The Middlebury Institute, in conjunction with the Zogby Poll, has released a three-question survey on Americans' attitudes toward secession. Following are the results, nationally and for the Central region, which includes Ohio. Other regions were East, West, and South):
1. I believe any state or region has the right to peaceably secede and become an independent republic:
US: Agree 22%, Disagree 73%, Not sure 5%
Central: Agree 19%, Disagree 78%, Not sure 3% (Central region had the weakest support for secession).
2. I believe the United States' system is broken and cannot be fixed by traditional two-party politics and elections:
US: Agree 44%, Disagree 53%, Not sure 3%
Central: Agree 43%, Disagree, 53%, Not sure 4%
3. I would support a secessionist effort in my state:
US: Agree 18%, Disagree 72%, Not sure 10%
Central: Agree 15%, Disagree 74%, Not sure 11% (Support is weakest in the Central region).
Additional details from Zogby. I obtained the Central region figures directly from the Middlebury Institute.
The results do not surprise me. Judging from an earlier poll that asked about support for President Lincoln's policy for preserving the union (in which Ohio registered one of the highest percentages in the nation), I would expect that a state breakdown would have even fewer (maybe 12-13%) of Ohioans saying they would support a secessionist effort here.
On the other hand, with such a large percentage believing that the system is broken beyond repair, it offers hope that with education on the subject, Ohioans might become more receptive -- particularly if it focuses on the Federal role in our economic situation and they come to understand WIIFM (What's in it for me).
1 comment:
Yoo Ha!
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