Updated: petitions from citizens in 49 states: 11:45 pm Pacific, 14 November
It’s the meme of week on Facebook: let’s secede from the union!
The Washington Times has reported that citizens have filed petitions on a White House website requesting that 23 states be allowed to secede. But the number is short. Almost every state has a petitioner.
And news media: the states are not petitioning the federal government to secede!
These petitions are from disgruntled citizens — and not necessarily disgruntled citizens of the state they vote to exit the union stage. These petitions have no legal legitimacy. But they could give the White House a black eye, depending on its response.
And respond, it must. At least for some of them.
When a petition reaches 25,000 signatures, the White House pledges a review and response. Given the boilerplate language, a boilerplate response could be appropriate. Most of the petitions are based on the language of the Louisiana petition, the first filed on Nov 9.
Peacefully grant the State of
to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.
For the folks in Louisiana who kicked off this entertainment, secession isn’t an option is also a petition.
A Texan told the San Antonio Express-News
“It’s a tantrum. It has no value. No legitimacy,” Mac McDowell, 55, a San Antonio tea party member, said of the online petition.
“Secession worked out very poorly for everyone in the South the last time it was tried,” said McDowell, who emphasized he was speaking for himself, not the party.
Don’t let yourself fall into stereotypes. The states on this list are both “blue” and “red” (although I’ll give you three guesses – and the first two don’t count – as to which have passed 25K signatures) — which reflects the fact that no state is composed 100% of either party.
And then there are citizens of Austin who want to withdraw from Texas!
Petitions as a form of political protest – who’d a thunk?
Commentary, 2 pm Wednesday : folks, this is silly behavior that illustrates the worst synthesis of digital communication and mass media. Southern Beale says this best.
- Alabama (Nov 09, 2012 – passed 25K).
The original petitioner is a 45-year-old man who once owned a topless car wash (yes, that means the women worked on the cars au naturale from the waist up). - Alaska (Nov 10, 2012 – Matthew G) : Alaska (Nov 11, 2012 – Paul M)
- Arkansas (Nov 10, 2012)
- Arizona (Nov 10, 2012 – passed 25K)
- California (Nov 11, 2012)
- Colorado (Nov 10, 2012)
- Connecticut (Nov 12, 2012)
- Delaware (Nov 10, 2012)
- Florida (Nov 10, 2012 – passed 25K)
- Georgia (Nov 10, 2012 – Marbury M) : Georgia (Nov 10, 2012 – kyle. r) : Georgia (Nov 11, 2012 – Dan D)
- Hawaii (Nov 12, 2012)
- Idaho (Nov 11, 2012)
- Illinois (Nov 11, 2012 – Illinois R) : Illinois (Nov 11, 2012 – Chris H)
- Indiana (Nov 10, 2012)
- Iowa (Nov 11, 2012)
- Kansas (Nov 11, 2012)
- Kentucky (Nov 10, 2012)
- Louisiana (First to file: Nov 07, 2012 – passed 25K)
- Maine (Nov 12, 2012)
- Maryland (Nov 12, 2012)
- Massachusetts (Nov 12, 2012)
- Michigan (Nov 10, 2012)
- Minnesota (Nov 12, 2012)
- Mississippi (Nov 09, 2012)
- Missouri (Nov 10, 2012)
- Montana (Nov 10, 2012)
- Nebraska (Nov 12, 2012)
- Nevada (Nov 10, 2012)
- New Hampshire (Nov 11, 2012)
- New Jersey (Nov 10, 2012)
- New Mexico (Nov 11, 2012)
- New York (Nov 10, 2012)
- North Carolina – affirming statehood (Nov 13, 2012)
- North Dakota (Nov 10, 2012)
- Ohio (Nov 10, 2012 – Brian R) : Ohio (Nov 12, 2012 – Jeremy P)
- Oklahoma (Nov 10, 2012 – Matthew M) : Oklahoma (Nov 11, 2012 – david t)
- Oregon (Nov 10, 2012)
- Pennsylvania (Nov 11, 2012 – Karen G) : Pennsylvania (Nov 11, 2012 – Kathleen B)
- Rhode Island (Nov 10, 2012)
- South Carolina (Nov 10, 2012)
- South Dakota (Nov 11, 2012)
- Tennessee (Nov 10, 2012)
- Texas (Nov 09, 2012 – passed 25K)
- Utah (Nov 11, 2012)
- Vermont
- Virginia (Nov 11, 2012 – Rick b) : Virginia (Nov 11, 2012 – Adrienne C) : Virginia (Nov 11, 2012 – Gary D)
- Washington (Nov 11, 2012 – Sean R) :
Washington (Nov 13, 2012 – Dannah P) - West Virginia (Nov 11, 2012)
- Wisconsin (Nov 11, 2012)
- Wyoming (Nov 12, 2012)
Known for gnawing at complex questions like a terrier with a bone. Digital evangelist, writer, teacher. Transplanted Southerner; teach newbies to ride motorcycles. @kegill (Twitter and Mastodon.social); wiredpen.com