Ron Paul: This weekend I got a couple of calls from the media asking me questions about Rick Perry, our governor here in Texas and the statements he made about possible secession. Now, he didn’t call for secession, but he was restating a principle that was long held and at least in the original time of our country, and that is that there was a right to secession.
Actually, after the Civil War, nobody believes there is a so-called right to secession, but it is a very legitimate issue to debate because all of the states that came into the Union before the Civil War believed they have a right to secede and New England in the early part of the 19th century actually considered it, and nobody questioned them about whether they had the right to do it or not.
Since the Civil War, it’s been sort of a dead issue, but he brought it up. It stirred the media and believe me, it really stirred some of the liberal media where they started really screaming about what is going on here. “This is un-American”, I heard one individual say, “This is treasonous to even talk about it.”
Well, they don’t know their history very well because if they think about it, it’s an American tradition. It’s very American to talk about secession. That’s how we came into being. Thirteen colonies seceded from the British and established a new country, so secession is very much an American principle.
What about all the strong endorsements we have given over the past decade or two of those republics that seceded from the Soviet system? We were delighted with this. We never said, “Oh no. Secession is treasonous”.
No. Secession is a good principle. Just think of the benefits that would have come over these last 230-some years if the principle of secession had existed. That means the federal government would always have been restrained, not to overburden the states with too much federalism, too many federal rules and regulations.
But since that was all wiped out with the Civil War, the federal government has grown by leaps and bounds and we have suffered the consequences, and we need to reconsider this. It’s not un-American to think about the possibility of secession. This is something that’s voluntary. We came together voluntarily. A free society means you can dissolve it voluntarily. That was the whole issue was about.
Just remember one of the reasons that Wilson drove us in unnecessarily into World War I. He talked about what we have to give, have every country in the world the benefit of self-determination, a good principle. Of course, I don’t think he really believed that. But self-determination is a good principle. It’s a very American principle, so to me it’s a shame that we can’t discuss this.
You know, it’s interesting that so many of us have been taught for so many years, and as long as I can remember from the first grade on up taking the pledge of allegiance that we have a republic that’s “indivisible” and we have been preached that and preached it. So therefore, there is no contest, no question since the Civil War that we have even the thought that this could happen.
But you know what a lot of people don’t talk about and they really don’t even know about is who wrote the pledge to the flag. The pledge to the flag came from, for instance, Bellamy, an avowed Socialist who wanted to put into concrete in the pledge this principle of being indivisible, and he did it, you know, for the celebration ironically 400 years of the celebration of the landing of Christopher Columbus, so it was in 1892.
I mean, the pledge of allegiance has not been here, you know, all our history. So I think it’s worth of discussion. I think people should discuss this because right now, the American people are sick and tired of it all and I think the time will come when people will consider it much more seriously is when the federal government can no longer deliver. That time will come when the dollar collapses.
No matter what they do and how many promises they have and how many bailouts they have, they can’t do it if the money doesn’t work. So then, the independence of the states will come back and it doesn’t mean that you’ll be un-American to even contemplate what might have to be done once the dollar crashes.
While this video was originally recorded on 4/19/2009, Ron Paul spokeswoman Rachel Mills confirmed earlier today (11/13/2012) that Ron Paul “feels the same now” about secession as he did in this video.
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America does kinda own Tx, land and all. The government has the power to force individuals off their land for building projects and other uses. to keep your land in a secession, you’d either need permission or a battle. in this way, asking to steal land from the government seams fruitless. Secession isn’t going to help anything. It would be more productive to work toward an internal change, than to try to fight for “property” in a secession.
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I’m saying it should be an option, this isn’t the same as leaving the country. You don’t forfeit your land because you are done with the government. I’m saying the government has no legitimate claim to your land, forcing you to leave your house means the government owns your house all along collecting rent on everyone and calling it taxes. As its a territorial monopoly on law, it acts as such… that’s what I’m against.
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I still don’t understand the reason that you can say secession is the answer. I suggest keeping the insurance and writing an angry letter. maybe you could even call them about changing your policy to a cheaper or more effective one. Declaring independence from the country isn’t the right path if you want change. America was founded on overthrowing corrupt governments, not running away from them. Kick out the government>Leave the country. Face the problem>Run away. Secession=/=problem facing.
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Yes, you no longer have a say on said policies and such policies no longer have a say on you. This doesn’t mean functions of law end. Its not the process of a single person, its a societal change which leads to independence one step at a time. It will only happen when the checks are worthless and the benevolence of government fail to meet expectations. That poverty isn’t solved by violence and legality isn’t answered by a territorial oligarchy called ‘democracy’.
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If you were guaranteed ‘customers’ who could never leave. Would you treat them more fairly to their needs or less fairly? It didn’t change Britain in Britain as much because of their sheer size, but it changed things in America. If Britain only existed in America, it would have an even deeper impact on the manner of Britain. If people left the insurance, it would mean less profits to the insurance and if policy doesn’t change more could be lost and this would be to someone’s gain.
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but secession didn’t regulate Britain’s rule, it ended it. It sounds to me like you are saying that secession would shake the government into acting right. history has shown otherwise. and the 13 colonies didn’t ask to leave, they told the british that they were leaving. like cutting insurance, once you cut those ties, you know longer have a say regarding insurance policies. in leaving the insurance company, you haven’t changed the coverage promised by that insurance, you’d just be uninsured.
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Assuming you justify state control over your house, or just plant your own flag in your own yard and tell them to gtfo. Secession isn’t running away. Did the 13 colonies magically run away from Great Britain when they seceded? Its cutting ties to whatever association you had, like dropping insurance. Problem is as you say, government is just a legal monopoly over a given area and will do what its always done, coerce to get its way. I’m saying secession is a better regulator than democracy.
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Elaborate if you want to make “twisting words” into a point. You are saying secession, in a way, helps our democracy. I’m saying that secession does the opposite.protest>gtfo. if a man walks in your house and changes the rules, do you leave or kick them out. secession is the choice to leave your house.
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Twisting words.
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when is secession standing up against the government? secession is an attempt to run away from government, not stand and fight it. if you want to talk about defending the democratic process, then act, as a people, to coerce the government to stop taking bribes. impeach those who propose laws that attempt to take away constitutional rights. the democratic era is kept alive by the protesters, not the fleeing ingrates who turn tail from America because they chose wrong. your glass is in reverse.
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Just like it use to be patriotic to stand up against your government, now its the opposite… Paul is talking about the past America, really classical liberal era. What you say is un-American now, use to be American then. States didn’t enter the Union to be forever bound to a central government, federalist papers etc… Yes, there is hypocrisy when it comes to the individual against the state government, one demon at a time… What little democratic process is left…
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I can agree with that enough, but I don’t see how it relates to my comment that much. I’m all for self governance, but asking permission to self govern is like a child asking it’s parents if it could run the household from now on. You don’t ask to secede. Seceding from America is un-American. Just to add this in, it’s funny that the reason that the red states wanted to secede is because the democratic process happened. Mad because they are in a selfish bubble where they should always win.
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American can mean the government of … or a mind set at a given time in a region.
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Paul supports unlimited secession. Straw-man.
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One is a government claiming ownership over vast amounts of land and the people under such a system, the other is a cultural norm mind set/belief – example Classical Liberalism. Ideas like self governance where national, state, and local don’t belong.
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I hope he gets a statue in Austin.
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Awesome. Of course it is, you’re Ron Paul. God help America. I’m praying for you Ron. You’re a steadfast patriot and a perfect example for every person in our entire world. God bless. -Kevin Samuel Carpenter
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Actually I am making this an either with us or against us argument, the same argument used by our leaders during the southern temper tantrum. Nothing in my statement was a complaint, maybe reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit. Based on your comments I would guess it’s you who needs a tampon change, or more likely a diaper change.
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Hey that sounds like the douche-baggy, “You’re either with us or against us” mentality. Why be such a schmuck-bucket? Stop your excessive complaining on YouTube, you need to change your tampon.
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Elaborate. Clarify.
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I think [this and] anything is worth a discussion; every voice should be respected.
One’s thoughts and words should always be free, likewise as we should treat each person as an individual with a mind, heart and body of their own, whom should be respected for their ideas and responsible for their actions. Thus teaches self-reliance and consequently self-respect.
Thank you again for he back-history on this topic Dr. Paul, giving the context which shows how intellectually mindful the founders were
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Thanks. The legal situation is ambiguous for a layman. Some say, the Founding Father constitution died when the southern states seceded, therefore it no longer applies. Since then, what you have is a constitution of a private commercial entity, Washington DC, which operates under Admiralty Law. There was a transition from constitutional government to private corporate government which explains the misery you are in now. The system works b/c too few people know history. Do you see through this ?
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We reserve the right to secession. It’s federal law that prevents it, however the Constitution overrides it anyway. If we seceeed, it’s legal, but it will really make the Federal Gov mad. (who cares, right?)
What we ought to do is every State secede and comebine back together again without DC. Gov was never supposed to create it’s own laws. Citizens wrote them and submitted them for approval originally.
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It´s not the question whether it´s “unamerican” but whether the states have a legal right. Are we talking about 2 constitutions here ?
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Didn´t the original constitution state that the 13 states reserved the right to secession from the union ? When the southern states seceded, did they violate the constitution ?
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YUP. Never said any different but talk of secession is juvenile and an exercise in futility. What you’d better hope for is a limited Constitutional Congress to take back the gov’t and give a vote of ‘No Confidence’ to the prez and Capitol Hill.
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Because everybody knows that thing grew on a tree.
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MMMM what?? have you been sleeping lately for more than a decade?? to this date, hawaii holds the largest sales of fake anything university titles
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MMMM what?? have you been sleeping lately for more than a decade?? to this date, hawaii holds the largest sales of fake anything university titles
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funny hearing facebook being called and innovation
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funny hearing facebook being called and innovation
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Sadly, such an ill-informed dialog below. European post-secondary education bites. If I had children, I might educate them in primary school in Europe. You guys do a good job with children. But, I would yank them out of there by the time they approached university. University in Europe is appalling. John42t, are you aware of the selling of Ph.D.s in your country? Markunator, you haven’t got a flippin’ clue. One question: where are the interesting patents generated? Europeans make nice shoes.
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$35 for NIKE Shoes;sport jerseys $35 for Cucci Handbag;
$14 for LV Sunglasses;
$80 for Rolex Watches;
……..cheapthestore. com—The Most Cool Shopping site !
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Huh …?!
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25+K per state in 6 states
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