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The Second Vermont Republic (SVR) is a secessionist group within the U.S. state of Vermont which seeks to return to the formerly independent status of the Vermont Republic (1777–91). The Flag above was from the Green Mountain Boys used as a regimental or war flag supporting Vermont's quest to become an independent state during the period it was an independent state between 1777–1791, and after statehood through 1804.

Their origins and motives spark the idea of a secession from the Union in to some sort of Switzerland of North America by means of decentralized structure of Vermont towns. Not even their promoters believe the movement will be successful and people don´t believe it will happen. Personally I don´t think is a good idea. Despite the Intellectual power of their promoters it’s no more than academic exercise.

Quote from "en.wikipedia.org"

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The organization was founded in 2003 by Thomas Naylor, a former Duke University economics professor who published the book The Vermont Manifesto that same year. Previously in 1987, University of Vermont professor Frank Bryan, who is on the Advisory Board of Second Vermont Republic, had co-authored with Bill Mares OUT! The Vermont Secession Book, a tongue-in-cheek scenario for secession that begins with the exploding of bridges connecting Vermont with its neighboring states.

In 1989, Bryan, with John McClaughry, president of Vermont's Institute for Liberty and Community and who, during the administration of Ronald Reagan, was Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of Policy Development, authored a call for the restructuring of Vermont democracy in their book The Vermont Papers, Recreating Democracy on a Human Scale. In it they propose replacing the structure of Vermont towns with decentralized shires that maintain more local decision-making akin to British county councils. The ideas put forth in this book were not reliant upon, nor called for, Vermont's separation from the federal union.

In a September, 2006 Los Angeles Times story about SVR, John McClaughry said, "This really is a good-natured cult. Intellectually, they've got some horsepower, but mostly this is the whole left-wing litany, seen through an interesting prism." Secession, said McClaughry, "is not going to happen, and no one believes it is going to happen." However, in June 2007 Bryan stated that " the cachet of secession would make the new republic a magnet" and "People would obviously relish coming to the Republic of Vermont, the Switzerland of North America."

The Second Vermont Republic web site asserts the group is "committed to the peaceful return of Vermont to its status as an independent republic and more broadly the dissolution of the Union." Supporters of the Second Vermont Republic endorse Vermont's current commitment to small and sustainable towns, farms and businesses, and encourage residents of the state to buy products made locally and sold in small locally-owned stores. They also believe in direct democracy at the local level and desire to turn back as much power as possible to local communities.
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Quote from "www.vermontrepublic.org"

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The Second Vermont Republic is a nonviolent citizens' network and think tank opposed to the tyranny of Corporate America and the U.S. government, and committed to the return of Vermont to its status as an independent republic and more broadly to the dissolution of the Union. Members of the Second Vermont Republic subscribe to the following set of principles:

1) Political Independence
2) Human Scale
3) Sustainability
4) Economic Solidarity
5) Power Sharing
6) Equal Opportunity
7) Tension Reduction
8) Mutuality
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Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Vermont_Republic

http://www.vermontrepublic.org/

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