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Petition Response: Our States Remain United

Submitted by DeMolay on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 03:59

( The following is the response sent for a White House petition about Texas secession ).

By Jon Carson, Director of the Office of Public Engagement

Thank you for using the White House's online petitions platform to participate in your government.

In a nation of 300 million people -- each with their own set of deeply-held beliefs -- democracy can be noisy and controversial. And that's a good thing. Free and open debate is what makes this country work, and many people around the world risk their lives every day for the liberties we often take for granted.

But as much as we value a healthy debate, we don't let that debate tear us apart.

Our founding fathers established the Constitution of the United States "in order to form a more perfect union" through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government. They enshrined in that document the right to change our national government through the power of the ballot -- a right that generations of Americans have fought to secure for all. But they did not provide a right to walk away from it. As President Abraham Lincoln explained in his first inaugural address in 1861, "in contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution the Union of these States is perpetual." In the years that followed, more than 600,000 Americans died in a long and bloody civil war that vindicated the principle that the Constitution establishes a permanent union between the States. And shortly after the Civil War ended, the Supreme Court confirmed that "[t]he Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible Union composed of indestructible States."

Although the founders established a perpetual union, they also provided for a government that is, as President Lincoln would later describe it, "of the people, by the people, and for the people" -- all of the people. Participation in, and engagement with, government is the cornerstone of our democracy. And because every American who wants to participate deserves a government that is accessible and responsive, the Obama Administration has created a host of new tools and channels to connect concerned citizens with White House. In fact, one of the most exciting aspects of the We the People platform is a chance to engage directly with our most outspoken critics.

So let's be clear: No one disputes that our country faces big challenges, and the recent election followed a vigorous debate about how they should be addressed. As President Obama said the night he won re-election, "We may have battled fiercely, but it's only because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future."

Whether it's figuring out how to strengthen our economy, reduce our deficit in a responsible way, or protect our country, we will need to work together -- and hear from one another -- in order to find the best way to move forward. I hope you'll take a few minutes to learn more about the President's ideas and share more of your own.

Maybe

Submitted by uastudy on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 09:35. Permalink

A democracy can be noisy, but a republic can be downright threatening to TPTB. The second amendment protects the people from a "democracy" which has always turned into a despotic government.

How many times does the idiot who wrote this response use the word "democracy?" Once I notice the word "democracy" I stop reading, figuring the writer has no idea what they're talking about...

Might Makes Right

Submitted by Windcharmer on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 11:42. Permalink

Good ol' Lincoln solved that problem all right. Somehow the administration has equated a few words in Lincoln's first inaugural to law. Nowhere in the Constitution is a "perpetual union" described. But it's ok because a reconstruction era court said so.

I call B.S.

King George ...

Submitted by TommyPaine on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 10:40. Permalink

... probably thought his kingdom was perpetual, too.

So what?

It has been perpetual, but its form has evoloved over the years. The monarchy itself no longer has any power because the monarchy was abusive, as most are when power is too centralized. Plus, the USA decided not to stay in that "perpetual" system.

Who was right? Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, or Abraham Lincoln in some speech?

I'll take Jefferson over Lincoln any day, thank you.

Eye-opening response?

Submitted by JohnPhillipSousa on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 09:23. Permalink

Uses the Tyrant Lincoln as a subtle reminder of what's to come should there be any attempts to secede.

Really liked the soft touch about 'self-governance' and the 'ballot box' as our rightful means to address grievances. LOL Only problem is they're still pretending we're too stupid to realize those two means of redress are long gone.

—

"If you want something you've never had before, you have to do something you've never done before." Debra Medina

We are not a "democracy" we are a "republic" and the

Submitted by fishyculture on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 08:53. Permalink

"indestructible Union" is ANTITHETICAL to "indestructible States."

Now then, I HOPE this will end "petition mania." They are meaningless, and let the White House pretend they are addressing everyone's concerns. Do you feel better now? Of course not. Are you going to turn around and do the SAME THING AGAIN?

—

Ron Paul supports a new 9-11 investigation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH9nOWnp5G0

Response is lame..

Submitted by Blue Republic on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 08:36. Permalink

As all of the responses to these petitions have been that I
have read.

"Lincoln said the Union is perpetual, the north won the war
and that's that" seems to be the sum of their argument to the
Texas petition.

That said, the petitions are often poorly worded. The serfs
humbly petitioning the feudal lord for their freedom doesn't
get it..

If, OTOH you said something like:

"If the people of the State of Texas make a clear and formal
declaration of their intent to reclaim their sovereignty as an
independent nation and terminate their membership in the
entity known as the United States of America, what does the
President, as head of the executive branch propose to do about it?"

"Please state whether the US government believes that there are
any means under existing law whereby any state can leave the
Union? If not, what provisions of law prohibit such action.
If means to leave the union peacefully and legally exist, what are they?"

it might make for more meaningful/interesting responses. Then
again, maybe not, considering the source.

Ask the WH if they agree with this...

Submitted by More_Liberty on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 08:32. Permalink

"That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."

Does not the federal government agree that they have become destructive to liberty. Is not $16.4 trillion in debt -and growing- destructive? Isn't perpetual war destructive? Isn't being able to lock up individuals within the USA without their rights of due process not destructive? When the federal government records and stores every single electronic transmission and coorospondence of its citizens without a warrant isn't that destructive?

I'm sorry but Lincoln was a tyrant. He ignored Supreme Court decisions, he canceled habeas corpus, he instituted involuntary servitude to supposedly stop involuntary servitude.

—

______
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

The petition is illogical.

Submitted by AllPaul on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 07:55. Permalink

What free person asks a slavemaster (an illegal alien, illegally installed puppet) for permission to secede?

I think this is a good

Submitted by SteppingStones on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 09:07. Permalink

I think this is a good response to the petition and well written, with alot of good points. So, we are the States United. The United States is "the States" united. We are not Washington D.C. or the Pentagon or any of their agencies. The States will individually and collectively reject all unconstitutional laws and bills, executive orders etc. In other words, every state stands united with Texas. The States (people) will immediately began to remove representatives who write, present or vote for unconstitutional laws and bills, starting with Senator Feinstein. Go California. Can we all secede together this way--United Secession

remember, TPTB would like to see us divided to gain control