What would it ake
to make you support
secession?
On Thursday the people of Scotland will vote to decide whether or not they shall remain a part of the United Kingdom. John Oliver offered up a lengthy and hilarious breakdown of the situation and watching it gave me a distinct sense of deja vu, since I happen to live in a country with its own significant population that would prefer to govern themselves as well.
For those who only know Canada as that really polite place where hockey and maple syrup happens it might seem strange to learn that a large group of people who live here have attempted in the past to secede from out federation and likely will so again in the future. In their case it’s a matter of feeling culturally out of step with the rest of the country–starting from their beloved language all the way to a sense of identity that has them taking far more pride in being Québécois than Canadian.
And in the United States, both sides of the far right and left (although it’s more the right these days) are prone to secession rhetoric, most often in eras where there chosen party isn’t in complete control of the government.
It’s always struck me as such an extreme position to take, but it is an interesting question to ponder. What would have to happen to force you to seriously consider supporting secession? Is there a law you can imagine being passed that would send you over the line? In an era where few ideologies seem willing to spare an inch to the other, how far would those you oppose have to go before you finally said, “Eff it, we’re starting our own country!”