The spirit of Ethan Allen

Via Kevin Carson comes news of the Vermont Independence Convention:

The objectives of the convention are twofold. First, to raise the level of awareness of Vermonters of the feasibility of independence as a viable alternative to a nation which has lost its moral authority and is unsustainable. Second, to provide an example and a process for other states and nations which may be seriously considering separatism, secession, independence, and similar devolutionary strategies.

The keynote speaker is James Howard Kunstler, author of The Geography of Nowhere and other books. Kunstler thinks that as a result of, among other things, the rising cost of oil we’re going to be forced to live much more locally in the near future. For a brief overview of his views see here.

Independence, localist, and secessionist ideas cut interestingly across political and ideological lines. Vermont secessionist and economist Thomas Naylor co-wrote a book several years back with Methodist pastor/theologian (and now bishop) Will Willimon called Downsizing the U.S.A., which argued for radical devolution and decentralization of political and economic power. Naylor has also collaborated with left-anarchist Kirkpatrick Sale on this idea. You also see such sentiments entertained from time to time by various libertarians and conservative agrarians.