Copy by: Dailyeor Louisiana is leading the way in a movement to secede from the United States. So far, petitions from all 50 states have been posted on the U.S. government website, We the People. The federal government has 30 days from the time a petition garners 25,000 electronic signatures to respond. This week, Louisiana's petition passed the 30,000 mark. But is this a good idea? We seceded from the union once before, and it didn't end very well. It probably wouldn't end well this time, either. The state is broke, its health care system is in disarray, its education system has significant problems and some members of the state legislature are at war with the governor. On top of that, according to the nonprofit Tax Foundation, Louisiana takes in $1.78 in federal money for every tax dollar it sends to Washington, D.C. That cash flow would stop after Louisiana became independent. And besides, what would secession do to Gov. Bobby Jindal's obvious plans to move onward and upward in national government? The first online petition was filed by a Slidell man, after President Barack Obama won the Nov. 6 election, defeating challenger Mitt Romney, the odds-on favorite in Louisiana. Other Southern states soon gathered the required 25,000 signatures. As of Wednesday, there were more than 675,000 electronic signatures on 69 petitions from all 50 states. And what happens if all 50 states secede? Will they all remain separate nations or all form a new government?
It's not likely that any of this will happen. For one thing, the legality of secession is murky, at best. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2006 wrote a letter expressing his — usually binding — opinion that it is not legal. Surely, unlike the secession movement of the 1860s, which started the Civil War, this movement is simply a protest against the president's reelection — or more accurately, a tantrum. What does this say about our state? At best, it makes us look foolish. It helps only a little that all 50 states have joined in the foolishness. It looks as though we believe in the democratic process, and free elections decided by the people, but only if our candidate wins. And in this time of international unrest, what kind of message does this nation-wide tantrum send to our allies and to our enemies? We appear to be divisive and divided. We don't want to play by our own rules. This is the United States of America, with the emphasis on the United. During the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Franklin is said to have quipped, "We must all hang together or assuredly, we shall all hang separately." King George's soldiers are gone, but this country faces many challenges today and we will not prevail if we are fragmented. As Americans, we have a right to disagree with our leaders. We also have an unwritten duty to keep this nation strong. We are the people who came together after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, after Katrina, after Sandy. It's time to abandon this secession nonsense and start moving forward. It's time to hang together.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
April 2018
Jude's Korean adventures
Alcohol in South Korea All bars and local night establishments are filled to the brim with things you have seen in all other places like Jack Daniels and Jagermeister. However you may spy a little green bottle with Korean writing on it and you may ask what is that? It's called Soju, my friends or 소주 for the Hangil inclined (Korean Language). Soju is a spirit primarily made from rice, barley, potatoes or tapioca and has an average alcohol content of 20% ABV however there are some brands of Andong Soju that are upward of 45% ABV. None the less, they will both get the job done. Soju has a taste very similar to vodka but it is slightly sweeter and easier to consume by itself. Now we get to the matter of cost and availability; however rest assured the answer will be qiute positive. Soju is available all over South Korea from the local convenience store for 1,000 Won = roughly $1 or in a restaurant for 3,000 Won =$3. So these adult treats certainly won't set you back any considerable amount. It alco mixes quite well with beer, cider, and energy drinks. Soju has been around since the 13th century and shows no signs of going anywhere anytime soon. So when you get the chance come on down to the Republic of South Korea and have a shot of deliciousness. Jude Falcon |