The issue of Vermont (among other things)

"A poll this year by the University of Vermont's Center for Rural Studies found that 13 percent of those surveyed support secession, up from 8 percent a year before."

So says an AP article that I read in today's newspaper. It's important to note that this was in Vermont only. So, people of Vermont that favor secession...what are your reasons?

"'The argument for secession is that the U.S. has become an empire that is essentially ungovernable-it's too big, it's too corrupt and it no longer serves the needs of its citizens,' said Rob Williams, editor of Vermont Commons, a quarterly newspaper dedicated to secession."

"The Vermont movement has been simmering for years but gained new traction because of the Iraq war, rising oil prices and the formation of several pro-secession groups."

"His (Thomas Naylor, 70, a retired Duke University economics professor and author) 112-page manifesto contains little explanation of how Vermont would make do without federal aid for security, education and social programs. Some in the movement foresee a Vermont with its own currency and passports, for example, and some form of representative government formed once the secession has taken place."

"'We're normal human beings,' said Williams, 39, a history professor at Champlain College. 'But we're serious about this. We want people in Vermont to think about the options going forward. Do you want to stay in an empire that's in deep trouble?'"

Okay, so let's discuss some of the issues here. Number One: The Iraq War. Let's put it in historical perspective. Thirty-two years ago, the Vietnam War ended. It lasted for sixteen years, and 58,000 American soldiers died there. Some people are calling Iraq another Vietnam. So, let's look at the facts about the Iraq conflict. We have been there for about four years, and have lost about 3,500 troops last time I heard. If Iraq is another Vietnam, it is on a much smaller scale.

Some people say that it is taking way too long for the Iraqi government to become stable enough to stand on it's own, that the civil war is out of hand, etc. Let us compare Iraq to the United States, then. The Iraqi government took two "long" years to develop and ratify a constitution. In the United States, we began with the Articles of Federation in 1777. By 1786, there was talk of amending the Articles. The result was the formation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights that we have today. Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution. This occurred in 1790. It took 13 YEARS to come up with our constitution. Iraq did it in two.

Let's also examine Iraq's civil war. We once had a civil war too. It lasted four years, and over 650,000 soldiers died in it. Then, also consider the civil rights issue in Iraq regarding the Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds. These are divisions along ethnic and religious lines. The United States passed a Civil Rights Act that prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin in 1964. That occurred 188 years after our declaration of independence from England. Compared to our track record, I think Iraq isn't doing so badly.

Let's talk now about the ethics of the Iraq war. We never found any WMD's. Whether or not they ever had them is now irrelevant, because we have no evidence. But let's say they did have them, and we found them. Would our invasion then be ethical? Not in my opinion. I do not believe in preemptive strikes. If Iraq had attacked us, then an invasion would have been justified. But they didn't. What did they do that warranted an invasion? They refused to allow weapons inspectors to do their job in their country. I believe that is their right as a sovereign nation, regardless of whether or not I agree with the actions of Saddam Hussein's government. Unless there was some agreement that Iraq made that I was not aware of, I believe they had the right to refuse. The United States has no business being the world's policeman, as some have called it. Honestly, I would be happy to see a return to the military and political isolationism that characterized this country before World War II. Note that I left out "economical", because that is just not feasible. And besides, I like my Japanese-made car.

That said, should we pull out of Iraq ASAP? No. Why? We went in there and destabilized the country. We made a mess of things. Perhaps we shouldn't have gone in there, but that's a moot point. Once we were committed, there was a right way to do it, and many wrong ways. We chose the wrong way. What is the right way? We're still trying to figure that out. But we need to. We made a mess of things, and we should fix it. I'm all for asking other countries to lend a hand as well. Many countries sit back and criticize the United States for its handling of the situation, but are they doing anything to help out? No. If they want peace in the Middle East, they should do something about it.

Okay, next topic: gas prices. How, may I ask, is it all the government's fault? Allow me to say for the record that the war in Iraq was never about oil. The price of oil has not experienced a significant drop since we went in, and is probably higher than it was in 2003. Actually, it is, I just looked it up. In 2003, the price was a little over $30 per barrel. It is now about $65 per barrel. Yes, I see now that we went into Iraq so we could get cheaper oil.

Even with oil prices so high, gas prices could be much lower. But why aren't they? There is sufficient oil; the problem is our refining capacity. Our current refineries are expected to surpass 90% utilization this summer, which is good. But the problem is there are not enough refineries to produce enough gas to meet demand. Building new refineries takes time. So, what else can be done to reduce gas prices? Wait, I think I've stumbled upon a large chunk of the problem: wasteful consumption in the form of fuel-inefficient vehicles.

Every day, I see tons of SUV's on the road, many with custom rims, tinted windows, paint jobs, etc. H2's, Suburbans, and Escalades seem quite popular. I single these vehicles out because I have never seen one of these customized trucks doing anything but looking pretty. I have never seen one hauling cargo in the back, or towing something. They are just there for looks. Personal example: My mom has a mid-size SUV, a Nissan XTerra to be exact. But, we actually use it for what it was intended. We have two large dogs that would not fit into my little compact car. They need a larger vehicle. Then there are times that we purchase landscaping items from the hardware store, and need the extra space. We also have a boat that we tow. It generally costs around $50 to fill up the truck. I wonder, how much does it cost to fill up an H2 or Escalade that does nothing but look pretty? I'd guess at least $75. Keep in mind that the owners of said vehicle do not need the cargo space or towing capacity. They could easily make do with a car like mine. How much does it cost me to fill up? Around $25. On a 2007 Escalade (fueleconomy.gov), you get, at best, 19mpg. My record? 42mpg, and my car is ten years old. What an obscene waste of gas.

Speaking of which, let's talk about the way people drive. I see it frequently. People consistently drive 10mph over the speed limit, and when they're starting off from a stoplight, they all but floor the gas pedal. Did you know that this is also wasting gas, even if you have a small car like mine? I mentioned that I once got 42mpg. That was strictly highway driving, using cruise control, windows rolled up, and no A/C. So what do I normally get? In city, I usually get between 30-35mpg. According to the above website, my car is rated, in city, at 24mpg. Highway? it's rated 32mpg. Note that I increased my gas mileage by 10mpg. Can I have a round of applause?

Do you see what conservative driving will do for your gas mileage? Do you realize the impact it would have on gas prices if everyone who did not need their big gas-guzzlers got a smaller car and drove conservatively? Don't blame the government for gas prices when you aren't doing your part to keep them down.

So, finally, back to the subject of Vermont, and their claim that the United States is an empire that is basically falling into ruin. So, let's dissect Rob Williams' assertions.

1. It's too big. So, are you suggesting that the United States disband? Should we become a large region of tiny, squabbling countries? That's what would happen. There would be conflict over trade, traveling rights, resources. Do you want to destroy the greatest, strongest nation history has seen? People are flooding into this country because we offer freedoms that other countries don't. We have so much to offer the world when we're united, but that will end if we fragment. Then think about it. Who is left as the strongest nation in the world? It's a toss up between China and Russia, and I would not trust either with that responsibility.

2. It's too corrupt. Hmm. Sir, apparently you have never left the United States. You think we're corrupt? Try going to a third world country. For example, I went to Zambia a couple of years ago, and I found out giving bribes to the police is an everyday occurrence. They are loyal to whoever pays the highest price. Count your blessings that the worst examples of corruption in this country that make headlines are CEO's stealing money from their corporations and political backstabbing. At least no one is getting killed in the process.

3. It no longer serves the needs of it's citizens. I'm going to take a leap here and guess that you're talking about things like Medicare and welfare. One at a time. Medicare: I'm all for it. I don't really think it should come so much out of taxpayers' pockets, though. Where should it come from? Consider that I was talking to a radiologist one day (because I thought that I was interested in the field), and she told me that the average salary is $400,000. All that money to sit and stare at pictures of people's innards looking for problems. It's like getting paid to play "Where's Waldo?" If hospitals have all that money flowing in, can't they be generous to people who can't afford to pay for their treatments? Now, welfare: Good idea, but probably needs some work. Work is the key word. There has to be a limit on it, the limit being that the person receiving welfare has to find a job in X amount of time, or something along those lines. I know that it works somewhat like that now, but there are still loopholes being exploited. We need a system that rewards hard, honest work and punishes slothfulness. Remember Jamestown? "He who does not work, does not eat" or something like that.
So it doesn't help everyone. Like I said before, count your blessings. We are one of the wealthiest nations in the world, and even our poorest people make more money and live better lives than half the population of the world.

Another question for you. How will you survive on your own as a nation? Vermont is very small and rural. You have no major industrial centers. You will, more than likely, rely heavily on imports, with little to trade in return. You are landlocked, which means you need permission from your surrounding neighbors to travel over their land. Considering you just spat in the face of all of America by seceding, the government might not be too keen on helping you out economically. This is all assuming that the United States doesn't treat you like it did the southern states when they seceded 140 years ago. The southern states failed to gain the support of England and France (the other world powers at the time), so what makes you think that you will?

In conclusion, as I have been at this for a few hours, I have a few more things to say. Secession is the cowards way out. So, you don't like the way the country is being run. We went a long step towards changing that when we elected a Democrat-controlled Congress. More than likely, we will have a Democratic president come 2009. That could significantly alter the course that this country is on. What I'm trying to say is, don't leave the country. If you don't like it, hitch up your balls and try to change things. If you have a worthy cause, the people of the rest of the United States will support you, and things will change. That's the great thing about living in a country that has a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. We the people rule the country, and we have the power to make it as we want to.