when they feel disenfranchised, when they feel that their voices are not being heard, I think that’s a problem in a representative form of government,” commissioner Sean Conway said at one of the four meetings held to discuss the initiative.

“If you’re going to start walking on the people that give the government power, then they’re going to start taking that power back,” Frederick resident Travis Showalter told The Denver Post.

Despite the meetings and commissioners’ votes, some believe the secession effort is largely symbolic. No state has seceded since West Virginia pulled away from Virginia in 1863, but many have tried – especially after Obama was reelected last November.

In order for ‘North Colorado’ to secede, the plan would need the statewide support of voters, the General Assembly and the US Congress. But that isn’t stopping rural Colorado residents from trying.

“They want change. They want to be heard,” commission chairman William Garcia told the Washington Post. “Policies being passed in Denver are having negative impacts on the lives of rural Coloradans. This isn’t an ‘R’ versus ‘D’ issue; it’s much bigger than that.”

Im pretty sure it can't happen as there is nothing in the constitution about seceding from a state. The local republicans seem to have already passed there vote though.

[kuronosan]

lol Republicans. If you don't like the way things go then just separate so you can pass your own retarded laws.

DEMOCRACY

[ronin sparthos]

Since this shit is beyond retarded, I'll make a contribution to brain cell genocide myself.

[Chun Liroy]

How about they secede from the nation, it's clear they don't like how our voting works. Holy shit those people are real mad at basic stuff.

WE HATE RENEWABLE ENERGY
WE HATE LEGAL MARIJUANA
WE HATE TAKING CARE OF LIVESTOCK HUMANELY
I have no idea how oil and gas production regulation affects rural colorado though. I'm assuming very little.

[Tyrath]

I feel like one time we should actually late a state secede so they can find out for themselves how utterly fucked they would be without being part of the US.

[Sepukku]

so maybe when the secessionists are arrested and put in an overcrowded state penitentiary they'll see the problems of criminalized marijuana usage?

[Serra]

http://rt.com/usa/north-colorado-secession-vote-745/
Im pretty sure it can't happen as there is nothing in the constitution about seceding from a state. The local republicans seem to have already passed there vote though.

Actually, the Constitution says a new state can't be formed from within an existing state (although I've never been able to understand how Maine was formed..).

Article IV: Section 3.
New states may be admitted by the Congress into this union; but no new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of the Congress.

[SephYuyX]

I forget what state/area it is, but it tries to become its own state every few months. I think they've tried like 300+ times. Somewhere in KY maybe?

[falloutboy14]

Reading up on Wikipedia, it sounds like Massacheusetts permitted Maine residents to vote, and then Maine was added as part of the Missouri compromise.

I think the state you're talking about succeding is this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_State_Of_Franklin

Didn't we have one of these with the rest of IL wanting to kick out Chicago or something a year or two ago?

[BaneTheBrawler]

Michigan's Upper Penninsula gets thrown around as a candidate for a new state every now and then. Mostly because it makes geographical sense, though. I don't think it has very much to do with political enmity.



And yeah, southern illinois wanted to split from northern illinois because thanks obama

[Azull]

Do we really need another Michigan?

[Callisto]

And yeah, southern illinois wanted to split from northern illinois because thanks obama

That's been a thing since wayyyyy before Obama, anything south of Joliet is basically Kentucky. Chicagoans are tired of subsidizing farms that are five hours away and produce crap that sits untouched in ADM silos then gets junked, farmers are tired of subsidizing construction of highways they'll never see, much less drive on, in their lives. While I think secessionists are idiots, it really does feel like two different states when you travel between the two.

[BaneTheBrawler]

well yeah, but the most recent attempt was catalyzed by thanks obama

[Vuitton]

Jefferson (southwest Oregon / northern California) has been trying to secede from Oregon and California forever (well, 1941). They want Jefferson to be the 51st state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_(Pacific_state)

http://www.jeffersonstate.com/

http://www.territoryofjefferson.com/

[Acevalefor]

Jefferson (southwest Oregon / northern California) has been trying to secede from Oregon and California forever (well, 1941). They want Jefferson to be the 51st state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_(Pacific_state)

http://www.jeffersonstate.com/

http://www.territoryofjefferson.com/

I came in here to post this. Most people down there already call that area The State of Jefferson.

[Byrd]

Jefferson (southwest Oregon / northern California) has been trying to secede from Oregon and California forever (well, 1941). They want Jefferson to be the 51st state.

If I recall correctly, the Jeffersonians were going to make some huge announcement and push beginning December 8, 1941. Then something happened the day before, and they decided not to go forth with something decidedly anti-patriotic.

Washington DC and Puerto Rico are also frequently thrown around as candidates for the 51st state, DC mostly because of their lack of representation in congress. Those both seem a lot more likely to me than another state breaking in two.

[Athas]

I believe Texas has a clause in its state constitution that would allow it to divide itself into five states without approval from Congress as well.

[archibaldcrane]

I believe Texas has a clause in its state constitution that would allow it to divide itself into five states without approval from Congress as well.

States don't get to just decide to ignore the federal constitution.

[kuronosan]

States don't get to just decide to ignore the federal constitution.

STATES RIGHTS

[BaneTheBrawler]

Pretty sure even that clause still requires Congress's approval. It was posted not long ago in one of the federal-level secession threads.