Florida Petition To Secede Reaches 30,000 Signatures
In just three days since Patch reported about a Florida secession petition, the petition grew from 1,343 to 30,304 signatures, exceeding its goal.
The Florida secession movement through an online petition has exploded over the course of three days, now surpassing its goal, reaching 30,304 signatures as of Wednesday evening.
Patch first reported the Florida secession movement Monday when the petition on the White House's petition website had only 1,343 signatures and the story went viral to the point where 30,304 people have signed supporting the idea of secession, though it's not legally possible. The petition was created Nov. 10.
Overall, 20 petitions for similar secession requests were filed on the site, and Texas even reached 60,000 signatures for its petition, The Huffington Post reported.
More than 178 comments were posted on Patch's initial story and another 124 comments were posted in our What's Tampa Bay Saying column asking your thoughts about this viral petition.
Though the movement sparked after the recent re-election of President Barack Obama, the secession petition fad isn't new. Even for Florida.
North Lauderdale politicians wanted the Sunshine State to be broken up into North Florida and South Florida in 2008, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
That movement grew again in 2011, the Sun-Sentinel also reported. Sun-Sentinel columnist Michael Mayo took a comedic look at how North Florida and South Florida would compare:
We'd have the Swap Shop. They'd have Yeehaw Junction.
We'd have Donald Trump. They'd have Donald Duck.
We'd have the Keys. They'd have the Redneck Riviera.
We'd have Joe's Stone Crab. They'd have the original Hooters.
We'd have Big Sugar. They'd have Big Citrus.
We'd have the Dolphins and Hurricanes. They'd have the Gators and 'Noles.
We'd have the Everglades. They'd have Busch Gardens.
We'd have pill mills. They'd have pill mills — and meth labs.
We'd have casinos. They'd have school prayer.
We'd have corrupt politicians and Ponzi schemers. They'd have a governor who ran a company convicted of Medicare fraud.
We'd have same-sex weddings. They'd have a defense-of-marriage act.
A movement by Tea Party members in Texas grew in 2009, and gained the support of Gov. Rick Perry, Time reported back then.
Secession was put out of the realm of state rights after the Civil War, partially through the 14th Amendment, Slate reports, and a Supreme Court interpretation confirmed as much in 2010, according to Politico.com.
The legal argument was that the state would have to sue the U.S., and the U.S. government would have to be consented to be sued for a declaratory judgment, and in that case, the federal government would probably decline.
But as a secession movement in Arizona sparked due to a debate that the state was setting its own foreign policy, another 14th Amendment issue, Discovery.com looked at what other rights a state has.
And though a state couldn't legally break off its tie to the federal government through suit or secession, the state can break itself up into multiple smaller states, but it still requires Congressional approval.
Texas has gone through such a discussion in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but all the movements failed, according to the Texas State Historical Association.
The majority of Patch commenters expressed how ridiculous the secession notion is. Here's what some of you had to say on Patch about the 2012 Florida petition:
Perhaps, these whack jobs should look to history to help put their petition into perspective. At the beginning of the civil war South Carolina was the first state to secede from the union. Unfortunately, they paid the heaviest price also because when General Sherman marched through their state with his union forces the devastaion was brutal and complete. Who was it that said, "if we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it?" Conversely, "If you serve up a banquet of sour grapes, then all you and others are left with is a sour taste in their mouths."
Who wrote it? Probably some backwoods Florida redneck with a third grade education .. on the other hand because it's Florida it could be a college graduate. You would think that "someone" would have had enough brains to run a spell check! So typical of this pitiful state ..
Cecilia:OMG STOP ALREADY! ENOUGH! JUST STOP! Secession, really? REALLY? UNBELIEVABLE, just plain unbelievable. Tired.....sigh.... over it..... Florida as a nation? REALLY? ugh!!! We cannot count votes, how on earth could we ever be a nation????? Counting is easy 1, 2, 3,,4 and we cannot do that, but we can be a soverign nation? PLEASE!!!!!! STOP!
Very nice way to celebrate Veterans Day. Tell all the veterans that risks their life for you that you do not want to be an American. Seeing most of you drive non-American cars anyway, why don't you just move to Japan
No the Country is still going in the wrong direction. You guys can't seem to understand we want less government, less taxes, less regulation, free markets, freedom, and to follow the Constitution and enforce it. We disagree with what you want to do and you disagree with what we want. So let's just split up, our differences are irreconcilable.
In This article
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David Conkle
Joined Patch Friday, August 24, 2012 -
Carla Gibson
Joined Patch Friday, February 24, 2012 -
Cecilia
Joined Patch Thursday, March 24, 2011 -
Ted LeVand
Joined Patch Tuesday, November 13, 2012
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dave stettler
Joined Patch Monday, November 12, 2012
Richard M. Swier
7:10 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
The people speak. That is good for the nation. I am glad the White House created this opportunity so the people can show that Washington has no mandate. Rather it is with in the states that the real power lies. Some predictions: The 10th Amendment will rise in importance. Nullification will become a growing movement. Governors will take a more active roll in rolling back the power of Washington. The Federal government industrial complex will come under greater scrutiny.
The next four years will be marked by: grid lock, corruption, waste, fraud, and abuse of power. Our government will become less transparent and more desperate at the fiscal cliff becomes a reality starting on December 21st.
Welcome to the decline and fall of America.
Lucena Winberg
9:16 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
OMG, We've got our crazies on the left, but these secessionists are just beyond belief. I hope you all keep on signing the petitions - you make us progressives look so SMART...
Richard M. Swier
9:21 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
What makes you think the secessionists are on the right? The Civil War began because Southern Democrats wanted to secede. Today they are known as Blue Dog Democrats. Don't make assumptions.
Lucena Winberg
11:17 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Well, I just hope all you "scare mongers" remember what you're saying now, when, after another 4 years of President Obama's leadership, you find that we've weathered this financial crisis, we're well on the way to eliminating deficit spending, reducing the debt, increasing employment with good paying jobs, educating our children so that they can fill those good paying jobs, and working toward keeping the Earth safe for all living creatures. Compromise and cooperation are in the air. That's what the American people want - the ones that matter anyway.
Lynda
12:15 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
These petitions are a very clever PR stunt to distract from the real results of the 2012 elections. More people voted in favor of the policies of Democrats. Over 50% of the voters chose President Obama. When all the votes are counted, he will most likely have won the popular vote by more than 3 million people. He has a clear mandate for the policy positions he campaigned on; Gov Romney and Rep Ryan were soundly rejected. Senate Democrats gained seats in an election year they were expected to lose seats. And in the House of Representatives, Democrats won seats taking back districts won in 2010 by controversial reps such as West, Walsh, Cravaak and others. Although not yet enough to change control, the trend is clearly Democratic as we will see in 2014. The petitions are getting the "News of the Weird" treatment, but the real results show that voters rejected--by significant margins-- the policies of the GOP as presented in 2012. Time to change, GOP; not time to continue to lie to voters--and yourselves-- about why you lost.
Travlar
1:23 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Secession is to America as Al Qaeda is to the Middle East.
Richard M. Swier
1:40 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Actually, al Qaeda is perfectly aligned with shariah Islam, the Muslim Brotherhood and Middle East governments.
Al Qaeda is being armed by President Obama in Libya and Syria. Ambassador Stevens was killed in Benghazi because he was arranging to send more arms shipments to al Qaeda jihadist forces in Syria via Turkey.
Emilita
1:50 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Good grief. Anyone who signs such a petition has my blessing to leave - ASAP! Go live somewhere else - see if you can find anywhere with the quality of life and the opportunity we have in the U.S. Poor losers and a bunch of babies crying 'cause they didn't get their way.
Please take your "my way or the highway" bullshit and hit the road. The rest of us are proud to be Americans and smart enough to know when we've got it good!
Emilita
1:54 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Good grief. Anyone who signs such a petition has my blessing to leave - ASAP!
Go live somewhere else - see if you can find anywhere with the quality of life and the opportunity we have in the U.S. Poor losers and a bunch of babies crying 'cause they didn't get their way. What happened to compromise and teamwork?
Please take your "my way or the highway" bullshit and hit the road. The rest of us are proud to be Americans and smart enough to know when we've got it good!
Tom
8:52 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Wake up and please learn the history of your country before you make yourself look even more ignorant. I say this with love.
Richard M. Swier
2:12 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
I think you miss the idea of the petition. It is signed for the federal government to leave the citizens alone and give power back to the people at the state level. It has nothing to do will leaving, it is all about staying and living without the boot of the feds on your neck.
Lynda
2:26 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Right, I want to give more power to Gov. Scott and others of his ilk because they have done so well with what they currently have. What is so sacred about state boundaries? They are as obsolete in this new century as feudal fiefs are. The day of horse and buggy travel to the state capital is over. Our interests are regional, national and global now. Those who want more power to states are fooling themselves that it will mean less power to the young, minorities and women. You old men of the GOP are on the wrong side of history and demographics. You will lose your power in the states, in the counties, in the cities because the numbers are just not on your side with the policies you have chosen. Get used to losing. And start being the patriots you are so fond of calling yourselves by supporting the future of your country not standing in the way.
Mike McLeod
8:19 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Richard, you have it exactly right!
Tom
8:53 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Right on brother, speak the truth to her.
Richard M. Swier
2:29 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
I appreciate your partisanship but it does not solve problems. Time to stop fixing blame and fix our serious social, fiscal and political problems. Please read this: http://watchdogwire.com/florida/2012/11/15/the-fiscal-cliff-coming-sooner-than-you-think/
What is your solution? What do you think must be done?
RLY
3:04 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Secede. You must be kidding. what would all these people do when their social security checks and medicare doctors stpped seeing them. Florida receives three times more federal money than it pays to the federal government.
What will happen when the next huricane hits or the secessonists want to re-nourish their beaches where will they go for federal handouts?
Tom
8:57 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Those hand out will stop, and our state will have to take responsibility for it's self.
carlk
3:28 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
The idea of sesession is obvously silly, so is the counter argument. What should be taken seriously is the protest vote against a bloated government that is becoming a huge burden to most state economies. The republicans lost the presidential election, but everyone looses if our federal government does not changes it's current course.
Proofisinthepudding
4:35 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Seceeding is not silly, it is a wake up call the government that they need to change what they are doing, like selling guns to the enemy, supporting terrorist nation's, spending us into bankrupcty, telling us what to eat, what you can do on your own land, now obamacare that only affects the people and not the government. And you do not see anything wrong with that? You don't think this administration needs a slap in the face to get real? So because people want to do something , you want to throw them out of the country. If they go, who will support your dead arse?
Austin Collier
5:25 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
@David Conkle, Shermans men marched thru Georgia not South Carolina
William Fox
5:34 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
We do have the power to seperate ourselves from this illegally elected non- American fruad.We did it to the English Tyrannical rule by Revolution and it can be done again.It is not being a biggot to want a real American in our White House that is not a muslim terrorist within.And by the way people the votes were illegally rigged once again.Oh and by the way i would like to see any of those black panther pussies get in my face you low life street thug scum!!!!
Mike McLeod
8:17 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Obama is a fraud! George Soros is behind him and wants Obama to bring down the USA economically and ruin our Military Mite! Obama is a puppet and the people that voted for him are Panty Waist's.....
e c
10:37 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
No need to secede, JUST LEAVE!!!!!!! Pick any country, any place and GO ALREADY
Tom
8:58 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
grow up
Tom
9:00 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Read the Constitution of the United States of America. Understand why our founding Father's did what they did.
Richard M. Swier
7:44 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
Is this the beginning of the "American Spring"? Ordinary Americans revolting against Washington, D.C.
There is hope!
John
6:49 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
All of you libs that say conservatives should leave to another country, Cant all you libs just go back to crazy Russia. Because socialistic policies are the so trendy right now and I think Russia has got us beat, and lets face it——they are just so much more progressive thinking.
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ricoh hall
1:05 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
If Florida were to ever secede (as if thats possible!) It would be forced to serender because of all supplies from the states would be cut off. no food no fresh water no medical supplies no mail no electricity no defense no monetary system no trade. Welcome to the third World.
BlueMax372
4:09 pm on Monday, December 24, 2012
Florida wouldn't have to surrender unless it lost a war. Apparently your lack of knowledge of geography is exceeded only by your lack of knowledge of political and economic reality. Secession would be far preferable to following your Muslim Marxist messiah down the road to the United States becoming a turd-world dung hole.
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