Balkanization of USA

Within a week of US presidential election, citizens from different states have filed petitions asking for peaceful secede from the United States. Started form Louisiana on Nov 7 later on November 9 Texas joined them. These petitions were filed on the White House's "We the People" website . Up till now White House has received secession petitions from citizens of all 50 states. Most of these petitions quoting following passages of the Declaration of Independence “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Is USA is going to be Balkanized? To answer this question first we have to see the composition, formation and history of USA along with some related constitutional aspects. USA consist of 50 states and District of Columbia. 48 out of these 50 states are situated in mainland, Hawaii lies at in far away in Pacific Ocean and Alaska at the extreme northwest of the North American continent. It (USA) was founded in 1776 along the east coastal area of North America, in between British Canada and Spanish Mexico. At that time according to Articles of Confederation states were loosely coupled. There was little centralized control, without common currency, taxing system or national military force. In 1787 in Philadelphia Articles of Confederation amended to new constitution. At that time not all of these states were part of the union. In fact, it consisted of thirteen states (Delaware ,New Jersey ,Pennsylvania, South Carolina ,New Hampshire,Connecticut,Maryland ,Massachusetts ,Georgia,New York ,Virginia ,North Carolina ,Rhodes Island ) . All other 37 states become part of the union as a result of wars, variety of treaties and purchases. For example Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Louisiana were purchased in 1804 from France as a result of famous Louisiana Purchase. Florida purchases from Spain and Alaska(largest state in area) from Russia Arizona, California(The most populous state known for Hollywood & world tallest Red Wood trees), Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and western Colorado were won in war against Mexico. The current wave of secession is not first secession movement. In 1860 southern states decided to secede USA States on slavery issue and form a state called the Confederate States of America. The northern states of Union led by Lincoln refused to accept this and famous US civil war was broken out between these two and concluded at Union victory on April 9, 1865 when General Lee surrendered, states reunioned and slavery abolished.

As stated earlier these petitions filed on the White House's "We the People" website page, which was created in 2011 as realizational step of one of Obama first term goal to make the White House easily accessible. Any American can write a petition of any sort on this page. These petitions provide a way to give citizens an opportunity to catch the administration or president's attention to addressed issue. It provides a way to file petitions online for policy changes that are sent directly to the White House. Signers don't have to be a resident of the state to sign a petition regarding its secession.

A petition must have more than 150 signatures(signer's first/ last name initial and US zip code) already as a prerequisite to appear on the site . For the petition to be granted a response from the White House, it must receive at least 25,000 signatures. Petitioners have one month to obtain this number in order for the administration to consider the request. The secession petitions have been noticed as some petition has crossed the 25000 signatures. Citizens may continue to sign the petition past the eligibility limit. Currently 8 secession petitions have reached the threshold of 25000 . In fact The petition from Texas has received about 120000 signatures so far . Out of 239 petitions currently listed on the White House Petitions website , about 70 are requests for secession.

Why US citizens are asking for secede? What are the reservations that lead to the road of balkanization ? There is not one answer or reason behind it. One of the most prominent is financial crisis being faced by USA. USA credit rating has dropped from AAA to AA first time in history. Increasing war expenditures are proving ultimate nail in coffin. At this moment financial stable states (e.g. Texas ) citizens thinks that it is practically feasible for them to secede from the union as doing so they would be in better state to protect their living standard and secure their rights. It will be better for them to get rid of extra burden of mismanaged states. The situation is quite similar to destruction of the mighty Soviet Union during last decade of 20th century. Due to increasing taxes, introduced of new social programs every year, less income and increasing debt, Obama can be proved Gorbachev of USA.

One of the another factor behind current situation increasing polarization in US society. It have never been as strong as as it is during Obama regime. Some Americans are upset with the results of election. Most of the initial petitions have come from conservative states. Conservatives think that they will be better without big central government. The petitions were filed and signed by most of the citizens who have reservation regarding Obama's reelection and feel it would be better to separated from the Union and operate their own government. Abuses of fundamental rights using Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is also one of the factor. According to one separatist leaders due to current political, cultural and economic pressures break up of the USA is not a possibility but it as an inevitability.

In response to secession petitions there are petitions appeared on the website during these weeks. They(signer's) are even being ridiculed as traitors. Some calling for the signers of the secession petitions to be stripped of their citizenship and be deported for example on petition says "please sign an executive order such that each American citizen who signed a petition from any state to secede from the USA shall have their citizenship stripped and be peacefully deported.". One of such petition asking US president to allow states to peacefully leave the union but they will have to pay their share of the national debt before leaving the federation.

Now what will be happened onward ? Will we get a breaking news on some day that USA has been disintegrated. Is torch bearer of Capitalism is going to collapse The answer is not as simple that can be replied in yes or no as US president does not have the authority to permit it. Legality and mechanism are not crystal clear. Legality of cessation is some what complex but by the end it is not illegal .US Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1 gives Congress the power to include add a new state to the Union. It does not have any word regarding secession. However One of the 18th century amendment(10th ) says: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." that is states can do whatever they want that is not prohibited by constitution and constitution does not prohibit secession explicitly so secession is legal. Congress (House and Senate) has never dealt with the secession issue. Therefore, even though it may be legal, they have not any procedure or mechanism to manage it. Referendum could be one of the strategy to sort out it as Alaska's petition (Alaska Independence Party asking for Alaska separate homeland for years, Sarah polin former US VP candidate known in Pakistan for famous Zardari flirt also one of its member )has asked asks for referendum to allow its citizens to decide if they want a free and independent country.

The perspective balkanization of USA can be seen as ultimate outcome of Afghan War. Afghanistan which is called graveyard of empires defeated British Empire in nineteenth century, U.S.S.R in 20th one and USA is its 21th century victim. So, disintegration of USA may not come immediately but it is unbelievable though may be unbelievable for some people but destruction of the Soviet Union was also not believable at that time. Decade of wars has begun imploding the US in the same way as it did to former Soviet Union. History is going to repeat itself as happened in last decades of 20 century. As Gorbachev said that U.S.S.R disability to maintain weight of its different states and now different American states (States Citizens) thinking in the same line. Backbone(Financial) of both so called super powers were broken in Afghan battlefield.