Here's one we missed first time around in 2004. New York Magazine discusses complete secession of New York from the United States. The article is actually something of a diatribe against Americans in general and Republicans in particular, and the idea is not taken completely seriously. But author Jennifer Senior gives some serious thought to both the reasons and the issues of secession which are relevant even to our less radical proposal.

Be advised that there are a couple of instances of serious profanity, but the article is certainly worth a read for an interesting perspective on why secession (from New York state) would work and why it would make a good deal of sense.

New York Magazine - August 9, 2004 - The Independent Republic of New York

But we couldn't help noticing that this site is enjoying a major upsurge in visitors after a very lonely two, three years. Does that portend an upsurge in interest for our cause? We won't get our hopes up yet.

At this point we just want to thank everyone for stopping by and ask that you stop by again. We'll try to make the site as interesting and stimulating as possible, no matter which side of the issue you take!

Time Magazine, June 21, 1971 -- Should New York City Be the 51st State?

We recently stumbled upon this article from over 36 years ago in what was then one of the most respected weekly news magazine in America.

Then, as now, the issue revolved in large part around finances and the incongruity of the nation's largest city having to go hat-in-hand to a largely small-town legislature, not for money -- since the city has long been the states largest source of tax revenue, but for permission to spend money raised from within the city itself.

Two points that we found particularly interesting are:

"The concept of a governmental entity the size of the city of New York or Chicago or Los Angeles did not even exist at the time the Constitution was written." He considers state domination of the large cities "preposterous."

and

"The academics find much more merit in Lindsay's latest —and far more realistic—proposal to create 'national cities' that would be free of most ties to their states and would deal directly with Washington on those issues that most affect them, such as welfare, health and trade."

This article is not only remarkably relevant after 36 years, but also an interesting window into urban issues a generation ago.

Hope you like the new website. We originally intended to just upgrade our technology, then we decided: What the heck -- we might as well go for a full makeover.

We carried over as much as we could from the old site, but we couldn't save the logon IDs. Please register again. The process in simple and we ask for very little information.

Be sure to let us know what you think about the new website.