Widgetized Section
Go to Admin » Appearance » Widgets » and move Gabfire Widget: Social into that MastheadOverlay zone
Civics Fail: Alabama Secessionist Petition Originator Blames Obama for State Law
‘Tis a pity when civics goes so horribly wrong as it has for Derrick Belcher, 45, of Alabama.
Belcher started an Alabama secession petition over his anger at the “socialist” federal regulations that he thinks shut down his topless car wash and resulted in him being arrested for obscenity in 2001.
“I don’t want to live in Russia. I don’t believe in socialism. America is supposed to be free,” He told Al.com. “The government ripped my business away, and now they’re choking America to death with rules and regulations.”
Yes, but see, the law that got him arrested is not a federal law, it is a state law intended to make nude dancing illegal, but so broad that it criminalizes sex toys and renders even some mainstream films as a violation.
The law prohibits “any person to knowingly distribute, possess with intent to distribute, or offer or agree to distribute any obscene material or any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs for any thing of pecuniary value.” Fines go up to $50,000.00, jail time and felonies abound. Mr. Belcher’s topless car wash must have fallen under the prohibited marketing of an item meant to stimulate a human organ.
Belcher might wish to familiarize himself with the origins of his talking points about socialism and entitlement programs. The people who sold him those lines of bunk are the same people who want to institute laws about nudity and regulate people’s bodies across the nation. They are not typically Democrats. The morality police hail from the Republican Party of “family values”.
The law that got Belcher arrested and shut down his business was backed by a coalition of Conservative Christians led by Dan Ireland of the Alabama Citizens’ Action Program. The evil liberal ACLU has actually challenged the law Belcher hates, on constitutional (federal, again) grounds. In other words, Belcher is petitioning the federal government to allow him to get into bed with his captor with no chance of freedom via the federally protected freedoms of the constitution.
Belcher thinks that by seceding, the awesome freedom of the Bible Belt would enable them to stop the entitlements that got Obama re-elected. He told Al, “The people who want those handouts, it’ll force them to move to a different state. It will consolidate working people and that’s how we turn things around.”
I guess no one has told Belcher that Alabama relies on federal money to exist at a ratio of $1.71 for every $1.00 put in. Alabama is, in fact, one of the moocher states demanding handouts from the blue states. Ah, freedom.
Belcher seems to think secession would work just fine as red states produce all of the oil and food, in his mind. Of course, this isn’t accurate, but let’s say it was.
Belcher is obviously unaware of the federal subsidies to both the oil and farming industries, as well as the fact that we do not get to “keep” the oil we drill here. Oil drilled in Texas does not belong to Texas or the USA for that matter. It belongs to the global oil companies being subsidized by the federal government to drill here.
Were he to go it alone with the Morality Police of Alabama, the federal government would no longer “socialize” the oil companies or the farming industries with the “handouts” Belcher thinks are the root of the problem.
Belcher is a seemingly proud Libertarian. No problem there. It’s just too bad he has no idea that seceding from the U.S. government would only make his problems worse, not better. It was Alabama’s government that shut his business down, and if he had no federal protections for his freedoms, the Bible Belt wouldn’t stop at his topless car wash.
Mr. Belcher, who obviously drank too much Fox, has 29,230 signatures for “freedom” thus far.
While I’m tempted to suggest to Belcher and his misinformed buddies, “Please proceed,” perhaps civics lessons would be more productive in the long run. A little knowledge goes a long way.
Additional Source: Ban on sex toys targeted. Mobile Register Dec. 7, 2007
h/t Huffington Post, who got it from Gawker who got it from AL.com.
Related Posts :
It turns out the answer to avoiding the fiscal was right under our noses. We don't need partisan negotiation ...
In a new White House petition, the people demand, "Mandate the AG to seek sanctions, costs, and attorney ...
One of the necessities, and difficulties, of a nation is keeping the population unified and being of one ...
Rep. Ron Paul has weighed in on Gov. Rick Perry's secession talk for his state of Texas. Paul defended Perr ...
Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) made national headlines this month when he said that Texas may have to leave the Unit ...
28 Responses to Civics Fail: Alabama Secessionist Petition Originator Blames Obama for State Law
Ally Harris
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
The dumbing down of the American people agenda is going well for the Republicans, isn’t it? Obviously that policy is one that is working for them….
Colleen
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
It must be the weather down there. It rots your brain.
Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
OMG does it get hot any more down here. And humid.
djchefron
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Come on now,cut him some slack.From Alabama, do you really think he knows anything about the constitution.Especially the 10th amendment that the yokels always shout about?
Kate
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Belcher: Yeah, but Obama LET the state do this to me.
Christopher
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
We really do need Civics education in this country, which means it needs to be included on standardized tests. In fact, if it weren’t for the history of literacy test abuse to keep certain races from voting I would be tempted to require that natural-born citizens pass the same test we require of our new citizens before being allowed to vote.
nomad
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 2:06 am
The questions would have to be so dumbed-down that it would be an disgrace that any electorate could be so fundamentally ignorant. The whole validity of a democracy- which, after all, rests upon the premise of well-informed voters engaged in intelligent debate- would be in doubt.
Questions would have to be:
1. What year is it?
2. Who is the president?
3. Who is his opposition party’s candidate?
4. How long does the president’s term of office last?
Any test would have to be on that level or nobody would be allowed to vote at all. Have you seen any of the Chase Whiteside videos? It’s embarrassing.
Joyce
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Mr. Belcher, like so many of secessionists, has no idea what that entails. They think they will just be able to run their businesses, bank, buy gas, food, etc. w/o any gov. interference. Little do they realize that they will no longer be U.S. Citizens and will not be able to do any type of business in the U.S. w/o permission from the Gov. Gee, I just don’t know if that will happen. When they do settle somewhere, they will not be allowed to enter U.S. Soil w/o proper i.d., passports, work permits, etc. In other words they will just be “illegal aliens.” The people better think long and hard about something as serious as this. I doubt that President Obama will sanction any type of secession, but he could I guess.
Sammy
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 2:25 am
Too bad it is only a parody:
What if President Obama responded to those requesting the right to secede?
sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...
Morgan Sheridan
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Best laugh I’ve had all day. Oh, yeah. He needs a civics 101 refresher for sure.
omomma
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Anyone who signs a secession petition should lose their citizenship immediately. They can be issued a red card which would permit them to work, earn money, pay taxes, etc., but not vote or receive SS benefits, even though they would pay for them. In 7 years they would be eligble to apply for citizenship. If they had been out of the country for more than 12 consecutive months during the 7 years, they could be deported to the nation of their choice. They would wait there for 7 more years before having another opportunity to apply for a red card. Issuance of a new red card would signal the start of another 7 year period, at the end of which they could apply for citizenship.
Citizenship should not be taken for granted.
[email protected]
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
First of all as I read all of the back and forth opinions on this whole thing, the one thing that seams tonescape everyone is this… The reason for secceeding is more than who won the election or whether the person is a republican or democrat. The reason is the country is in shambles and has been declining quickly over the past 4 years. It is irrelevant whether thisnis thenfault of the president in office and it is not about him but the fact that the federal govt. is way outside of their intended power snd the constitution has been pushed aside for nothing less than a flavor of communism. Thats right communism, most of our recent federal laws are not only unconstitutional but outright illegal. Yest the morenthey pass the farther they go. The states have all but lost virtually all of the rights and this country is no longer whatnit was founded one. Thenstates joined the union based on the constitution but since that no longernapplies neither should they be required to stick around.
Come on people, stop the bickering about politics as this has everything to do with freedom which is all but lost now and the system is nothing short of being rigged, so no matter which side you think your voting for, there can be no real change as both sides are on the same team in the end.
These petitions show how people feel as they watch the titanic sinking and they are scrambling for a lifeboat. Thats the bottom line.
Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
OMG NOT COMMUNISM? Nooooooooooooooooooo
Please tell us what laws are illegal and which have been taken to the Supreme court and blocked.
While youre at it get off whatever news source you are using. There are no communism laws in the US.
majii
Nov. 16th, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Only a true RW Fox News believer would think that an economy in recovery is “the Titanic sinking.”
ROTFLMBO
nomad
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 2:26 am
According to the legends, when the Titanic actually hit the iceberg, the impact just caused the ship shudder. Although the captain and his crew realized pretty quickly how long it would take for the ship to sink, it took a few hours for the passengers to feel the full scope of the disaster.
Whenever I hear people comparing the economic problems to the Titanic, I think: Where were you when Rumsfeld refused to give Congress an even approximate figure on the cost of the Iraq war? Where were these austerity/ balanced budget people when the Bush tax cuts were implemented? All of these things were put on credit and had the same effect on the economy as the Titanic hitting the iceberg. It took this long for the full impact of those policies to be noticed. And it takes even longer to change course.
nomad
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 2:16 am
I call that comment a spoof. I refuse to believe there are people out there who actually believe such nonsense. I may be an optimist.
Sammy
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 2:28 am
The funnies always make me laugh.
Dear, you need to try again, But before you do try the google and not Fox. Ignorance is not very attractive.
Arelius705
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 9:12 am
Oh, I think I understand you. Like how things are much more socialized now than let’s say in 1962 when the top tax rate was 91%. Before the deregulation of the airline, trucking, railroad and banking industries. You should have stayed awake in school.
Jack
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 2:07 am
As a native Alabamian, please understand that not EVERYONE who lives here is a complete moron. You can’t swing a dead cat in north Alabama without hitting a Ph.D.
That said, I have never heard the “N word” used here nearly as much as since Obama was elected the first time. (From non-Ph.Ds of course.
Concered Citizen
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 7:52 am
Please do your research. Since the re-election of Obomah, look at how many small and large corporations are either taking full time employees down to part time, and how many thousands upon thousands of people are getting layed off because of the Obomah care package. Freedoms, well lets see, You can no longer pray in school, say the Pledge Of Allegiance, wear certain T-Shirts in school because it affends people. In God We Trust, But not in Obomah.
I have worked all my life and for what. When I retire, I will recieve hardly nothing. A middle class family gets taxed to death, while the rich steady roll on. Go figure, it is the hard working individuals that make this country, not the politicians, no reason for them to be making $150,000 or more a year, and then get close to the same amount in retirement. They need to come down to our level, where the American people are strugling to make ends meet. I dont care if the President is black, or white, but do care what kind of job that they do. 4 years has passed and nothing has changed, nor will another 4 years of his leadership change anything.Come mid 2013 the company I work for will be closing, putting 5,000 people out of work, go figure, we can make it on $247.00 dollars a week from unemployement, yeah right. Do you really think that Obomah is worried about our jobs, than think again. Why should he, he will continue to get his paycheck now, and after he is out of office. The politicians are the ones who need to take a pay cut, while the checks go up, ours go down, but hey Louisiana carried Romney and I am glad. For those states that carried Obomah, has forced the states who did’t carry him to live with the outcome of America headed on a train that is surely to crash. Check the stock market since the election, everyday it is loosing, we are not America any longer,we are owned by China, it is just a matter of time before they call their marker.
Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 8:05 am
The stock market is at an all time high.
The part time syndrome started under Bush when he tanked the economy.
Pray in school? For what? That has been gone a long time, yet you blame it on Obama? The pledge of allegiance is still said in school.
You will hardly get anything? Aw poor baby. I thought you were from the party of personal responsibility? And now you admit to being a socialist.
When I moved to Tn, I worked in an industrial park in which 7 out of 11 factories closed under dear leader Bush.
You are so full of crap the smell of you hits an hour before you arrive
A Walkaway
Nov. 24th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Actually, the part-time syndrome started before Bush… maybe before Clinton too.
It was already common practice in the 90s around here – and gradually grew to the situation we see today (where giants like Wal Mart deliberately schedule their employees so it’s hard for them to get a degree -and improve their lives- or to take a second job). My wife encountered it in the 90s… she worked for a couple of big supermarket chains who would make their employees work right up to the second before they would have to be treated as full-time and given benefits. (They also let their white employees get away with all sorts of racist insults and comments, some of which I heard and a couple of which were directed at me as well.)
I don’t know how I missed this thread… but I did.
Julius
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 9:59 am
where do some of these idiots come from?????????
Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 10:13 am
Julius you dont need to use all caps
A Walkaway
Nov. 24th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
When I first spotted this thread and read the article, I nearly shouted the same exact question.
Maybe in this case, all caps (for a single reasonable question) might not be so inappropriate.
Anne
Nov. 17th, 2012 at 10:39 am
This fool’s blaming the president for the state law that caused his business to be shut down shows how so many people in red states fail to understand one simple fact. The laws and policies of the state have a much more immediate and direct impact on residents than federal ones do. He is just dumb enough to align himself with the very forces that are responsible for the loss of his business, while blaming “libs.” It’s also ironic that Alabama ranks very low in measures of the quality of life in this country because it’s always been dominated by Republicans who place a low priority on improving Alabama’s standing in these measures. As far as secession is concerned, these yokels should be allowed to leave sans the very land they live on and go to whatever countries will have them. Then, if they want to return, they should face more draconian obstacles than others who want to come here from other nations. Their cluelessness about how governments work is staggering and should be embarrassing to them.
jamika
Nov. 19th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
not every person who lives in alabama is a complete idiot.
To be honest in my perspective every one who signs a petition should be treated as an illegal alien such as which they are acting?
or would it fall under heresy?
people don’t understand that alabama or any other state for that matter would go into complete pandemonium if there was no federal goverment and alot of starving homeless people would feel the streets withing days …given that 6 months is the top before they would be begging to be part of what they once were and quite frankly DO NOT deserve
A Walkaway
Nov. 24th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
There is only one word to describe Derrick Belcher – STUPID.
Of course, he comes from the state that is driving Mexican Americans out and which is racist and bigoted to the core (only a couple of others might be worse).