An icon of the political Right known for its unconditional support of Wall Street, Corporate America, the American Empire, and the dual philosophy that bigger is always better and might makes right sent shock waves through the nation when it published a piece by Paul Starobin calling for America to become “the global leader of devolution.” In a full two-page, cover story which appeared in the Weekend Section of the June 13th issue of The Wall Street Journal, Starobin made the case for the peaceful dissolution of the American Empire. Entitled “Divided We Stand,” Starobin’s prosecession piece is a remarkable departure from the conventional wisdom of The Journal.
It trades heavily on the wisdom expressed by the late George F. Kennan in his 1993 book Around the Cragged Hill in which he refers to the United States as a “monster country.” Kennan, the godfather of the Second Vermont Republic, advocated dividing the U.S. into “a dozen constituent republics.” In a personal letter to me about the Vermont independence movement dated 1 August 2002, Kennan wrote, “My enthusiasm for what you are trying to do in Vermont remains undiminished, and I am happy for any small support I can give it.”
The comprehensive survey article covers most of the important secessionist groups in the U.S. including those in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Texas, and Vermont.
Starobin describes the Vermont independence movement as “one of the most vibrant movements” even though it is located in one of the country’s most politically liberal states. “Vermonters are especially upset about imperial America’s foreign excursions in hazardous places like Iraq.” The article also includes the Associated Press photograph of Jacob Grossi seen around the world in 2007. The Riverwalk Records store owner is shown in front of his Montpelier store holding a “U.S. Out of Vermont” T-shirt.
Paul Starobin is also the author of a recent book entitled After America. The book outlines five postAmerica scenarios including dark or happy chaos, multi-polar nation-states, a global Chinese empire, global city-states, and universal world government. He considers secession to be an example of “happy chaos.”
Starobin’s article ends with the following two provocative sentences: “So why not America as the global leader of a devolution? America’s return to its origins—to its type—could turn out to be an act of creative, political destruction, with ‘we the people’ the better for it.”
Rebél
Thomas H. Naylor
June 22, 2009
