Disgusted Arizona Liberals Look To Secede

Liberals in Pima County Arizona are do disgusted by their state they’d like to make a new one, and gathered to discuss options.

With copies of the Arizona constitution before them, they debated how to turn Pima County—a liberal southern swatch of Arizona that borders Mexico and includes Tucson—into “Baja Arizona.”

“What’s the objective?” one member asked the group, Start Our State.

“Becoming our own state and making our own decisions,” said organizer Paul Eckerstrom.

A nullification bill that would have allowed Arizona to ignore federal laws it doesn’t like was defeated last week.

“That’s basically a secession bill,” Mr. Eckerstrom said. “I just couldn’t take it anymore. We actually want to stay in the union. It seems Arizona doesn’t.” In February, he suggested facetiously on his Facebook page that southern Arizona become its own state. Thousands of supporters answered his call…

While acknowledging they are unlikely to succeed, leaders of the separation movement say it is a serious effort, complete with lawyer-drafted legal strategies, a bank account to accept donations and maps of the quixotic new state. The group’s Facebook page has a small but growing following, currently at more than 3,000 fans.

The separatists point to Maine, which became a state in 1820 after residents lobbied for independence from Massachusetts. But it took them three decades, and as a free state Maine provided balance with the slave states. After the Massachusetts legislature approved the split, Congress and the President signed off as well.

Start Our State is looking to introduce a ballot initiative in Pima County next year, an election year and Arizona’s 100th birthday.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.