Northern Colorado wants to secede, form new state

[downtown]

Rural state secession plans, not just for downstate Illinois!

FORT COLLINS - One corner of rural Colorado is so fed up with the leftward lurch of our state that county leaders are talking secession by creating the 51st state.

Weld County Commissioners say other leaders in northeastern Colorado are ready to go with them, citing concerns that they are being ignored on issues like energy and agriculture.

"Our very way of life is under attack," Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway said on Thursday.

The Republican says Wednesday's signing of Senate Bill 252 by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, which critics say would increase rates for only rural Colorado while at the same time promoting renewable energy, was the last straw.

"That is a direct assault on rural Colorado," Weld County Commissioner Mike Freeman said.

At a recent meeting of county commissioners from all over the state, Conway says roughly 10 counties warmed to the idea of a petition to create a new state.

"That state would be the state of Northern Colorado," Conway said.

"Some would call it extreme, maybe aggressive, and I would say absolutely. I think extreme times call for extreme actions," Weld County Commissioner Doug Rademacher, a Republican, said.

The process will be daunting. Voters in each county would need to vote for the idea. Then statehood would need to be approved by the state legislature, the governor and Congress.

The last state to do this effectively was West Virginia in 1863.

"What I would say to those folks in Denver that say this doesn't have any chance? We're not going to take this seriously? Beware, because we're not going away," Conway said.

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/...orthern-Colorado-trying-secede-form-new-state

Other articles on the subject indicated that the state of "Northern Colorado" may try to bring in counties in Wyoming and Nebraska as well. The eight listed counties are are Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma and Kit Carson.

The most populous of those counties is Morgan, which has a population of 27,000. Logan County has 20,000 (and the most populous city at 14,000), and no other county has more than 9,000 residents. Burlington, the smallest "largest city" in the US, has a population of 39,000.

Basically, the capital of this proposed state would have fewer people than a suburb of any mid-sized city, and would have basically no water. Other than that, it sounds like a great plan.

What do you think? Is this a reasonable plan of action for residents now that the demographics of their state are changing rapidly? Should Congress approve a 51st state built out of other states? Would you support part of your state breaking off and leaving?

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

There goes the neighborhood

 

[Azale]

I would support Texas splintering, if only so that they had less impact on nationwide public school textbook circulation.

 

[downtown]

I would support Texas splintering, if only so that they had less impact on nationwide public school textbook circulation.

8 new tea party Senators tho....

 

[Arctic Daishi]

Yes! I hope they secede from the authoritarian thugs in urban Colorado.

 

[downtown]

Yes! I hope they secede from the authoritarian thugs in urban Colorado.

So let's play along here. Where would they get the tax money to pay for schools, police and road service? Where would they get water? How would the state get money?

A state significantly smaller than both Wyoming or Vermont, without access to real tourism money, is going to struggle to stay afloat, no?

 

[JollyRoger]

8 new tea party Senators tho....

Actually, I think you would get some Democratic Senators out of the deal.

 

[Arctic Daishi]

Actually, I think you would get some Democratic Senators out of the deal.

Depends on the borders of the new states.

So let's play along here. Where would they get the tax money to pay for schools, police and road service? Where would they get water? How would the state get money?

A state significantly smaller than both Wyoming or Vermont, without access to real tourism money, is going to struggle to stay afloat, no?

They'd have less people, and as thus, would have to provide for less people. They're not some failed urban society, they're a rural society, meaning that they are (or can be) self-sufficient.

Also, Colorado has mountains, no?

 

[JollyRoger]

Depends on the borders of the new states.

You can't realistically split Texas 5 ways and make each new state Tea Party crazy.

 

[warpus]

How would this affect the electoral college? Wouldn't it in theory give this new state a lot more power overall, compared to how much power they have now?

And when's the last time a state split off into 2?

So let's play along here. Where would they get the tax money to pay for schools, police and road service? Where would they get water? How would the state get money?

Marijuana is legal in Colorado, right? They could hypothetically grow the stuff and sell it for profit.

I know that none of this probably zero chance of happening, but..

 

[downtown]

They'd have less people, and as thus, would have to provide for less people. They're not some failed urban society, they're a rural society, meaning that they are (or can be) self-sufficient.

Also, Colorado has mountains, no?

Not eastern Colorado. The boundaries of this state = Nebraska

Sure, they have to provide for fewer people, but there are still sunk costs. A state will have to open up Federal offices, new courthouses, and facilities that they could previously rely on bigger cities to handle. Previously, they could rely on matching funding from Denver, Fort Collins and other metros to patch up funding for things like new school construction, or health care. Even places like Wyoming can do that, thanks to a few super-rich enclaves.

Unless I'm missing something, there isn't a tax base to support any of that. Going "alone" is going to dramatically increase your budget responsibilities, while also cutting off your two biggest revenue streams. Not sure what their gameplan would be to bring enough people and industry to support everything.

 

[JollyRoger]

George Soros could probably buy Northern Colorado and turn it into a commune.

 

[downtown]

You can't realistically split Texas 5 ways and make each new state Tea Party crazy.

You're right, I overestimated a little. 5 or 6 new tea party senators then.

How would this affect the electoral college? Wouldn't it in theory give this new state a lot more power overall, compared to how much power they have now?

Northern Colorado would have 1 US Rep and 2 US Senators, all of which would undoubtedly be very conservative Republicans. The US Senate is already tilted to give way more power to rural areas, and this would continue that trend.

And when's the last time a state split off into 2?

West Virginia from Virginia, in what, 1863? This was over the Civil War.

Marijuana is legal in Colorado, right? They could hypothetically grow the stuff and sell it for profit.

It is, but ironically, it probably wouldn't be legal in Northern Colorado. Otherwise, that's possible, and would be really funny.

 

[Arctic Daishi]

Not eastern Colorado. The boundaries of this state = Nebraska

Sure, they have to provide for fewer people, but there are still sunk costs. A state will have to open up Federal offices, new courthouses, and facilities that they could previously rely on bigger cities to handle. Previously, they could rely on matching funding from Denver, Fort Collins and other metros to patch up funding for things like new school construction, or health care. Even places like Wyoming can do that, thanks to a few super-rich enclaves.

Unless I'm missing something, there isn't a tax base to support any of that. Going "alone" is going to dramatically increase your budget responsibilities, while also cutting off your two biggest revenue streams. Not sure what their gameplan would be to bring enough people and industry to support everything.

I'm not sure what their gameplan is either, I suppose we'd have to ask Northern Colorodoans.

 

[kramerfan86]

Part of me almost wants to let them do it to laugh at them when they tank because they have no money to maintain infrastructure. However the idea of these chuckleheads getting 2 senators and a rep is frightening.

 

[Formaldehyde]

So let's play along here. Where would they get the tax money to pay for schools, police and road service? Where would they get water? How would the state get money?

They have bible study groups, guns, horses, and well digging equipment. What more do they need?

It is, but ironically, it probably wouldn't be legal in Northern Colorado. Otherwise, that's possible, and would be really funny.

You never know. The Taliban reversed its prohibition regarding the cultivation of poppy plants and joined the rest of Afghanistan for economic reasons.

 

[Cutlass]

Yes! I hope they secede from the authoritarian thugs in urban Colorado.

The irony, of course, being that these people want to split because the state of Colorado is too free for them....

 

[bhsup]

Man, I dunno. Maybe better merging with Wyoming instead of becoming another State entirely?

 

[Arctic Daishi]

The irony, of course, being that these people want to split because the state of Colorado is too free for them....

Banning guns and raising taxes on minority groups.

Freedom!

 

[sophie]

Northern Colorado would have 1 US Rep and 2 US Senators, all of which would undoubtedly be very conservative Republicans. The US Senate is already tilted to give way more power to rural areas, and this would continue that trend.

Since this state would be significantly smaller than Wyoming, wouldn't this also change congressional/districting apportionment radically?