CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

The establishment of a new Constitution must be among the first considerations of a new state. A Constitution which recognizes that the power of the State rests in the people and that the State has only those powers delegated to it by the people.

The Magna Charta of 1215 limited the government only by those provisions stated in the document. All other powers still resided in the King. The American Constitution turned this notion on its head. The people retained all powers not delegated to the government. Now the present Illinois Constitution has again reversed the concept and restored all power to the government except those it "gives" to the people.

The Constitution of the new State must rectify this situation. It must be written in clear, concise, and unambiguous terms that all rights and obligation rest with the people and are then delegated to the government. The government has only those power delegated to it and not more.

SOVEREIGNTY

The creation of a compelling vision of the future is the beginning of the path to sovereignty. Societies will move toward sovereignty when they begin to have a sense of independent identity, purpose, and self-confidence. When the impulse to self-reliance finds expression in an individual, society, or community, it will clothe itself in a newly acquired self-identity and awaken a will to transform current conditions into a long-term prosperity.

Individual and family effort is the essential ingredient in building a prosperous, productive society. The role of government is to maintain an environment in which such effort may thrive. Great civilizations are created when individuals nurture family interests while addressing the needs of society through involvement in religion, politics, education, and the arts.

The most significant contributions occur when such efforts follow a conscious and structured approach. Sovereignty is the result of a conscious decision that must be conceived, planned, and executed over time.

Individuals, communities, and societies which lack the desire and courage to define and control their own destiny will be absorbed and dominated by other more energetic societies. Societies, as well as individuals, must assert control over their own destinies or they will be controlled by others. The impulse toward self-assertion is most strongly manifested when competition exists. Adverse conditions bring out either the will to strive and assert one’s dominion over circumstances.

The oppressive political and economic environment in which Southern Illinois now finds itself can produce either the will to assert ourselves and take control of our own destiny; or we can continue to be subservient to the Chicago/Springfield political system and live as second class citizens.

ITS TIME FOR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS STATEHOOD!

What others have to say about Southern Illinois Statehood.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/01/30/opinion/letters/doc49828688664dd195569042.txt

How do we go about making Southern Illinois a State?

Under Article IV, Section Three of the United States Constitution, which outlines the relationship among the states, Congress has the power to admit new states to the union. The states are required to give "full faith and credit" to the acts of each other's legislatures and courts, which is generally held to include the recognition of legal contracts, marriages, and criminal judgments. The states are guaranteed military and civil defense by the federal government, which is also obligated by Article IV, Section Four, to "guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government."

New states are admitted into the Union by the precedents and procedures established by the Northwest Ordinance. Following the precedent established by the Enabling Act of 1802, an Enabling Act must be passed by Congress as a prerequisite to admission. The act authorizes the people of a territory to frame a constitution, and lays down the requirements that must be met prior to consideration for statehood.

The logistics of bringing about Southern Illinois Statehood are fairly simple.
First, a petition to request a State wide referendum to consider the question;
Second, a request to Congress to pass an Enabling Act;
Next, a constitutional convention and the drafting of a constitution for the new State;
And finally, fulfill other requirements as directed by Congress.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS STATEHOOD.
http://www.thecaperock.com/articles/2001/06/little-egypt

CHRONIC HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT & POVERTY

In January 2009 seven of the 21 counties of deep Southern Illinois had unemployment rates of more than 10%.

COUNTIES % UNEMPLOYMENT

Franklin 12.2%

Hamilton 10.0%

Hardin 10.6%

Perry 12.4%

Pope 10.2%

Pulaski 10.7%

Union 11.9%

Overall there were 17,623 people unemployed in January in a labor force of 189,697. The twenty-one counties have an overall unemployment rate of 9.3% while the State as a whole has a rate of 8.5% and the national rate of 7.6%.

This is not at all unusual for the economy of the southernmost counties of Illinois. And as long as Illinois State government is dominated by Chicago our southern economy will continue to be neglected.

In the 2000 census the State median household income was $46,500.

At that time the median household income for the southernmost counties of Illinois was $29,200. That is 63% of the state median household income—Southern Illinoisans earned 63 cents on the dollar compared to the State average. For those over 65 years of age living in Southern Illinois it is even worse. Their median household income was only $24,300. That is only 52% of the state median household income!

To put these figures in perspective; an income of $23,650 puts a family of three below the poverty level.

More resent surveys indicate that 24% of the people, and 57% of the children, of Cairo live in poverty while 42% of the children of Pulaski county live in poverty. Over 70,000 Southern Illinoisans live in poverty!

It is time to take our economic development in our own hands, and the surest way to do that is to control our own affairs as a sovereign State! Southern Illinois will never prosper as long as we are dominated by Chicago politics. We cannot do worse on our own and I am convinced we can do a lot better! One hundred and ninety years of being second class citizens in our own State is long enough. It’s time to separate and go our own way.

IT’S TIME FOR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS STATEHOOD!

You may comment on this blog by e-mailing "si51ststate@gmail.com"

The Land Called Egypt

http://www.egyptianaaa.org/SI-History.htm
(for more on "Egypt" click on the above link)

Southern Illinois joined the union in 1818. I say Southern Illinois joined the union, for at that time there was no northern Illinois. As the state developed the population and industrial and commercial activities moved steadily north, until today only 3 ½ percent of the population of the state lives in the 21 Southernmost Illinois counties. For 190 years the region has lagged behind the rest of the state.

Southern Illinois must change. Whether we call it The Southern Illinois enlightenment, or reformation, or renaissance, or great awakening, we must change. We must make quantum leaps forward. We demand to little of ourselves—we think to small and settle for to little. We must take to heart the words of Alexander Hamilton, “Wise political leaders march at the head of affairs. They do not wait for events—but know what actions to take. The actions they take will produce the events."

There is in each of us a spiritual power over which circumstance has no control. Our material, financial, and social progress as a region will not happen until we awaken that spiritual potential lying fallow and unexpressed within and rouse ourselves to purposeful and united action. It is said that, "God does not change the condition of a people until they first change what is in their hearts."

We must think of ourselves as Southern Illinoisans first, and then as citizens of our communities. I am convinced that until we adopt that mind-set we will never achieve the unity and prosperity we desire for ourselves, our children, and our grand children.

The answers to the problems that face Southern Illinois are not to be found in Springfield or in Washington. The answers are to be found in the hearts and minds of the citizens of Southern Illinois. Within every community reside the ideas, interests, and unique talents necessary for its own advancement. The ability of the community to seize the initiative and accept responsibility for its actions is the most dynamic and certain means of development.

IT IS TIME FOR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS STATEHOOD!!!

Every county should of course determine whether it will remain with the old or join in the new State of Illinois, however the above map shows one of the many possible outcomes of separation. The red area being the largest geographic area would retain the name ILLINOIS while the smaller area would determine their new name.

CORRUPT GOVERNMENT

Three Governors of the State of Illinois have served time in prison, one has been impeached, and the ethical status of one of the Illinois US Senators is in question.

Otto Kerner, Jr., Daniel Walker, and George Ryan all served time in prison. Former governor Rod Blagojevich was charged by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald with several offenses, including mail fraud and wire fraud, and attempting to sell Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat for personal financial and influential gain. He was impeached on January 9, 2009, by the Illinois House of Representatives, and removed from office by the Illinois Senate on January 29, 2009.

A corrupt and dysfunctional government is sufficient reason to seek separation and form a new State.

UNEQUALLY YOKED


Scripture admonishes us not to be “unequally yoked.” How long are we to remain bound by the greater numbers of voters that keep in power a corrupt State government? Our votes are ineffective and our voices go unheard in the chambers of government. Our Representatives and senators are forced to participate in a system alien to the values of the people they represent.

The Southern Illinois economy is ignored, our schools underfunded, and our natural resources undeveloped. Many of our town’s are losing population and their commercial districts are in decline—many towns are without hospitals, or doctors, or ambulance service.

Our schools are failing; medical care is inadequate, manufacturing essentially non-existent, and food production insufficient to feed our citizens. Our transportation infrastructure is deteriorating, fresh water resources are insufficient to support future growth and our over-all economy is impoverished.

Between the 1990 and 2000 census, 11 of the 21 southernmost counties lost population. It is estimated that between 2000 and 2006, 17 of the 21 counties lost population.
Chronic high unemployment and low wages plague the entire area.

To continue politics-as-usual is to condemn the next generation to continued poverty and political dependency.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, THE 51ST STATE

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another,” … Remember those words from the Declaration of Independence. It is time that we apply them to our own condition in Southern Illinois.

Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois are in effect already two states. All that remains is to make it a political reality.

We have different economies, different cultures, different values, and different political views.

In State government, even if every Southern representative and senator voted in a block, they cannot overcome the greater numbers of the North.

If Southern Illinois is to prosper, it will be as a sovereign State. We must control our own destiny or forever be under the control of others whose interests and needs are in opposition to our own. It is time for Southern Illinois STATEHOOD.