What would the US government do if Alaska or Hawaii tried to secede?

[NNN0LHI]

Poll question: What would the US government do if Alaska or Hawaii tried to secede?

Regardless of which political party was in control at the time. Keep in mind that once one state was allowed to secede chances are more would follow suit. What would Americas leaders do?

[Rann]

1. Crush them

Swiftly:


I can not recall but durning IKE (50's) something came up on this.

[Ravenseye]

2. I thought this was decieded after the civil war.

Isn't there some law saying that states dont' have right to secede any more?

[bunkerbuster1]

8. The "No one here gets out alive" law.

It's part of the Morrisson doctrine.

[DU9598]

3. Hawaii

They would probably let Hawaii go figuring we would lose Democratic representation.

[RC]

11. No way. Ain't gonna happen.

The Hawaiian Islands are needed for refueling for ships and planes crossing the Pacific. It's use by the military is way too vital. Ain't gonna happen to these islands. The nearest land mass is 2000 miles away.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. They would never let us and our untapped natural resources

go. There are zillions of dollars buried under the ground in Alaska.

[KamaAina]

5. Breaking: Bush** declares war on Hawai'i (sarcasm)

Cheney: "But Georgie, they're one of the fifty states. They're on our side. Didn't they teach you anything at Andover?!"

Bush**: "They did too teach me how to be a male cheerleader so stop saying that! Anyway that hula of theirs looks kinda French to me, if you know what I mean. I say we nuke 'em!"

Cheney: "But... but... but Georgie, ever hear of a place called Pearl Harbor?"

Bush**: "Oh, right, the Germans bombed it in World War... uh... One... Two... one of those. But what the heck has that got to do with Hawai'i?"

Cheney: "(gurgle gurgle) Auuugggghh... my heart... is... exploding..."

:nuke:

[aden_nak]

6. We would not let either go. They are military assetts.

Alaska has a nice tactical position, close to Russia. Plus, there is a moderate amount of oil under the ice. We've all seen what lengths our government will go to for some bubblin' crude.

Hawaii is out of the question. It has an even more important military significance. It's tactical capacity as a refueling station and a primary naval base in the Pacific Ocean is beyond even Alaksa's low-return oil resource in terms of importance. Especially with the whole issue of North Korea.

[Selatius]

7. The Supreme Court set the precedent: You check in, you can't check out

It is one after-effect of the Civil War.

[Chipper Chat]

9. Puerto Rico and D.C. - are you listening?

you don't wanna go there anymore!

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

10. I think this is a major reason we can't let Kurdistan happen

If we started letting people vote themselves out of countries, we would either have to be huge hypocrites or watch the US of A get a bit less, well, U.

[mahina]

12. Hawaii is an occupied nation.

Hard to forget with those MiGs flying around all the time.
Not saying it would be impossible, but from that angle, via elections, never gonna happen. Wouldn't it be nice though, for the 26 seconds until we were scooped up by another country.

From Ka Pae 'Aina Hawai'i.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. Can't answer with those choices.

Hawaii -- who knows. Re-establish the Hawaiian monarchy, declare it's independence. Could, possibly, let them go, with a permanent concession of the military bases. Could be a good location for a new Gitmo.

Alaska -- no way. Oil. 'Nuff said.

[NNN0LHI]

14. If we let Hawaii go and set that precedent and how many more will go?

Who would be next? California? Texas? New York? See the problem here? It doesn't make no difference what state it is. Like someone said above. Once you are in you don't get out. Kind of like a roach motel.

Don

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. It's going to happen eventually. Maybe not soon, or even in the

next century, but Hawaii will be independent again. And it will take the US pacific territories with it -- Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island, etc. We have no idea how peak oil is going to affect trans-pacific travel and commerce, but I don't expect it will get cheaper or easier. With much of our navy gone nuclear, we don't need the refueling stops that the US island empire started as. If the continent explodes into regional civil war again, a not unlikely scenaria, it would be easy for Hawaii to keep out of it and secede and who's to say that whatever mainland government or governments that follow would even be interested in reclaiming it?

Hawaii has only been a state for less than 50 years, and an American territory for barely more than a hundred. It would not at all be like Oregon or Texas or New Hampshire seceding. (Though if Texas wants out, I say let them go, so long as they take * with 'em.)

[Toucano]

15. Chances are? What's your basis

for that assumption?

[NNN0LHI]

16. Once that precedent is set what would stop them? Absolutely nothing

This is the same thing that is going on with China and Taiwan right now. If Taiwan were to win its Independence what would stop other Chinese provinces from trying to do the same?

Lets face it. California for instance could easily become its own self sustaining country. They would still need to do business with the 49 States Of America and the rest of the world, but they might very well do better as an independent nation than they are doing now. Other states may very well wish to become part of the new country of California if things go well for them.

Don

[Jack_DeLeon]

17. The precedent has already been set....

throughout history there are countless times parts of nations have broken away and delcared independence.

If Taiwan becomes independent waht would stop other Chinese provinces from trying to do the same? The answer to that is simple, the PLA would stop them.

[rinsd]

18. California could not sustain itself.....

We would have to go to war over the Colorado river. Otherwise you can pretty much kiss So Cal goodbye.

"They would still need to do business with the 49 States Of America"

When would that be post-secession? Think Cuba.

"but they might very well do better as an independent nation than they are doing now."

I doubt it. 50M people is quite a bit for a new nation. And if CA was to secede what would stop counties within CA from seceding?

It's one of those Pandora's box thingies.....

[Toucano]

19. The chances are very slim

that the majority of people in any state would elect to become independent at the present time. Even if a majority decided to leave, the minority would certainly have right to sue in U.S. courts to prevent the action.

It's an interesting concept that I don't believe has been completely settled by the civil war or the adoption of the 14th amendment any more than voting rights were settled by the Civil War and the Reconstruction amendments. We're still dealing with voting rights issues, and the Supreme Court has reversed itself on more than one occassion.

1. The Constitution could be amended to provide a mechanism for withdrawal from the union. This would require a lot of political support.

2. The United States could enter into a treaty to cede territory to another soverign nation. U.S. born people living in that territory would still be U.S. citizens as defined by the 14th amendment. This treaty would still face challenges even if the Senate ratified it.

I just object to the characterization expressed by the "Chances are..." statement because it totally ignores the risks associated with such a move.

You might be interested in this article:

http://slate.msn.com/id/2109317/

[VelvetMonkeyWrench]

20. Let them go

Forcing a large geographically isolated group to do something they don't want is very repressive.

Breaking away doesn't imply hostility, but forcing things on people surely will breed it.

I'm sure amicable terms could be reached if both sides approached it in an open manner.