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White House Shoots Down Secession PetitionsRelated Content
The White House politely shot down the secession petitions circulating on the White House petition website late Friday, dashing the hopes of malcontents who have submitted petitions to allow their states to withdraw from the union in the wake of President Obama's reelection last November. "Democracy can be noisy and controversial. And that's a good thing," wrote Jon Carson, director of the White House's Office of Public Engagement. "Free and open debate is what makes this country work...But as much as we value a healthy debate, we don't let that debate tear us apart." Carson offered the would-be secessionists a history lesson, explaining that the Constitution guarantees "the right to change our national government through the power of the ballot - a right that generations of Americans have fought to secure for all. But they did not provide a right to walk away from it." He also invoked the sad history of the Civil War as a cautionary tale for those who would so casually seek a repeat of our bloodiest conflict, writing, "More than 600,000 Americans died in a long and bloody civil war that vindicated the principle that the Constitution establishes a permanent union between the States." "So let's be clear," Carson wrote, "No one disputes that our country faces big challenges, and the recent election followed a vigorous debate about how they should be addressed." "We will need to work together - and hear from one another - in order to find the best way to move forward." |
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David B said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 1:01 PM
The United States is following the path of many other civilizations throughout history: Republic to Democracy to Oligarchy (or Dictatorship) to Collapse Damocracy in Action !!!
112016651David B said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 12:58 PM
The death nail for the Republic was the 17th amendment in 1913. Before 1913 the Senate was appointed by the individual state legislatures, and individual states could control or recall their senators. This way, nothing passed without the consent of the individual state governments. passing a law took the elected house of represenatives (what our forefathers meant by the peoples house), The Senate (which belonged to the several states), the president, and had to stand up to the supreme court (Judges confirmed by the senate, which was appointed by the several states) This is what was meant by a bicameral congress. This fact has been forgotten or buried in history, and this argument will not be won in a 30 second soundbite. When the senate was elected, and no longer answerable to the several states, It was the beginning of the end of the republic, and our republican form of government.
112016315David B said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 12:44 PM
All 3 of these already happened in the united states. except that unlike Germany , Russia, and China, where one political party gained total control, In the United States, Two power structures evolved to gain shared total control. Democrate and Republicans may disagree on some issues and battle each other, but they will also cooperate on such issues as WTO, NAFTA, Banking, re-districting, etc, and niether party really works for WE The People, and niether party will allow a third party to evolve. Both Parties have dismantled our civil liberties piece by piece since before Reagon.
112015226David B said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 12:37 PM
three things almost always happen in a democracy. 1. people discover they can raid the treasury and put it on the backs of their children. 2. civil liberties are lost through the tyranny of the majority. how many times have you heard "there aught to be a law" news media keeps flashing a tradegy on TV and people are ready to give up our hard earned rights. in a republic our rights come from our creator and the constitution, in a democracy our rights come from a 51 percent majority. 3. A few rich people gain total control and exercise total control of the election process through political parties , ballot access control of the media, and re-districting.
112014482David B said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 12:27 PM
A republic can last a thousand years, democracies only last a generation or two. look at a 1980s world map, cauntries with the word "democratic" in their title aren't.
112013772meister said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 2:37 PM
Well I say let them go. Then the first thing they do is figure out what they will do with no Senators or Representatives. No federal dollars would flow into those locations and they would still be liable for federal income taxes. I believe the GOP would soon find itself extinct as this transpires.
111936941pete said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 8:30 PM
Too much government and I for 1 am very sick and tired of it!!!
111415541Pete said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 8:28 PM
If I was the government I would be in some serious fear!!!
111415431Sick of Politics said on Monday, Jan 14 at 5:29 AM
Yes, the United States is a Republic with democratic ideas. So our economy and way of life, is a democracy. A limited one. Absolute democracy doesn't work. That's why it's so hard to spread it. Our government is trying to spread democracy as if that's all it has to do. Our democracy came about by the way our Republic was set up. First set up a free republic and democracy will come. We are bombarded by "democracy" talk since the red scare of the 40's and 50's.
111271515For the Republic said on Monday, Jan 14 at 1:05 AM
When are morons going to learn that America is a Republic and not a Democracy? The Pledge of Allegiance does not say "and to the Democracy...". The word Democracy isnt in the Declaration of Independence and its not in the Contitution either. Why keep calling America something it is not?
111262872sprite said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 11:26 PM
Maybe since nothing is changing and only getting worse stop paying the Senate, House and our taxes if they don't have money they can't really do anything.
111260271Smokey said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 10:36 PM
I will secede I will go to another country. Will come back when the government want to follow the U.S Constitution
111258815glad to see it said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 8:19 PM
you know back in the WWII days we had more civilian offshoots of the military then you could think of... if we just reactivate those then we don't need an action of secession...period...more people then politicians...that will come to mind when shat hits the fan and we are left to fend for ourselves...of which back in the WWII era was the way it was...not how you would like it to be!
111254581Russ said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 12:57 PM
When did we stop prosecuting traitors for treason? Apparently the Civil War was too long ago. Treason is a crime.
111231891Tejas said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 12:14 PM
"Democracy can be noisy and controversial. And that's a good thing," wrote Jon Carson, director of the White House's Office of Public Engagement. "Free and open debate is what makes this country work...But as much as we value a healthy debate, we don't let that debate tear us apart WE ARE A REPUBLIC NOT A DEMOCRACY!! You dumb elected idiot! 2. WE can secede without YOUR APPROVAL! Lincoln denied it too and how did that work for him?
111229406Bill M said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 12:04 PM
CBS and the other media outlets are the real malcontents. They don't seem to like the principles on which this country was founded on. They hate the Constitution and everything it stands for.
111228905Gunny G said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 11:43 AM
Jon Carson is wrong. We are a Representative Republic although we're not really represented anymore since politicians like Harry Reid and Pelosi are more interested in insider trading and taking bribes than in working FOR the nation.
111227861Big Dan said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 11:24 AM
Have got to love all the tongue in cheek headlines. "White House SHOOTS down secession petitions"
111226522DaveD said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 11:20 AM
So the CBS puke thinks that filers and signers of these petitions are malcontents...Look at the "crybaby" mewlings of the Liberal Lefties when things don't go their way! There are your malcontents!!!!!!!
111226316bob said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 10:13 AM
Beware the government which fears it's own people!!!
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