You stated that there is no good reason for secession.
And I stand by that statement. That doesn't mean that it's not sometimes a necessary evil.
I have problems with the way we came about getting this land. So no, I don't believe it was a good thing for us to steal land. It's not that much different than what's happening in Palestine.
I agree. The same should apply for secession.
As per my first statement, I think that it's sometimes a necessary evil.
Well I agree there are way too many divorces these days but I strongly disagree with restrictions on it. That is a slippery slope with very big consequences.
Possibly, and I have my theories on it, but that's not for this thread.
Never claimed Thomas Paine's words as gospel. Just trying to figure why you claim secession goes against individualism when it has historically been individualists who have supported secessions.
I am a loner and an introvert. I'd rather be by myself and left alone. However, I realize that I have to be a productive member of society. While I think anarchism is a great ideal, it's not practical in the long run. But that is what I am. This leaves me conflicted with such issues as secession, because on the one hand, I'm sometimes lean toward anarchy, and think that individual rights come before the rights of the state or people, however, on the other hand, I'm not irrational enough to think that I have some sort of special privilege that would allow me to operate in such a fashion, as such, I understand that I have to be a part of the society in which I live. This is why I think that secession is a bad idea, but that would also be dependent on a case by case basis. So, from an individualist point of view, I don't see secession as always being the wrong way, however, as someone trying to be a part of society, I think that it destroys the unity a nation should have to thrive and succeed.
So do you think seceding from England was a good or bad thing?
Short answer, it is what it is. They had their reasons, and whether it was good or bad, it's the way things are. I think more diplomatic actions could have been taken to avoid such a mess, but I also don't have any clear cut answers as to how that would have taken shape.