Re: “Colorado secession petition has 21,900 signatures,” Nov. 24 news story.
The Denver Post recently reported on the growing movement of some citizens to support their states in seceding from the union. At least 25,000 people in each of 11 states have signed petitions to secede, most of them from the South. To these people I say good luck. The U.S. will be better off politically and financially without them and their backward, ignorant views (it’s a well-known fact that the wealthier Northern, Midwestern and Western states subsidize the poorer Southern states through federal revenue transfers). Without the South to hold us back, we wouldn’t be hindered by gridlock at every turn. We could pass legislation, consistently held back by Southern congressmen, which would create the truly progressive democracy so many of us seek. We could realize the world-leading high levels of happiness found in Scandinavia.
John Penberthy, Boulder
This letter was published in the Dec. 2 edition.
Secession supporters, including those who have published their views in letters to The Post’s editor, presumably are consistent enough in their views that they will no longer take the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America — “one nation indivisible.”
Similarly, secessionists cannot honestly take an oath of federal office to uphold the Constitution without a non-dictionary definition of the word “uphold.”
R.B. Leather, Denver
This letter was published in the Dec. 2 edition.
Colorado should secede. It will reduce the size of the federal government. Between 2007 and 2009, we sent about $44 billion to Washington. If we secede, that’s $22 billion a year less Washington can spend. Plus, it means more money for Coloradans because we get back only 90 cents for each dollar we send to Washington. And we will need that extra money. Think of all the additional expense for deporting illegal aliens — back to Texas and Wyoming, not to mention California. This will become especially expensive when we have to deport all those aliens who were not born in Colorado, and who do not self-deport. On the bright side, if we need workers form another country, like Mexico or the U.S., we can charge for an annual work permit and generate even more money. Let’s just hope the U.S. doesn’t charge native Coloradans for a visa to travel to its states.
About the only downside I envision from secession might be for Colorado Springs’ economy. I doubt the U.S. would leave a military base, much less its Air Force Academy, in a foreign country.
W. Edwards, Arvada
This letter was published in the Dec. 2 edition.
Perhaps the Colorado secretary of state should investigate the identity of those who signed the petition calling for our state to secede from the union. Then he should disqualify them from voting in federal elections. Taxpayers of the state have sent him to conferences so that he could heighten his skills to identify unqualified voters.
Phillip K. Tompkins, Denver
This letter was published in the Dec. 2 edition.
I have a few questions for those 21,900 people who signed the petition to secede from the United States. First, just where are you planning to live? Second, who is going to help you out if forest fires or tornadoes devastate your new country? And, finally, who will be issuing your passports, should you wish to come back to visit the rest of us?
Thomas Olkowski, Roxborough
This letter was published in the Dec. 2 edition.
Re: “One nation, (maybe-not-so) indivisible,” Nov. 25 Paul Vandervelder column.
Paul Vandervelder does not seem to understand why six states want to secede from the union. Vandervelder is mocking the very moral foundation of what made this country great. Show me the fossil records proving the Earth is more that 6,000 years old. If Lincoln was leading this country today, we would definitely not be heading into socialism! What is wrong with not wanting to murder more babies in their mother’s wombs along with respecting the sanctity of marriage? Why would you want to destroy a person’s incentive to work hard and keep their earnings versus forcing them to pay for those who choose to be nonproductive in our society? Why on Earth would you want to forgo your freedom to live under the oppression of socialism?
I have a prediction for you, Mr. Vandervelder: We Christians will be the ones handing out food to people like you at the soup kitchen when the rug is soon pulled out from underneath the United States of America!
Taryn Logan, Lakewood
This letter was published in the Dec. 2 edition.
I’m tired of the Romney voters whining and talking about secession. Only 28 percent of the eligible voters in the U.S. (according to the Census Bureau) voted for Mitt Romney. That means 72 percent (148 million) did not vote for Romney, either by voting for President Obama or abstaining. Get over yourselves and your agendas. Tell your elected officials to do their jobs and work for fair and equitable laws. Democracy has always been about majority rule, compromise, and taking care of the underprivileged and needy. If you think secession is your only answer, why not give up your citizenship and move to Canada or Europe? That’s a lot easier than seceding. At least you’ll have health care, whether you have a job or not, and even with a pre-existing condition.
David A. Robinson, Denver
This letter was published online only.
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