Well, hell, the late Meldrim Thompson, governor of New Hampshire (1973 – 1979), wanted his staties outfitted with tactical nuclear weapons.

At least one bunch of legislators is contemplating what they will do without Uncle Sugar. More states should be doing that.

Maybe Washington would get the message.

Well, the aircraft carrier would be a bit much — the Laramie River isn’t that deep, even in flood stage — but trust me: the Cowboy State could easily organize its own army.

And not all of the riflemen would be men…

But seriously — Allen Lewis is right in saying that more states should be planning for how they would manage disasters if Uncle Sam was a long time coming. People in Louisiana and Mississippi could probably explain why.

Wyoming is completely dependent on trucks to bring in food. Completely. When I lived in Laramie, I learned to keep a full pantry during the winter, because if blizzards closed I-80, the local grocery stores ran out of perishable stuff fast.

I have since moved elsewhere, but I maintain the practice of always keeping a stock of canned goods, canned milk, and Jack Daniels.

It’s my duty as a responsible citizen.

I don’t know if they still do, but Ithaca, NY used to have its own currency. I thought that was neat!

I had a look at a map of the United States, and Wyoming is only two states away from the North Pacific, so perhaps Idaho and Oregon will be included in negotiations fcr Wyoming’s version of the Baltic Corridor?

Last time I checked each state has its own army. They used to call it the militia. Today its usually referred to as the National Guard.

My prediction of 10 years ago:

Within fifty years, that is by the 2040′s:

The USA will have ceased to exist as we know it. and it will be split into three parts.

The North East States Federation: A Democratic Socialist State of the European type, possibly including Canadian Quebec, with Oregon and Washington as outlier states.

Weat/South West including California will become
” US of Atzlan” to include all former “Spanish/Mexican” states, majority Hispanic. Half of Texas would go with this Nation.

Midwest and South: A conservative Rump USA.

Ten years on and I not only have not changed my mind but I see the markers increasingly on the ground and the divisions becoming even clearer.

“A carrier is definitely something Missouri ought to look into acquiring for itself. Particularly if Iowans start putting on airs again.”

Wouldn’t you be more likely to need the carrier to defend yourself from Illinois?

The Empire will take back her wayward children. We will just call it Greater Canada and we will even throw in the Queen and democracy for good measure.

Obituary: What Empire?

It will be a VERY serious thing if any fellow South Dakotan gets a set of launch keys (notwithstanding George McGovern, Tom Brokaw and Tom Dasch-hole).

You are all put on notice.

PS. We’ve already got a battleship, so look out.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10849

I learn so much reading the MCJ! I had no idea Missouri threatened to invade Iowa!

And you have just found out Canada is empire building. First we take Missouri and then we take Iowa.

Wow! The “Honey Bee War” was almost as exciting as “54-40 or fight!”

I’m with Katherine; I learn quite a lot by frequenting this establishment!

Oh, I thought you meant the British Empire, obituary. Are you sure you want some of us? There’s been talk for years of western Canada seceding and joining the U.S. These days, that doesn’t sound like such a good move.

The Great Republic of Texas once again has a navy. The Department of Public Safety just recently purchased six ‘Interceptor’ gunboats, similar to the ones that plied the waters of South Vietnam, to patrol the Rio Grande River.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/01/us-texas-mexico-gunboat-idUSTRE8202FU20120301

Looks like more States rights that will lead to another civil war.

An aircraft carrier against a battalion of Chicago aldermen would be silly. Just arrest ‘em, or wave a search warrant in their direction. Forensic auditors are also effective. Of course, we might decide that we need to be liberated from our rulers, but for that a land army would be necessary.

Reminds me of the Toledo War.

(Why yes, I am a proud native of the Great Black Swamp — although technically not of the Toledo Strip, by just a few miles.)

peace,
Zach

The new Wyoming constitution will set two ages of consent for sheep — one age for straight cowboys and a much lower age for queer cowboys.

You’re welcome, John.

ABC has fired the first shot: their crawler this morning (or it might have been yesterday) announced that hate groups and militias (same category, evidently) are increasing in number…

John,

Ah, I see. It’s the exercise of rights that leads to conflict. Best just to eliminate them — that will ensure peace.

peace,
Zach

Zach, beat me to it. John is simply afraid, or perhaps unable, of thinking things through.

Holy Toledo, Zach! Another war I never heard of. So that’s how Michigan got most of the UP!

The Cornhuskers have their own navy…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska_Admiral

We here in Massachusetts are all set.

Hmmmmm, well, I seem to have been banished to the Mod Lounge.

Is there a buffet table here? Nope, guess not. How ’bout some magazines to while away the time… Is the Mod Lounge WiFi enabled?

Bummer.

TLM,

It’s the more than one URL rule. Every comment with more than one gets sent there.

Zach Frey wrote- ‘Ah, I see. It’s the exercise of rights that leads to conflict’
Oh! it were that simple. Your right to swing your fist stops were my nose begins. It is conflicting and misintepretation of rights that leads to conflict.

Oh OK. Thanks, Chris.

In addition to a new navy, Texas has the Texas State Guard which is not part of the Texas National Guard and completely under the control of the Governor of the State of Texas and cannot be “federalized”. Texas may just have to hand back in its statehood within the USA and return to its old self — The Republic of Texas – Remember the Alamo!

John, it is a matter of states rights that your Bozos in Washington D.C, would like to eliminate to create the first Peoples Democratic Chicago-style Socialist States of America. See you don’t understand that you have been sucked into the greatest lie yet. What they are doing is trying to turn over this country to a few rich and powerful folks like George Soros and others to rule over the masses.(Ever wonder why all of those rich folks and powerful business folks are Democrats?) It is an attempt to recreate the Soviet Union in the Western Hemisphere under a different title. It will do nothing for the current people at the bottom of the economic ladder and will do its best to put and keep the 99% you probably so love at or below where they are now. I am glad you comment here as you make a local target to strike.

As they say “forewarned is forearmed.” It is refreshing to see at least one state’s senior elected official recognizing the straits this nation is in. My only criticism is that I think the assessment of the nation’s condition would be more accurately described not as “the possible collapse of the national government,” but as “the probable collapse of the national government.” Particularly if we are considering the intermediate term, let us say roughly within the next ten to fifteen years.

Pax et bonum,
Keith Töpfer