The Free Vermont Secessionist Movement - A Counterpoint

As is my habit, I was reading the Sunday paper. I always read the Sunday paper here in my city because of the topical perspective section. I enjoy reading the editorial columns, not only of the local newspaper writers, but the national, as well.

On this Sunday, a story ran concerning the Free Vermont secession movement. What drew me to it was the editorial cartoon. There were two men dressed in soldier garb, one holding a gun, the other a pair of binoculars. They were standing in a trench and one was holding a sign that said, "Welcome to Vermont". The supposed comical part of the cartoon was that the word, "Welcome" had been crossed out.

I then read the article. It was an article by the Associated Press talking about all the ways in which the secessionist movement in Vermont had gained steam. It also discussed what had led up to the forming of the movement, and those involved.

I found it interesting because I had never heard of anything like this. Being a curious creature, I began to research the issue. In doing so, I found out a few interesting facts.

There have been many secessionist movements in the United States since the Civil War. Most have been efforts to secede from a state rather the national government. There are amazing movements such as the one created in 1983 by the Creator's Rights Party. This party seeks to bring several states together in order to execute "God's plan for government" Cascadia is a name for an independent state that would become the union of British Columbia, and the states of Washington and Oregon, if they ever would effectively secede from their individual governments.

However, the Free Vermont movement is one of the most extraordinary, and has shown the most progress.

In the process of researching this subject, I also came upon the name of the managing editor of the Free Vermont News, Rob Williams, who is a major player in the secessionist movement in Vermont. I also found the name of Ken Shepherd, who is managing editor of News Busters online. He had written a blog post sometime ago covering the issue.

I decided to contact both of these men and ask them to discuss the secessionist movement. They both agreed and here are the answers to those questions.

ABS) Clarify the issue of secession as you perceive it in Vermont, please elaborate.

Rob Williams) The US government no longer represents the citizens of the United States - it is too big, too corrupt, and too unwieldy - and our fiscal, economic, and political life is no longer run by the citizenry, but by large multinational corporations and what might best be called a "shadow government." This reality, when couples with the twin specters of climate change and global peak oil, mean we need to decentralize economic and political power as quickly as possible - and secession offers a constitutional means for us to do this.

ABS) How did you first become aware of the secessionist movement in Vermont? What newspaper, blog, or news program on television gave the coverage? What was your perception?

Ken Shepherd) I believe it was an Associated Press story back in April, and I believe I thought it sounded like a bunch of nutty leftists blowing off steam because they hate President Bush.

And then, of course, I thought that the media coverage was precisely because it falls into a rubric of showing how unpopular President Bush is, even if most everyone who doesn't care for Bush would never seriously say they think the remedy is to secede from the Union, rather than elect a liberal president in 2008.

ABS) How did you come to be a proponent of secession in Vermont? Explain as completely as possible.

Rob Williams) After watching two fraudulent national "elections" play out in front of my eyes, delving deep into the research around the 9/11 attacks, and watching the U.S. imperial war machine mobilize in a sequential war to control the remaining fossil fuel energy reserves in the greater middle east, it has become quite clear to me that the most legitimate constitutional means to "re-invent" the United States as a more decentralized confederation is through nonviolent secession. Our goal is to "constitutionally reconstitute" the United States as a non-Empire.

ABS) Let us say, that the media is covering the breaking news that Vermont has seceded from the U. S. -- what would be the coverage of say, CNN? Would it matter, if Paris Hilton was released from rehab, or another prison stay on the day?

Ken Shepherd) Well, supposing such a movement were successful I imagine it would come about from a special session of the legislature of Vermont. For it to get to that point I'm sure the national networks would take some notice, but I don't see the wall-to-wall coverage or the "sexy" angle than let's say a Paris Hilton or an Anna Nicole Smith.

You'd probably have a few stories. One or two about the outstanding political controversy, but the bulk of them, I think, dealing with a larger, national sense of dissatisfaction with the political climate. Polls would be consulted, man-on-the-street interviews done, and of course some panel discussions about the left-right divide in the country. I'm not sure how much, however, the media would explore the role of fringe ideological groups in fomenting talk of secession in the first place.

For example, I've documented how at least one proponent of Vermont secession Kirkpatrick Sale, is a conspiracy theorist when it comes to the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11. That's something I found by digging around via Google, it's not something that gets much, if any play, in mainstream media coverage that has been written on Free Vermont.

ABS) If secession started to become a reality in Vermont, what would be the first order of business in the new country?

Rob Williams) There would be much to do, of course - In addition to establishing embassies in other countries and inviting them to do the same, we'd first create a new government for the new republic - a decentralized model combining the best of our state legislative process and our time-honored town meeting structure - and create a new financial system and currency.

ABS) I became aware of the secessionist movement in Vermont by reading an article that was also illustrated by the following editorial cartoon. Two soldiers, one holding a gun, the other using a pair of binoculars are holding a sign that read Welcome to Vermont, the Welcome had been crossed out. Why do you think the media has sought to portray this movement in this way?

Ken Shepherd) I'd have to see the editorial cartoon in question but I doubt the media at large have any single viewpoint here just yet. I think the natural inclination for most people is to think secession is a nutty, implausible idea.

And it's true that many may ascribe negative connotations to the notion of secession, given its role in precipitating the Civil War. To this day Confederate heritage groups are maligned by some as racist for maintaining the argument that the South's secession from the Union was allowed by the Constitution given the legal understanding of the nature of the Union at the time.

But at this point, I really think it's just a snoozer of a story to many newsrooms, not to mention a fringe political movement that isn't gaining strong support in Vermont itself. As an objective news story, it's not worth much media attention given the lack of activist support it holds in Vermont itself.

ABS) How many citizens, other than those in the state of Vermont, shown their interest in secession from the United States?

Rob Williams) More than 25 states within the US Empire have active secession conversations ongoing - please visit www.middleburyinstitute.org for more information here.

ABS) Do you believe that other states would follow Vermont, if secession truly took place? And why?

Rob Williams) Once American citizens figure out the extent to which fraud, rampant militarism, corporate corruption, and a bankrupt federal system are a reality for us moving forward, I predict much more interest in nonviolent secession in the years ahead.

ABS) For arguments sake, if the proposal of secession by Vermont would gain momentum and become a reality, how do you believe the media would begin it's coverage. Use the same examples as above.

Ken Shepherd) For a secession movement to gain any speed, I'd imagine you'd need a large plurality, if not an outright majority of Vermonters to agitate for same. That's just not going to happen. And even if it were, I think it'd be of so little consequence it wouldn't merit much more than passing interest in the media.

ABS) Rob, please state your understanding of the ways in which secession is an understandable option for the state of Vermont. How would you compare it to America's secession from England.

Rob Williams) The United States was founded on the bedrock principle of secession.

And we love America and Americans, actually. It's the Empire - the federal government of both parties, in the main, and large multinational corporations - we no longer trust.

According to the 1776 Declaration of Independence, the 1788 US Constitution, the 1791 Bill of Rights, and 70 years of early US republican history, states are sovereign and have the right to secede from the federal union. Both Northerners and Southerners believed this, in the main, and many still do.†

We're on solid constitutional footing here - secession is a thoroughly American idea.†

And, speaking globally, nonviolent secession has occurred numerous times in modern world history - Belgium from Holland (1830), Norway from Sweden (1905), Singapore from Malaysia (1965) and don't forget the peaceable break-up of the Soviet Union (except for Chechnya).

And big-picture 21st century global realities - climate change and global peak oil among them - will necessitate a move towards more decentralized economic and political life in the decades to come. So, moving our heavily corporate and consolidated Empire in a more decentralized direction seems to make sense, we think.

ABS) I would like to thank you Ken for taking the time to answer these questions, but just one more. Why do you believe the issue of secession has already been addressed? This is also a time for you to impart any other views you would like to discuss on this issue.

Ken Shepherd) Personally, I think the matter of secession has long been settled by force of arms in the Civil War and by the Supreme Court some years later making it clear that unilateral secession by a state or compact of states is invalid.

I tend to think the Free Vermont movement has the extent of interest it does mainly due to widespread liberal critique of the Bush administration and its foreign policies. But given President Bush's lame duck status and the 2008 campaigns ginning up, I think you'll see an evaporation of interest in Free Vermont in all but the most intensely radical, and marginalized, activists who are milking disaffection with President Bush to push their cause.

I really enjoyed interviewing these two men and hearing the views of each. For the purposes of this interview I prefer to remain noncommittal in my opinions as I believe that is the best way to present the interview.