Exclusive: Angry With Washington, 1 In 4 Americans Open To Secession (34.1% in the Southwest)

[big_dog]

Source: Reuters

The failed Scottish vote to pull out from the United Kingdom has stirred secessionist hopes for some in the United States, where almost a quarter of people are open to their states leaving the union, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found. Some 23.9 percent of Americans polled from Aug. 23 through Sept. 16 said they strongly supported or tended to support the idea of their state breaking away, while 53.3 percent of the 8,952 respondents strongly opposed or tended to oppose the notion.

The urge to sever ties with Washington cuts across party lines and regions, though Republicans and residents of rural Western states are generally warmer to the idea than Democrats and Northeasterners, according to the poll. Anger with President Barack Obama's handling of issues ranging from healthcare reform to the rise of Islamic State militants drives some of the feeling, with Republican respondents citing dissatisfaction with his administration as coloring their thinking.

Falling public approval of the Obama administration, attention to the Scottish vote and the success of activists who accuse the U.S. government of overstepping its authority - such as the self-proclaimed militia members who flocked to Nevada's Bundy ranch earlier this year during a standoff over grazing rights - is driving up interest in secession, experts said. By region, the idea was least popular in New England, the cradle of the Revolutionary War, with just 17.4 percent of respondents open to pulling their state out. It was most popular in the Southwest, where 34.1 percent of respondents back the idea. That region includes Texas, where an activist group is calling the state's legislature to put the secession question on a statewide ballot. One Texan respondent said he was confident his state could get by without the rest of the country.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/19/us-usa-secession-exclusive-idUSKBN0HE19U20140919

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the GOP Tea Party base making itself heard...

[tomm2thumbs]

1. 1 In 4 Americans Thinks The Sun Goes Around The Earth

I guess those are good numbers, considering when you see things like this. Wow.

[closeupready]

3. Note at the end, she says if pressed, she'd have to "look that up."

[TwilightGardener]

4. I read that a third of Americans can't name the three branches of government.

Americans talk out of their ignorant asses. I say that with love. On edit--turns out that almost two-thirds can't name the three branches. Holy carp, we iz stoopid.

[tomm2thumbs]

5. I don't know nothing about trees either

<g>

[frylock]

16. trunks, limbs, and twigs

[tomm2thumbs]

25. DUzy!

Leave it to you!

[zonkers]

44. I was stymied coming up with a response to orig post. Your subject line is perfect.

[closeupready]

2. WTF - under unique circumstances, EVERYone would be open to the idea.

In fact, that's how the US itself was formed! I'd like to see the survey itself - I'm sure the questions were misleading/loaded.

[KamaAina]

21. Ecotopia was one of the Nine Nations of North America

[toby jo]

7. Dear One Texan respondent - I'm sure the rest of the country can get by without Texas.

We'll throw in enough redneck westerners from other states to make up for the lefties who come streaming out.

'K?

[Dustlawyer]

11. Really tired of this crap! There are still a lot of Democrats here in Texas that consider

themselves American through and through. Due to gerrymandering they have kept a lock on statewide offices so far, but a big chunk of that should change with this election. Wendy Davis may not win this time around in her run for Governor, but even if she doesn't she will help a lot of down ballet races because of the bigger turnout expected.
Give it a rest!

[mountain grammy]

17. I know the odds are against her, but I have high hopes for Wendy.

Our 88 year old aunt in El Paso does too.

[geardaddy]

19. +1

The secessionists just need to leave the country for some tin pot banana republic if they want their way.

[SpankMe]

31. Tin-pot republic?

Some actually see places like Oklahoma and Texas AS tin-pot republics.

[geardaddy]

35. Touché n/t

[KamaAina]

15. But where would we change planes?

We'd lose both DFW and IAH.

[Paladin]

36. Spare us the brain-dead Texas hating...'K? (nt)

[Scalded Nun]

8. I say let them

I would hazard a guess that most secessionist states are red, or at least they are states that receive more than they give. They are fools.

Handouts (state and individual) stop.
Consumer protections and EPA regulations (to name but a few of the protections, or at least what is still left of them) stop.
Defense stops.
Common currency stops.
Interstate commerce in chaos.
The list goes on...

I can also imagine Blue states wanting out as well. Who wants to drag spoiled, juvenile, ignorant, gimme-gimme fools along, either by hand or wallet. If they want to drown that badly, let them. I would only feel for the ones wanting to, but not being able to, escape.

There should be some interesting skirmishes breaking out between border states (land, resources, etc.). Interesting to watch, and maybe it will make for a few good movies.

I would also guess that these results will change once there is a president of the 'right' color back in the White House.

Sometimes you just want to scream out of frustration.

[passiveporcupine]

56. I think you just hit the jackpot

I would also guess that these results will change once there is a president of the 'right' color back in the White House.

Sometimes you just want to scream out of frustration.

And I'm already a screaming meemie...how much worse can it get? I want off this planet.

[still_one]

9. 1 in 4 Americans are fucking idiots

[freshwest]

28. And they are the voters who always show up in every election, too.

[SoapBox]

29. Exactly.

While the spineless Granola Crowd doesn't vote because they just can't be bothered.

[freshwest]

34. But they call the ones voting stupid... How's that working out for them?

[still_one]

40. ironic, they let others decide the government, so they can't be that smart either if they don't vote

[still_one]

39. isn't that the truth

[Feral Child]

43. There you go, still_one.

The intellectual bottom quarter of US citizens is recognized.

[still_one]

54. Got it, 25%

[Dopers_Greed]

10. I wonder if the people that want to secede...

Could live without whatever benefits they receive (directly or indirectly) from the American government.

My bet's on "NO"

[KamaAina]

12. It's not just teabaggers

Many Native Hawaiians favor independence. They believe that the overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani and subsequent annexation by the U.S. was illegal.

edit: http://www.hawaii-nation.org

[big_dog]

27. i dont think its much of a coincidence that 33 percent of the population=roughly the gop base

tea party nation?

[frylock]

13. so what exactly would Texas do about ISIS?

[KamaAina]

18. Stop their agents from crossing the Rio Grande

[frylock]

22. well good luck with that

?resize=672%2C372

[freshwest]

33. Import them to fight the Commie Menace trying to invade them in the winter.

[Richardo]

14. "..Republican respondents citing dissatisfaction with his administration as coloring their thinking"

Last edited Fri Sep 19, 2014, 03:12 PM - Edit history (1)

"coloring"

Certainly is apt phrasing, isn't it?

[redstatebluegirl]

37. They are dissatisfied with his skin color!

[Kingofalldems]

20. I see what you are doing here.

[Amonester]

23. Only 34.1% in the SW?

Wake me up when it's time to party...

[ladjf]

24. Those who are open to secession reveal a portion of our population that is

profoundly ignorant and perhaps hopelessly stupid. There is no aspect of secession that could solve any problems for anyone.

I have no idea what could be done for those unfortunate individual to lift them out of their abyss. I've got to hope that a large percentage of them aren't serious about the stated position.

[SoapBox]

30. Amerika has gotten stoopid!

[ladjf]

50. I strongly believe that IQ's in America are dropping.

Since there aren't any good studies about it we can only guess that it's a combination of environmental toxins, poor fast food diets,
a constant exposure to professional propaganda and perhaps churches have been allow to influence thinking beyond religious dogma.

[Turbineguy]

26. That way they can elect

Last edited Fri Sep 19, 2014, 08:47 PM - Edit history (1)

Republicans.

[Brigid]

32. For those 25-percenters:

http://www.youtube.com/results?q=keith%20Olbermann%20Texas%20secession&sm=12

[redstatebluegirl]

38. Just for starters lets take the military bases from Texas.

Then there are the millions of dollars in federal NIH, NSF, DOE etc. grants to the various Universities in Texas. Lets see, students would not be eligible for federal student loans. Companies who have federal contracts would lose them. They would need a military, or at least a larger police force, new money, passports etc.

Now I know Texas feels rich, but they could NEVER absorb those losses, and that is just the beginning. These dumb bunnies don't have a clue what this would mean for them.

[Paladin]

45. Says the lady in Oklahoma. (nt)

[The Traveler]

41. This presents an enormous opportunity

to dump the dead weight.

I'm only half kidding. There's a part of me that thinks the rest of the country would be better off without that 25%. Let's see how far they get with their xenophobic, ammosexual, science denying, woman oppressing, blundering ass ways.

Our politicians and media have nurtured an apparently irreconcilable cultural divide that may never be healed. The right wingers insist on control of our bodies and the details of our private lives, and many refuse to grant that control. Perhaps it is time to agree to disagree and try to have an amicable divorce. I, for one, am tired of their mindless crap.

Trav

[Brigid]

42. You must read this book:

"Better Off Without 'Em" by Chuck Thompson.

[The Traveler]

47. You're trying to goad me towards maturity again

aren't you, Brigid.



Sounds like a funny read. I'll give it a try. Thanks.



Trav

[LeftInTX]

46. Where would they go?

If Gitmo ever closes, I guess we could sell it to them??

[dbackjon]

48. I call BS

Even in Arizona, there is not that many crazy people

[FailureToCommunicate]

49. Okay, sure. That worked out SO well before...

[Warren Stupidity]

55. There was on overarching moral issue in 1861 beyond simply "union".

There is no such issue any more.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

51. First ever black president and a bunch of people...

would consider this. You know, until they had to fight.

[Thinkingabout]

52. Let's see, if 1 in 4 is unhappy with Washington just think how much unhappier they will be with out

Any Government. Like the And Ryan bunch who went to Chile and found they were defrauded and wanted help, guess what, wasn't there.

[Warren Stupidity]

53. I'm fine with the confederacy going their own way.

I understand there are a lot of good people there who would get screwed over, and I am sorry about that, but long term the cultural differences between the theocratic dimwits that are the majority in the new confederacy and the rest of us are irreconcilable. Divorce seems like the best solution.