Five rural counties in Colorado backed secession measures yesterday, an outgrowth in part of gun control and environmental legislation. State and congressional approval would be necessary for the counties to become free. And you’d think a long look at significant federal benefits to union might cool tempers before that unlikely happenstance. But maybe not.

I mentioned earlier my participation in a conference on secession and nullification recently at the University of Arkansas Law School, where Rep. Bullet Bob Ballinger was the local exemplar of the nullification movement. I allowed as how nullification could be appealing to me from the liberal end of the spectrum. I’ve wondered since if maybe the Ballingers, Bells and Co. might be willing to let some liberal parts of Arkansas go.

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The Free State of Hillcrest, in other words. Hmmm. Let’s think on it. Can’t somebody make me a quick logo?

From the Colorado report:

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“The heart of the 51st State Initiative is simple: We just want to be left alone to live our lives without heavy-handed restrictions from the state Capitol,” advocate Jeffrey Hare told the Post.

Amen, brother.

PS — You thought the Civil War took care of secession? As a legal matter, not exactly.

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