"The 51st State?" Response

        The article “The 51^st state?” describes the recent (also past) pushes to create an additional state out of an existing one among people living in rural areas including Michigan, Southern Oregon and specifically Colorado. Many important people (lawmakers in 11 counties) in the state of Colorado have started a movement to leave Colorado and form a separate state. Their goal is clear: to break off from the suddenly very democratic, liberal leaders of the state and live in a place of peace and good values. Overall, I think that this article proves a good point—that despite having its section in the Constitution, the act of creating a new state proves to be a very stressful, weary and almost impossible process to go through.

        In Article IV of the constitution, it says the creation of states is allowed. But that doesn’t truly intend to make things easy for people in the future, or be much help with the attempts and proposals at these new states. Dating back to the early 1900’s, Texlahoma, Jefferson and New Colorado are just a few of the past hopeful, but failed state proposals. It’s especially a struggle for determined people who are currently going through this process in Colorado. Things have really changed there: gun control, green-energy and immigrant support laws and values, a more Democratic perspective in general. And if they do all vote on creating the state, it’s not only lawmakers and volunteers who must give their support on taking action in the new movement: Colorado has to vote to let them go and afterwards, the Congress must agree on allowing the 51^st state, which is not so easy. The last time such a thing was in 1863.

        This article seems to connect to a more universal theme, which is that when trying to do big things that involve many people, it's not a simple or joyful process. Aside from just the pure determination to get to a certain place or succeed in a rare act, one of the most important things to have is the complete support and voice of others who can help. Without this, achieving what you want is impossible. The article proves this through the several examples of denied state proposals. Of course these people wanted so badly to break away from existing areas including Texas, Western Oklahoma, Michigan and Montana and to a better place, but that wasn't enough. If people were always supportive and thought of only the good, it would be more fair, but they aren't and don't and that's good to keep in mind