Six of 11 counties in Colorado vote to secede

[Origanalist]

Stop talkin', start walkin'.

Six of 11 counties in Colorado voted on Tuesday to secede and create a 51st state called North Colorado.



Eleven of the state’s 64 counties placed a measure on their Election Day ballots for voters to decide whether to pursue secession.

In six counties, the measure passed by mostly wide margins, the The Denver Post reported.

The push is unlikely to succeed. In order for the new state to be created, the Colorado electorate or legislature would have to approve and so would the U.S. Congress.

Maine was the last state to secede in 1820, when it drew a new state line from Massachusetts.
The debate over secession in Colorado was framed in explicitly rural vs. urban terms.

Residents in the state's rural region are expressing a desire to separate themselves from the more liberal voting population that has moved into Colorado's cities and given liberals control over the government.

Earlier this year, the state legislature passed stricter gun control measures in the wake of the Aurora movie theater shooting in July 2012. In September, two Democratic state lawmakers were ousted in a recall election for their vote in favor of the anti-gun legislation.

New renewable energy standards were also approved this year, and last year, voters legalized marijuana.

The ballot question on Tuesday was merely a straw poll, asking voters whether their county commissioners should take steps to secede.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/other-races/189411-6-of-11-counties-in-colorado-vote-to-secede

[jllundqu]

Small steps in the right direction. There will be more as things get more polarized in the urban v. rural feud

[FrankRep]

They just want to form a new state within the United States.

[Keith and stuff]

The 11 counties ranked in order by the percentage of their vote for YES on Question 1A.

Phillips County Ballot Question 1A: 51st state
Yes
62.2%
(1,114)
No
37.7%
(676)
Updated 1 day, 11 hours ago

Cheyenne County Ballot Question 1A: 51st state
Yes
62.2%
(570)
No
37.7%
(346)
Updated 1 day, 11 hours ago

Yuma County Ballot Question 1A: 51st state
Yes
59.6%
(2,008)
No
40.3%
(1,356)
Updated 10 hours, 58 minutes ago

Washington County Ballot Question 1C: 51st state
Yes
58.1%
(1,115)
No
41.8%
(802)
Updated 1 day, 12 hours ago

Kit Carson County Ballot Question 1A: 51st state
Yes
54.2%
(1,452)
No
45.7%
(1,226)
Updated 1 day, 10 hours ago

Moffat County Ballot Question 1H: 51st state
No
54.7%
(2,139)
Yes
45.2%
(1,768)
Updated 1 day, 11 hours ago

Lincoln County Ballot Question 1A: 51st state
No
55.4%
(1,005)
Yes
44.5%
(806)
Updated 1 day, 12 hours ago

Weld County Ballot Question 1A: 51st state
No
56.3%
(36,260)
Yes
43.6%
(28,107)
Updated 10 hours, 59 minutes ago

Logan County Ballot Question 1D: 51st state
No
56.7%
(3,566)
Yes
43.2%
(2,713)
Updated 10 hours, 58 minutes ago

Sedgwick County Ballot Question 1A: 51st state
No
57.0%
(580)
Yes
42.9%
(437)
Updated 1 day, 12 hours ago

Elbert County Ballot Question 1A: 51st state
No
57.4%
(5,137)
Yes
42.5%
(3,810)
Updated 1 day, 11 hours ago

[Origanalist]

They just want to form a new state within the United States.

That is true. But it represents mounting push back at central authority. Let it start where it may.

[tod evans]

Small steps in the right direction. There will be more as things get more polarized in the urban v. rural feud

Good!

Let's go. :D

[ctiger2]

They just want to form a new state within the United States.

Yep, they should be aiming to secede from the union. Then I'd move there.

[matt0611]

They just want to form a new state within the United States.

True. But hey its a start at least. I wish my county would secede from my state.

[Matt Collins]

Small steps in the right direction. No it's NOT a step in the right direction, because they are asking permission to do it. That's the wrong way to go about it, and it is guaranteed to fail. Imagine the US colonies asking permission from the British king to seceded, what do you think the answer would've been? :rolleyes:

[Origanalist]

No it's NOT a step in the right direction, because they are asking permission to do it. That's the wrong way to go about it, and it is guaranteed to fail. Imagine the US colonies asking permission from the British king to seceded, what do you think the answer would've been? :rolleyes:



Eleven of the state’s 64 counties placed a measure on their Election Day ballots for voters to decide whether to pursue secession.


The ballot question on Tuesday was merely a straw poll, asking voters whether their county commissioners should take steps to secede.

It sounds like they have a lot of support, but they haven't "asked permission" from anybody.

[Matt Collins]

It sounds like they have a lot of support, but they haven't "asked permission" from anybody.It has to be voted on by the entire state, and the Congress. What do you think they are going to say?

[Keith and stuff]

It has to be voted on by the entire state, and the Congress. What do you think they are going to say?
The House might say yes. The Senate would likely say no. The whole state would likely say no.

But having the straw poll votes brought up the issue. Yes, more voters rejected than voted for the measures in CO so clearly in that area of 11 counties, this isn't a popular issue. But they can keep bringing it up, if they want.

You have to do something right? Not everyone can buy a private island. Not everyone can buy a cruise ship. Not everyone can move to New Hampshire as part of the Free State Project. Not everyone can win the lottery. Why not support these people doing this even most of the people in those counties are against it right now? Maybe it will happen in 30 or 50 years? You have to start somewhere.

[Origanalist]

The House might say yes. The Senate would likely say no. The whole state would likely say no.

But having the straw poll votes brought up the issue. Yes, more voters rejected than voted for the measures in CO so clearly in that area of 11 counties, this isn't a popular issue. But they can keep bringing it up, if they want.

You have to do something right? Not everyone can buy a private island. Not everyone can buy a cruise ship. Not everyone can move to New Hampshire as part of the Free State Project. Not everyone can win the lottery. Why not support these people doing this even most of the people in those counties are against it right now? Maybe it will happen in 30 or 50 years? You have to start somewhere.

Small nitpick, most of the people in those polled counties are for it. Otherwise I agree with your post.

[Origanalist]

It has to be voted on by the entire state, and the Congress. What do you think they are going to say?

So instead of asking their constituents what they think they should just fire on the capital in Denver?

[kahless]

They just want to form a new state within the United States.

I had to stop reading the newspapers comments about this due to the outrage from idiots believing they were trying to start an independent country.

[Keith and stuff]

Small nitpick, most of the people in those polled counties are for it. Otherwise I agree with your post.
Well, according to the votes, voters in 6 of the 11 counties said No in the straw polls. Also, if you add up the Yes votes and the No votes for all 11 counties, there are a lot more No votes.

I'll give you that the majority of voters in 5 countries voted yes :)

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24470204/51st-staters-now-turn-legislation-bridge-urban-rural

[Matt Collins]

So instead of asking their constituents what they think they should just fire on the capital in Denver?
No, asking their constituents is ok I guess (although it tends to reek of democracy), but they will have to ask people outside of their constituents if they are allowed to succeed. And that answer is already guaranteed to be "no".

[Origanalist]

Well, according to the votes, voters in 6 of the 11 counties said No in the straw polls. Also, if you add up the Yes votes and the No votes for all 11 counties, there are a lot more No votes.

I'll give you that the major of voters in 5 countries voted yes :)

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24470204/51st-staters-now-turn-legislation-bridge-urban-rural

You are correct, I was mistaken.

[Lucille]

The progs at the week (http://theweek.com/article/index/252351/6-colorado-counties-voted-to-form-a-51st-state-now-what) are upset, and. The city-dwelling prog overlords will not let their rural slaves go without a fight.


But then again, the proponents of creating North Colorado didn't really expect to secede. They say they wanted to highlight their discontent with the legislation coming out of the Democratic-controlled legislature and statehouse, and this was the best way to get Denver's attention.

In that sense, the secessionists have already "scored a measure of success, thanks to what might be called the 'squeaky wheel' principle of politics," says Jake Grovum at Pew's Stateline. Even though it only passed in about half the 11 counties and faces long odds, the 51st state initiative "gained a measure of legitimacy for one simple reason: Colorado's leaders are taking it seriously."

[Origanalist]

No, asking their constituents is ok I guess (although it tends to reek of democracy), but they will have to ask people outside of their constituents if they are allowed to succeed. And that answer is already guaranteed to be "no".

Of course it is. So it follows that somebody, somewhere, has to take the next step. How can that happen if the subject isn't even brought up?

[Zippyjuan]

Populations:

Phillips County: 4,367
Cheyenne County 1,874
Yuma County 10,119
Washington County 4,766
Kit Carson County 8,094

Colorado: 5.2 million

[Origanalist]

What the hell is your point? You always bring up the population numbers in these threads. They are rural areas, so no shit. What are our numbers compared to the whole voting population? Maybe we should just shut up and sit down.

[Zippyjuan]

So why get so excited about the numbers being shared?

[tod evans]

How about putting the numbers into a relevant format?

Of the 5.2M how many live in the metroplexes?

Of the five counties you listed what is their GDP compared to the other rural counties in the state?

What goods/livestock or produce are produced in the counties that wish to secede?

There's a valid reasons that these folks want to be shed of the burden of the cities so how about using your number expertise to focus on them?

[Origanalist]

So why get so excited about the numbers being shared?

I get excited whenever anyone tries to break free from their overlords. Apparently you don't care much for the idea.

[jkob]

There isn't any realistic chance that these counties will secede, it's just political theater. Ousting Hickenlooper next year should and probably is their real goal.

[Origanalist]

How about putting the numbers into a relevant format?

Of the 5.2M how many live in the metroplexes?

Of the five counties you listed what is their GDP compared to the other rural counties in the state?

What goods/livestock or produce are produced in the counties that wish to secede?

There's a valid reasons that these folks want to be shed of the burden of the cities so how about using your number expertise to focus on them?

It doesn't matter. There's not very many of them, they should just shut up and do as their told.

[tod evans]

It doesn't matter. There's not very many of them, they should just shut up and do as their told.

Hillbillies don't do well with those instructions, I'd be surprised if farmer/ranchers in Co. do much better...

[TaftFan]

How can we help with this?

[KingRobbStark]

How can we help with this?

Besides moving there? Nothing.

[Origanalist]

Besides moving there? Nothing.

Pretty much. There doesn't seem to be any official organization-movement to help out.

[Origanalist]

UPDATE 9:00PM: The North Colorado secession movement appears to be a bust, with eight of eleven counties with the question on the ballot now rejecting–including Weld County, the only one with an electorally significant population. :(

[erowe1]

They just want to form a new state within the United States.

You say that as if it's a small thing.

[Henry Rogue]

There isn't any realistic chance that these counties will secede, it's just political theater. Ousting Hickenlooper next year should and probably is their real goal.
You call it political theater, i call it remonstration.

[Origanalist]

You call it political theater, i call it remonstration.

I call for more.

[Henry Rogue]

I call for more.How many counties are there in the U.S. :D

[Origanalist]

How many counties are there in the U.S. :D


. As of 2013, the United States has 3,007 counties and 137 county equivalents for a total of 3,144 counties and county equivalents.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_(United_States)

http://www.giandosigurani.com/blog/blogs/media/blogs/journal/moo-hoo-ha-ha.jpg
.

[dillo]

thatd be 2 more teabaggers for bill maher to cry about

[jclay2]

Is there good skiing in these areas? If so, might be a good location to go galt.

[fr33]

No it's NOT a step in the right direction, because they are asking permission to do it. That's the wrong way to go about it, and it is guaranteed to fail. Imagine the US colonies asking permission from the British king to seceded, what do you think the answer would've been? :rolleyes:

And we know how the secession from Britain went. Hey, tough guy, will you fire the first shot?

Applying your standards: why vote on anything if we are dependent on our rulers to uphold such a ruling?