[Moneyguy1]

Oh, I don't know...How did this morph from "The Wild West wasn't wild" to secession (pat's FAVORITE topic)?

I think you might want to rethink the "wild" in the west. Granted, pat, you may know the history of the Southeast, but that seems to be where it ends. Right or wrong, there were a considerable of individuals caught up in land wars, battles with the Ute, the Apache, and other tribal groups (and I do NOT take sides on the "right" or "wrong" actions of either side, there is room for volumes on that topic). The very fact that until the end of the 19th century the population was quite sparse (at one time Tombstone was the largest City in the Southwest) led to a type of lawlessness "Sheriff didn't see it, we didn't do it".

Getting rid of government? Curtailing, yes, but eliminating it altogether? You like the nice roads for your Porsche? You like the security offered by a federal armed force? Willing to become a citizen soldier, spending part of your time securing the borders of SC? In this all too uncertain world, the lack of a unified fighting force would leave this country and the individual states open for opportunistic nations. The same with state government. Reduction, yes. Local government? You prepared to dig holes to bury your garbage? Willing to give up that low slung go-buggy for something that will navigate over unpaved terrain? Ready to dig your own well for water? Generate your own power?

I am all for minimal intrusion of government at all levels, but I am convinced there are jobs that can collectively be done at far less effort if not cost by some form of central operation.

You have some fine companies in SC. Been there, seen them. How much of the materials they use come from outside the state on federally constructed roads? How many products made are transported to other states on those same roads? What would be the effect on cost if different states initiated tariffs on goods coming and going?

Our government is far from perfect, and it has become bloated, especially over the past five years or so. However, with some work and the efforts of real dedicated Activists..not the far extremes or the ever loyal "true believers", we may be able to return sanity and forge ahead.