Some of citizens of North Carolina have started a petition in favor of seceding from the United States of America. Have we forgotten so soon that secession just might not be the answer to political disagreements? It didn’t work so well the first time. I read that the plan calls for a peaceful secession this time. I assume that the people asking for this don’t consider themselves patriots. I think that Ronald Reagan, Abe Lincoln, FDR, and George Bush (both of them) would all agree with me that wanting to break up the union is about as unpatriotic as it gets.

The idea suddenly cropped up after the November 6 election. Now really, was that what our forefathers had in mind? Every time we lose an election, demand secession from the union? Is that why Maryland wants out of the ACC – because they keep losing?

Texas also has a petition for secession. The city of Austin, in a counter move, has voted to secede from Texas, if Texas secedes from the United States.

Well, if we’re determined to secede, let’s look at some of the consequences. First, I would imagine the U. S. government would at least charge for use of their interstate system if folks from the Republic of North Carolina plan to use it. And maybe, they won’t let NC citizens use it at all.

We’ll have to have passports or visas in order to visit our relatives in South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Congress may even vote to build a fence around North Carolina to keep undesirables out of the United States. I can just see myself hiding in the trunk of a car just to get to Nashville to go the Grand Ole Opry. Maybe we can talk Scotty into starting a North Carolina version in Garner.

Social security, Medicare, and Medicaid will surely be cut off, meaning we will have to find a way to take care of our elderly. They will probably have to go back to work. Those who can’t afford health care or food will just have to do without. That may be what these “secessionists” have in mind any way. There will be no federal jobs. I would guess that Fort Bragg, Seymour Johnson, and Camp Lejeune will close down or relocate to America. The federal prisons will have to move, too.

We will need currency I suppose. Maybe we could just use possum pelts or something like that. However, wouldn’t Jesse Helms or Andy Griffith look good on a bill?

Instead of states, we already have some neatly gerrymandered congressional districts. They will work nicely. Each district congressman can serve as the governor. Mel Watt may be at a disadvantage, since his district is the I-85 corridor. He’ll have to use back roads or pay heavy tolls to visit his constituents.

In sports, the Carolina Panthers and the Charlotte Bobcats will be the best professional teams in the nation. The bad news is they won’t have anybody to play against. UNC, N. C. State, Duke, East Carolina, and Wake Forest should all have good chances of having top 5 basketball and football teams on the college level. UNCW and Campbell would be nationally competitive as well. The Tarheel football team will have to play Elon every year. (Oh, that’s right, they already do.)

We won’t have to be embarrassed anymore about our teachers being paid less than in other states. We’ll get to compare their salaries to those in Cuba, Haiti, and Guatemala and other independent nations like ours. After the comparison, there should be more money available for other needs.

What do we do the first time there’s a disaster? North Carolina will have to take care of its own or ask for aid from other governments. Maybe Venezuela will send help. And there’s always that lottery money.

There will be many other issues, but it sounds like something worth avoiding. If the 20,000 who signed the petition really want to form their own nation, maybe they should go find one. I hear there’s some really nice property in Siberia.