Ron Paul: Secession is a "Deeply American Principle"

Impact

As the number of American citizens who are petitioning the White House to "peacefully secede from the Union" grows, libertarian-leaning Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas) has joined the chorus of those who want out.

"Secession is a deeply American principle. This country was born through secession. Some felt it was treasonous to secede from England, but those ‘traitors’ became our country’s greatest patriots,” the 2012 presidential candidate wrote on his blog.

Paul added: "If the possibility of secession is completely off the table there is nothing to stop the federal government from continuing to encroach on our liberties and no recourse for those who are sick and tired of it.”

The secession meme took over the blogosphere right after the reelection of President Barack Obama, when it surfaced online that presumed disillusioned Republican voters — especially from Texas — started flooding the White House website with petitions to leave the Union.  

And though some have decried the actions as the response of sore losers given the outcome of the election, Paul insists, "secession must still be an option to be used as leverage to make sure the government doesn’t 'encroach' on Americans’ liberties."

Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, departed from the secession idea earlier in the week. Perry, who also ran unsuccessfully for president, and even fanned the flames of secessionism himself trying to court the more extreme elements of the Tea Party back in 2009, said he "shares the frustrations many Americans have with our federal government," but "believes in the greatness of our Union and [that] nothing should be done to change it."

But that didn't stop Paul, who was derided as extreme and isolationist during his two presidential runs, from encouraging those who disagree with the recently reelected status quo and want out of the deal. 

“[...] if people or states are not free to leave the United States as a last resort, can they really think of themselves as free? If a people cannot secede from an oppressive government, they cannot truly be considered free,” he concluded.