Secession

I was listening, as usual, to Free Talk Live (see links) the other day. The topic of secession, in reference to New Hampshire, came up.

Ian and Mark were pooh-poohing the notion of US federal government resistance to secession. I don't know about that, really. I doubt a future US president would readily permit New Hampshire to secede from the United States and become a sovereign state. If he (or she even!) didn't send in tanks and troops, then surely some other kind of sanction would be imposed.

OK, this isn't a UK issue, but I find it interesting nonetheless. I believe that (as an interim step towards market anarchy), the UK should become a federal state. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have their own legislatures which make law in certain constitutionally granted areas, whilst the federal Westminster government is responsible for foreign affairs, defence and basic economic policy. From then, we can decide whether to reduce the powers of the federal government vis a vis the states, or to abolish government altogether. If England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland desired to secede, then they should be free to do so.