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Should the United States be split into multiple countries?

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The American Declaration of Independence states, "When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another..." The war which followed that historic declaration in 1776 was not a revolution. It was a war of secession — an attempt by a group of people not to overthrow their government (the British king) but to assert their rights to self-determination and independence from that government. Two centuries later, is it time for Americans to think about seceding again?
Are people in the United States today more or less oppressed than the Americans who revolted in 1776?
More - The federal government has destroyed the Bill of Rights and taxes are much higher.
Less - British tyranny was much worse. The British were even quartering troops in peoples' homes.
About the same amount.
Unsure.
Like the war in 1776, the American Civil War was a war of secession. Contrary to popular belief, it was not fought over the abolition of slavery —— President Lincoln only later signed the order freeing the slaves in order to get the support of Southern blacks in the war. Given that the conflict actually began over economic policy and the question of slavery was not on the table at the time, should the Southern states have been allowed to secede peaceably and form a separate country?
Yes - the Union was supposed to be voluntary, and states should have the right to leave.
No - It was worth hundreds of thousands of deaths in the Civil War to keep the country whole.
Unsure.
There are questions over the legal status of a number of states, including Texas and Hawaii. Both were once independent countries; Texans voted to join the United States in a plebiscite of questionable legitimacy, while Hawaii was invaded and conquered by the U.S. government at the behest of local American business interests. Should the legal status of such states be decided in an international court?
Yes - If they're ruled to be independent nations, they can always vote to rejoin the U.S. later.
No - The results of illegal votes and conquests should be respected if enough time has passed.
Unsure.
Do you think the United States is currently too large, too small, or the right size?
Too large - Government in Washington D.C. is distant and does not represent the people.
Too small - The goal should be to build as large and powerful a nation as possible.
The right size - I like living in a large, powerful country, but I don't want to let more people in.
Unsure.
If you and most people in your state want to secede from the United States, should your state be allowed to become an independent country?
Yes.
No.
Unsure.
If a majority of people in another state want to secede from the United States, should that state be allowed to become independent?
Yes.
No.
Unsure.
Should people periodically be allowed to vote on whether they want their state to secede from the United States?
Yes - Often enough that the average person gets to vote on it at least once in his or her lifetime.
No - If most people in a state want independence, they're free to start another war of secession.
People should only be allowed to vote if appears necessary to prevent a violent conflict.
Unsure.
Some people in the United States may form a distinct group, but not be a majority in any particular state, for example the Amish in Pennsylvania. If members of such a group clearly favor independence, should they be allowed to form a small independent nation without taking an entire state with them?
Yes - present state boundaries are historical accidents; they should not be set in stone.
No - The right to self-determination should apply only to groups defined by existing borders.
Unsure.
There is disagreement on whether the right to self-determination applies only to groups, or to individuals as well. How large do you think a group should have to be in order to have national sovereignty?
At least a million people — small countries like Tuvalu and the Vatican should be abolished.
The minimum size should be set to the smallest existing country to avoid upsetting the status quo.
You should be allowed to declare your sovereignty and acquire the legal standing of a country.
Unsure.
The United States contains a number of Indian reservations. These tribal lands are technically independent nations by treaty between the United States and the respective tribes, but in practice the Indian nations are not allowed by the United States government to control their own foreign policy, be represented in the United Nations, or decide which laws their people will be required to follow. Should these peoples be given the choice of real independence?
Yes - the U.S. should honor its treaties and allow the Indians to leave the federal "plantation."
No - Indian tribes control too much valuable land to allow them to secede.
Unsure.
This poll was created on 2002-03-25 05:08:24 by Starchild