Cascadia

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Do you think Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (and possibly some surrounding areas, such as California's far north, the Alaska Panhandle, and Idaho) should become an independent country?

Personally I think it would be awesome. I think America and Canada are falling empires and we need some new identity and system to fill the void. Plus I think there's a unique culture here in the Northwest that is not spiritually tied to the American and Canadian cultures back east. There is a sense of isolation, both physically and psychologically, from the rest of the continent here in the Upper Left Corner. I'm also tired of the American society and political environment, and while Canada is much better, that hosehead Stephen Harper is trying his best to make Canada the 51st state of insanity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_movement

What do you think?

Just try not to leave as violently as those stupid pinheads in the Southeast.

I wouldn't support secession if it wasn't done entirely peacefully.

Congress would have to approve. Do you thing they will?

ruveyn

Is that what our constitution says?

Congress admits new states, so only Congress can un-admit a state. No other branch has a power resembling admission, so by reasonable extension Congress is the way to un-admit a state peacefully.

The final word would rest with the courts.

ruveyn

No, BC may be on the west coast but I doubt they would enjoy sharing a nation with Americans

Nah, this whole USA thing is working out pretty well for me. Besides, I've seen Canadian cigar prices; $40 for a Cohiba Lancero, seriously?

The Constitution also says something about powers not specifically given the federal government are for the individuals and for the states. If the Constitution says nothing about un-admitting a state, then it would be up to the state to un-admit itself.

It would be up to all of the other states to approve or disapprove. The seceding State has assets belonging to the people of the Other States, so a settlement must be agreed to first.

Secession is not permitted. We fought a bloody war over that. The secessionists lost. If a State attempted to secede on its own initiative and authority, it would be occupied by Federal Troops toot sweet.

ruveyn

We did allow the Philippines to secede, although not technically a state.

But, regarding states, you seem to be correct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_v._White

If you want to swear true allegience to the Queen of Canada and her heirs and successors according to law, then I am all in favour of the admission of a couple of new provinces.

But I'm less sanguine about breaking away from Canada, entirely. Losing access to Keith's, poutine, maple syrup and ice hockey prowess would be significant impediments to my way of life.

Cascadia would embrace/absorb many elements of Canadian culture.

It would be an interesting mix of cultures. True there would be many elements of Canadian culture, but also a healthy dose of Oregonian & Washingtonian culture. The bulk of the population would be Portland & Seattle.
There would be challenges to the mix. Though The cities in the NW are quite progressive, the rural areas are very redneck.

On the subject of secession, I believe that any group of people should have the right to "pick up their ball and go home", regardless of what others outside that region has to say about it. The decision should be 100% up to people within the region seceding.
(If they are starting their own country, the US constitution doesn't mean squat at that point)

Of course I'd completely expect a highly aggressive and violent organization like the US Federal government to use military action to prevent such a thing.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaPysXyndJ4[/youtube]

I've read about the "Western Canada Concept" for a new nation. If the population votes that way, I say so be it, as I am a supporter of self-determination. I cannot see unification with American states though. That is partially my own bias against annexation by the US, speaking, most likely; I don't want to see either country dismantled. I think any merger between Canadian and US states will be weighted heavily in favor of the latter. They almost all would have larger populations than the provinces they are joining, while the province would likely have a lot of more territory and a lot more natural resources. Ultimately I think it would just be a fast track to exploitation by American-style big business. I can't help but wonder if balkanization of North America would benefit corporations more than it would the people in the new nation-states



How would you know for sure? Canadian culture is not homogenous in any case... BC is very different from Quebec, for example, in a lot of ways.

I remember, way back when Quebec was flirting with separation, some talk about Canada's English-speaking Eastern Provinces joining the USA.