A propos of my last update regarding Scotland -- in which I noted that independence ultimately must be taken rather than requested -- a new poll shows that we are reaching a critical mass of Americans who are willing to secede from the Union. Notice that a critical mass is NOT a majority of the entire country, nor is it even a majority of a seceding state or territory. Rather, a critical mass is an unswerving and devoted minority not interested in compromise, an attitude that always trumps the lukewarm majority.
Independence fever is spreading, and not a moment too soon. A world of multiple, small, competing sovereignties is the only cure for all the ills brought on by imperial hubris.
Frankly, I am amazed it is not higher than that. Remember the operative phrase was "open to" not "desirous of" or "willing to risk everything to achieve". I think we are more likely on the cusp of a smaller persecuted minority than an actual minority force capable of escaping.
ReplyDeleteNow of course, one might say that is naturally part of the cycle as people have to be pushed too far for it to happen, however there are two things stopping this in its tracks : technology and ideology.
For example, Bob the builder and Jim the rancher, even if they have many friends, large families, and a good gun safe cannot hope to defend themselves from a fully stocked government machine dead set against them. Much less actually effect a full on independence. The tech disparity is too large.
On top of this, what would have saved them 40 years ago, public sympathy, has now morphed into malignant hatred. Back then the American public would not have tolerated images of our military or government killing even a dozen of our own people. Now, the powers that be would say they had it coming with the full support of the majority of the country.
You see, while I whole heartedly agree with your ideal of localized authority or a do what you will on your patch, etc. it is still perhaps a fond memory of a time not too long ago where a democratically elected republic composed of mostly the same type of people could function happily in its own regions. I do not see this as possible any longer. Dissolution or watering down of power is what brings us to this. This does not under any circumstances mean one world gov of course, rather many strong kingdoms of a united populace under a strong king.
I am sorry, but I will get my king I suppose eventually the hard and saddening way. After years of decline, then terror, then warlords. Of course this all presupposes that good old technology hasn't obliterated humanity by then.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I disagree with you because the evidence keeps coming in that secession and decentralization are the modern trends. Large centers of power have been fracturing over the past century, yielding a current total of almost 200 countries and more on the way. Just since 1990 there have been 34 new countries created.
ReplyDeleteMore important, though, is the legitimization of secession (i.e., "national self-determination"). It is recognized as a human right and has been supported by none other than the United States, such as in Kosovo's secession from Serbia. Now that the independence genie is out of the bottle and acknowledged as legitimate, it becomes virtually impossible to criminalize.
Now, I grant you that the powers-that-be will not meekly go along with all this. But in the end they will have no power to stop it because they are fiscally bankrupt and losing moral credibility all the time, especially given the free flow of information that bypasses the official mouthpieces of old.
All governments, even tyrannies, ultimately rest on the public's perception of legitimacy. Massive governments are losing the legitimacy battle, especially in multi-ethnic countries (including the modern U.S.) whose warring factions increasingly cannot tolerate being governed by each other.