FSP founder Jason Sorens: N.H. could pose "serious secessionist challenge" to U.S. government
The founder of the Free State Project says New Hampshire could pose a “serious secessionist challenge” to the U.S. government in 30 to 60 years. Even as the group’s president Carla Gericke works to dispel the notion that secession is their endgame, Jason Sorens makes a case for it in the Washington Post:
Consider New Hampshire’s possible future. While the Free State Project does not endorse independence for New Hampshire – or any specific legislation – its “Statement of Intent” endorses government limited strictly to protecting people’s rights. Free Staters generally support more autonomy for the state. If the federal government won’t let New Hampshire opt out of the vast federal Leviathan, then what?
New Hampshire joined the union on condition that it remain a fully sovereign state free to break the tie with the United States if that link were no longer in its interest. Article 7 of the New Hampshire Constitution declares that “the people of this state have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign, and independent State; and do, and forever hereafter shall, exercise and enjoy every power, jurisdiction, and right, pertaining thereto, which is not, or may not hereafter be, by them expressly delegated to the United States of America in congress assembled.” Banning secession would break this original agreement.
In his original Free State manifesto, Sorens laid out his secession strategy. “Even if we don’t actually secede, we can force the federal government to compromise with us and grant us substantial liberties. … We could use our leverage for liberty,” he wrote in 2001. Thirteen years later, Sorens reiterates that strategy:
Even now, independence is not ideal for New Hampshire. We Granite Staters can still hope for broader self-government before anybody discusses striking out on our own.
But 30 or 60 years from now, a U.S. government that had lost military predominance to China and India while keeping up increasingly centralized and sclerotic institutions could well face a serious secessionist challenge from a state such as New Hampshire. To prevent secession, the U.S. government will not use force; it will have to devolve power.
Following publication of this piece, Sorens followed up with a tweet saying he doesn’t believe it is likely that the Granite State will secede in his lifetime – and he would oppose it.