A New Mexico state representative has again filed a constitutional amendment that would allow three or more contiguous counties in the State to vote to secede if at least 15% of the counties’ electorate sign a petition to put the question on the ballot and then there is a simple majority vote. While no one expects the bill to even get out of committee, it shows that secession from States is still considered a valid and desirable action in many States.

For example:

• Counties in true Northern California and Southeastern Oregon have long dreamed of a State of Jefferson, freeing them from the tyranny of both Sacramento and Salem.
• A few years back, a dozen counties in Colorado, mostly in the Eastern Plains and Western Slope, attempted a referendum to secede, as a separate State of Northern Colorado. Though voted down, the movement is still alive: the overwhelming dominance of the Metro Denver area (including Boulder) and the increasingly regressive rule in cities such as Fort Collins and the I-70 corridor in the Rockies drive this.
• Nearly two-thirds of the land of Oregon are in eastern and central counties actively seeking to secede and join a Greater State of Idaho. Some counties in Eastern Washington State and even Northern Nevada are interested. Again, the tyranny of Salem, Olympia (together with Seattle), and Carson City (read Las Vegas) pushes this.
• A number of counties in Virginia along its boundary with West Virginia have explored how to secede from Virginia (Richmond, the DC suburbs, and more) and join the State of West Virginia. Which of course, exists because DC supported its succession from Virginia in 1863 over the issues of Secession and Slavery. (Ironic, huh? The counties that did not want Virginia to secede from the Union were willing to secede from their own Commonwealth.

There are, of course, other historical examples, stretching a long ways back. Kentucky, for example, also really seceded from Virginia in the 1700s. Just as Tennessee did from North Carolina, winning only after the failure of a first effort to establish the State of Franklin. And Maine seceded from Massachusetts, aided by Congress in the Compromise of 1820 to balance slave and “free” states.

All of these are largely promoted and desired because of a “mother-country/colony” attitude in their State capitols. That is driven by overwhelming voting power of urban areas. That voting power has long been used as a weapon or at least a tool of discipline by political machines, big corporations, bureaucracies, and today, the rule of urban core cities by Regressives. (Not just Democrats: the GOP has its share of all of the above.)

For example, the New Mexico effort is driven by Southeastern New Mexico. A former mayor of Roswell, largest city in the Permian Basin portion of New Mexico, said he doubts the amendment will even be heard. “I think secession is a fantasy, a fun fantasy,” he said. “(But) Santa Fe would never let southeast New Mexico go. Southeast New Mexico is like a Third World colony to Santa Fe. They want the money that southeast New Mexico generates.”

The Permian is one of the two major oil and gas producing regions of New Mexico. (The other is the San Juan Basin of Northwestern New Mexico, predominantly San Juan County.) As with Alberta’s abuse by the Canadian FedGov (and the other provinces), the Permian and San Juan are involuntary donors of money that powers New Mexico’s increasing socialism. (An example is the recently-established free child care for all incomes.) At the same time, the current governor, in her last campaign, made it clear that one of her goals is to end all production (and use) of petroleum and natural gas in New Mexico.

Generally, the areas that wish to leave their birth-state are of smaller, less dense population, far from the centers of power and the State Capitol, and tired of being abused (when not ignored) by State government agencies. Significant differences in culture, morality, and economic activities make the perceived tyranny even worse.

Here at TPOL, we see little or no likelihood that (a) these efforts will have success, but (b) these efforts will go away. Even though, as Tom Knapp recently pointed out in a comment, we are seeing changing demographics as people are able to abandon both the cities and the suburbs as technology helps them both make a living and enjoy many of the benefits once available only in cities. While many bring their attitudes of near-worship of big government with them, others are fleeing back to places that were and might again be places with limited and very limited government.

We view secession as as fundamental a human right as free speech and freedom to practice your religion and keep and bear arms. Indeed, it is an application of the reverse of our right to freely associate (or not). Why should any community, 400 miles away from the major population (and voter) concentrations and government agencies, be forced to submit? When they are ignored except when it comes to taxing them and taxing them again and again, and of course, bludgeoned by totalitarian enactments based on the prejudice and greed of an elite and harsh majority?