If you have watched any of the footage from the COS Reclaiming Liberty Summit in Orlando Florida you likely noticed a common theme. How do we remain a united republic when there are such pronounced differences within our country?
This has been dubbed, “The Great Decoupling.” This is a process that is already underway to create a parallel economy. With the advent of the cancel culture, de-platforming of persons from social media, credit card companies reporting gun purchases to the federal government, government confiscation of private donations to crowdfunding platforms, etc. I am not sure I can live with them either. New businesses committed to permitting free speech and diverse opinions are forming now. There is a tremendous opportunity to cater to the overwhelming majority of Americans opposed to the fringe “woke” culture. This is a function of what remains of the free market.
This is nothing new in our history. In 1776, roughly one-third of our population supported going to war with the British for our independence. Roughly one-third were happy to remain British subjects and the final third were indifferent and just wanted to go about their lives. The final third did not realize if their view prevailed they would not be able to live the life they desired. A relatively small number of future Americans were able to achieve an astounding victory against the most formidable military force in the world. Today, we’re not being asked to fight a military battle. We are being called to fight however.
Much is the same today. It’s been said, “If you do not care about politics, politics definitely cares about you.” There is a segment of society detached from politics who wants to be left alone and just live their lives. I would like to be one of those people. The reality is that is not possible and never has been. The Framers understood this and that is why our Constitution was drafted the way it was.
Division in today’s society has rekindled talks of secession and new movements to redraw state boundaries. The most recent effort is for about 80% of Oregon to be absorbed into the state of Idaho. This is being called the Greater Idaho movement. Eastern Oregonians (pretty much all of Oregon more than 2 hours from the Pacific Ocean) have had it with their radical state mates in Portland and Eugene. They witnessed the Antifa and Black Lives Matter riots that have led to widespread lawlessness in the western part of the state. Western Oregonians are taxed and forced to support policies that are in direct conflict with their values and beliefs. Many have moved to Idaho to escape and live with individuals who share their values. The Greater Idaho movement proposes to bring Idaho to Eastern Oregonians instead.
How effective are these movements? Secession is entirely impractical and violates the Constitution as well. Imagine a state even the size of Texas negotiating treaties with countries like China or defending itself against foreign aggression. The United States would be a foreign country in this scenario. If Texans think they have it rough now, think how it would be if they were a separate country. This is a foolish notion.
How about the Greater Idaho movement? This is a bit more intriguing. The original colonies were settled according to similar interests with religion being the primary factor. There are proposals for California to split into as many as seven states. Another movement exists to form a new state joining Northern California and Southern Oregon. There are several issues with this approach.
We will look at a couple briefly. First, any redrawing of state lines is a lengthy process that must pass the state legislatures of the states involved along with a sign off from Congress. Both are possible but would be highly contentious. Tax rates, funding of social programs, state minimum wages laws are examples of several issues that would need to be reconciled.
The more pervasive issue is the nationalization of several matters intended to be decided by individual states. Each state was intended to be a laboratory of ideas a state could implement at the discretion of their citizens. The Executive Branch, Congress and the Courts have intervened in areas they have no authority to be involved. In doing so, they have imposed one-size-fits-all policies throughout the country. The result is a limitation of mobility.
If Eastern Oregon becomes part of Idaho, there may be advantages in state tax policy and a few other issues. Perhaps taxpayers would be funding state-level policy they tend to agree with more often but that’s about all. Greater Idaho would be subject to mostly the same policies Eastern Oregonians are subject to today. Most public policies would remain unchanged because they have been decided at a national level.
Further development of parallel economies will continue and that is a good thing. The solution that strikes at the heart of the matter is to return decision-making authority to where it constitutionally belongs. The majority of that authority lies with We The People, local and state governments. DC will not relinquish what they have taken from us voluntarily. The only peaceful, constitutional and effective way to correct our structural issues, reestablish the principle of federalism and restore our freedom of mobility is through the Article V convention of states process.
In liberty,
Brett
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