Tennessee Republican candidate now threatens secesion from the US

[QUOTE="Pixel-Pirate"]

[QUOTE="lordreaven"]

Wait, isin'twhat this guy saidconsidered treason? What is the punishment for treason in the US?

lordreaven

Wouldn't it be protected by free speech....?

Yes, but I have never seen "it is not protected by free speech to have disagreements with the government or want to no longer be associated with said government". You can't incite immediate violence (you can't threaten the president, but you also cannot threaten me.), you can't slander (I guess....Media seems to do it constantly.)

If this is treason and not protected by free speech, then thats worrying since most tea partiers, many republicans, and basically anyone who is in disagreement with the current government could be taken as being "treasonous".

I mean, weren't we given the right to bare arms exactly so we could plan revolt if our government got bad? It seems counter intuitive to things.

I don't agree with the tea partiers or this candidate, but I'll still defend his right to say whatever stupidity he wants.

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"][QUOTE="_BlueDuck_"]

So the money the federal goverments spends that contributes to the debt does not effect the individual states at all?

rawsavon

Which is what the federal goverment would do. Much like in Canada, Quebec is expected to pay back it's portion of the national debt (I think it was like, 25%) if it left to federation (which won't happen but that's a different story), though obviously Quebec and the feds disagree on how much should be paid back.

I want to see them do it.

The big difference between him and the texan governor is that the governor of Texas can actually succeed. It's their constitutional right. ferrari2001

Eh, go head. At this point the country is very polarized politically and split into two camps, I really wouldn't mind if it were to happen.

The big difference between him and the texan governor is that the governor of Texas can actually succeed. It's their constitutional right. ferrari2001

No they can't, no it isn't. Texas sold their right to independance when they joined the United States so that the US would pick up their debt.

[QUOTE="lordreaven"][QUOTE="Pixel-Pirate"]

Wouldn't it be protected by free speech....?

Yes, but I have never seen "it is not protected by free speech to have disagreements with the government or want to no longer be associated with said government". You can't incite immediate violence (you can't threaten the president, but you also cannot threaten me.), you can't slander (I guess....Media seems to do it constantly.)

If this is treason and not protected by free speech, then thats worrying since most tea partiers, many republicans, and basically anyone who is in disagreement with the current government could be taken as being "treasonous".

I mean, weren't we given the right to bare arms exactly so we could plan revolt if our government got bad? It seems counter intuitive to things.

I don't agree with the tea partiers or this candidate, but I'll still defend his right to say whatever stupidity he wants.

[QUOTE="Same_Jeans_On"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

At least Texas is not surrounded by other US states; how would the secession of Tennessee even work?

l4dak47

If you look at the country of Lesotho it's oddly bang right in the middle of South Africa. It's not impossible...

The big difference between him and the texan governor is that the governor of Texas can actually succeed. It's their constitutional right. ferrari2001

Zack Wamp ftw he's a family friend of ours. Also, he does not support secession, article takes his words out of context. This was already a big political scandal in Tennessee and we had a full article in the Knoxville News Sentinel devoted to giving candidates the opportunity to defend themselves against this kind of mudslinging. Our other candidates had worse things to defend themselves from than a few words.

As a side note secession should always be left on the table or else the sovereignty of the state and people is compromised to the whims of the federal government that was created by sovereign states only to serve their own interests.

After reading through the whole thread I would like to make a few comments.

1. Just because we support a Republican for governor does not mean we supported the Iraq War, the PATRIOT act, etc. I happen to dislike most Republicans because they brutalize the constitution, but so do Democrats. The parties aren't as different as you might think.

2. Tennessee is actually well off financially. As long as you stay in the big four (Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga) you will find that Tennessee is pretty much just like your beloved home towns, only better. (Except for Memphis) This is coming from someone who has been to over 30 states and most major cities in the U.S. We have been hit a lot less harshly than most states by the recession because of our fast-growing economy, livable cities, low cost of living, and low taxes (no state income tax).

3. As to the question about what our economy consists of: Moon Pies are made here. 'nuff said

4. As for the myth that Tennesseans are homophobic, racist, backwards, etc. It just isn't true. I have never heard any kind of racism here. Racism is far, far worse in big cities in the north like Baltimore (was called a few interesting names in the projects there a few weeks back).

People need to grow up and realize that the country is pretty much the same everywhere. every state has its share of hicks, businessmen, bums, and rich people.

I mean, weren't we given the right to bare arms exactly so we could plan revolt if our government got bad? It seems counter intuitive to things.Pixel-Pirate

No, we were given the right to bear arms so that we would be able to defend our land from foreign invaders. A lot of people seem to forget that at the time the US didn't have much in the way of a standing army, and we were a fledgling nation trying to get on our feet. It was conceivable that Britain might try to reclaim her lost colonies, or that some other foreign nation might try to expand theirs. In the event of an invasion it would largely be up to the populace to fight off such invaders. We're are given the power to peacebly remove our government. Unfortunately many people don't seem to appreciate this power enough to use it, or to use it wisely.

I highly doubt if any state tried to leave again it would be peaceful. it wouldn't be like:

Texas: "Well, It's getting kinda late. It's been real, but I gotta get going."

Uncle Sam: "Ok, Texas. Thanks for coming by. Call me later."

I highly doubt if any state tried to leave again it would be peaceful. it wouldn't be like:

Texas: "Well, It's getting kinda late. It's been real, but I gotta get going."

Uncle Sam: "Ok, Texas. Thanks for coming by. Call me later."