The White House has responded to several petitions on its “We the People” web site calling for various states to be allowed to secede from the United States.
“In a nation of 300 million people — each with their own set of deeply-held beliefs — democracy can be noisy and controversial. And that’s a good thing. Free and open debate is what makes this country work, and many people around the world risk their lives every day for the liberties we often take for granted,” writes Director of the Office of Public Engagement Jon Carson.
“But as much as we value a healthy debate, we don’t let that debate tear us apart,” he adds.
The petitions cropped up following President Obama’s reelection. The White House has responded to all those which received more than 25,000 signatures within a month, the minimum required to get a response.
The same response was also issued to a petition calling for the deportation of all citizens who had signed the secession petitions.
The We the People site has also issued a response to a petition calling for the U.S. to build a Death Star.
