In the United States the right to petition is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the federal constitution, which specifically prohibits Congress from abridging “the right of the people…to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Although often overlooked in favor of other more famous freedoms, and sometimes taken for granted,[1] many other civil liberties are enforceable against the government only by exercising this basic right.[2] The right to petition is a fundamental in a Constitutional Republic, such as the United States, as a means of protecting public participation in government.[1](Wikipedia)
Way Up North (and now Tam) brought to our attention (in demure fanfare, as is their tradition) a movement regarding individual States of these United States petitioning for peaceful secession from the same!
I went to the All Petitions/whitehouse.gov website, and was amazed! First, that such a group of petitions existed and second, that ‘the government’ had allowed such behavior, given their track record on such things!
By my count, there 24 States, including mine, with listed petitions!
Is this treasonous, or simply the right to petition?
A reasonable person would say those petitions are not treasonous, simply because they’re asking the federal government to proceed down a peaceful path. No one has threatened or blustered … so far.
Posted by Rev. Paul | November 13, 2012, 11:13 amYeah, I think that – even by this government’s standards – it’s only treason if you actually try it. Asking for permission is probably just good for a laugh.
Posted by Joel | November 13, 2012, 12:00 pmI don’t think peaceful petition to leave is treason. From Wikipedia:
Oran’s Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as “…[a]…citizen’s actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the [parent nation].” In many nations, it is also often considered treason to attempt or conspire to overthrow the government, even if no foreign country is aiding or involved by such an endeavour.
It’s not a conspiracy to overthrow the government, just a request to be allowed to go elsewhere and form another.
Posted by ProudHillbilly | November 13, 2012, 12:30 pmBased on my judicious (?) observation on the Internet, I think the votes are as follows:
IF you dislike the current administration and the direction the Republic has taken over the past 100
years, petitioning is a reasonable request, however,
IF you like the current administration and think the past 100 years has improved government, then any request to lessen the power and authority of the Federal government (and/or return some Constitutional power to the States) is viewed as treasonous and needs to be stopped!
YRMV
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 13, 2012, 1:47 pmI direct everyone to the Constitution of the united States which states, in relevant part, that treason consists solely of making war on the united States, or of providing aid and comfort to its enemies. None of which is relevant here. Nor is peacefully seceding from the union.
Posted by Don | November 13, 2012, 2:19 pmThe content isn’t relevant to the discussion. The government’s interpretation of the content is, however.
See previous measures on gun control, drug control, people control, FISA warrants, the Patriot Act, ad infinitum, ad nauseum…
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 13, 2012, 4:16 pmWell, it is not like this administration cares to much what the Constitution says.
Posted by A Girl And Her Gun (@agirlandhergun) | November 14, 2012, 4:46 amOr the last, or any since before Teddy Roosevelt…
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 14, 2012, 7:42 amI thought the civil war/war between the states settled this. Once you are in there is no getting out.
Posted by C Uptegraff | November 14, 2012, 7:25 am‘Settled’ is an interesting turn of phrase.
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 14, 2012, 7:42 am