Proposed State Flag for State of Long Island

Here is a design done by Cesidio Tallini for a flag that could become the official State Flag of the State of Long Island.

Long Island could follow Canada's example

Hello from Canada.

Long Island should definitely become a state and move towards greater independence. Other states such as Vermont and Texas can follow suit. They could follow a similar evolutionary process as Canada. Canada gained independence from the British Empire by a slow evolutionary process stretching from 1840 to 1982, as did Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. This is why these four countries do not have an 'Independence Day' - they gained their independence by evolution, not all at once like the USA and most countries.

Long Island could draw some similarities to this process in a shorter period of time by gradually gaining control over its own affairs from New York.

1837 - Rebellions against a corrupt colonial government in Canada leads to a demand for responsible self-government
1840 - Canada gains responsible self-government from Britain
1850 - Canada creates its own currency - replacing British Pounds with Canadian Dollars
1867 - Four British colonies (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) are federated into a single self-governing Dominion of Canada with its own parliament within the British Empire
1871-1873 - The remaining British colonies across North America except Newfoundland join the self-governing Dominion of Canada
1880 - The Arctic territories are transferred to the new Dominion. British troops leave Canada. The Canadian army is created
1907 to 1921 - Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Irish Free State follow Canada's example and become self-governing Dominions with their own parliaments
1910 - Canada creates its own navy
1914 - Britain enters the First World War on behalf of all of the British Empire including the self-governing Dominions
1919 - Canada and the other self-governing Dominions sign the peace treaty ending the First World War separately from Britain
1924 - Canada creates its own air force
1931 - The Statute of Westminster ends the colonial status of the British Dominions and defines Dominion status as completely self-governing with the right to be consulted on all imperial affairs. The Dominions gain the right to conduct their own foreign policies but Britain retains control over their constitutions which are acts of the British Parliament. Citizens of the Dominions remain as British subjects. India moves towards Dominion status. Canada signs treaties with the USA without British signatures
1939 - The Dominions make their own declarations of war separate from Britain. Britain, Australia and New Zealand declare war on September 3, South Africa on September 6, Canada on September 10. Ireland remains neutral.
1943 - Canada opens its first foreign embassy in Washington
1947 - India and Pakistan become self-governing Dominions. Dominion status is redefined as fully independent nations, equal to Britain within the British Commonwealth. Canadian citizenship is created (until then, Canadians were British subjects only). Canadians become both Canadian citizens and British subjects. Canada begins debate on adopting its own flag.
1949 - India becomes an independent republic and the British Commonwealth is redefined as the Commonwealth of Nations - all members are completely free and equal. They may leave if they wish. Ireland declares full independence and becomes the Republic of Ireland. The British monarch drops the title 'Emperor of India' and adopts the new title 'Head of the Commonwealth'. The British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ceases its control over the Supreme Court of Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada becomes the highest court in Canada. Newfoundland joins Canada as its tenth province, ending British colonial rule in North America
1952 - The last British governor general of Canada is replaced by the first Canadian governor general. Queen Elizabeth II drops the imperial title of 'Great Britain and Ireland and the British Dominions Beyond the Seas' and adopts separate titles in her realms of 'Queen of the United Kingdom', 'Queen of Canada', 'Queen of Australia', etc.
1961 - South Africa declares itself an independent republic
1965 - Canada adopts its own national flag, replacing the British Union Jack with the red and white maple leaf flag. The Union Jack is retained as a royal flag to be flown on royal or Commonwealth occasions only
1980 - Canada adopts its own national anthem, replacing 'God Save the Queen' with 'O Canada'. 'God Save the Queen' is retained for royal occasions only
1982 - Canada gains complete independence - British control over the Canadian constitution is terminated and a new Canadian constitution is proclaimed, written in Canada. Canadians cease to be British subjects, becoming Canadian citizens only. Dominion Day on July 1 is renamed Canada Day (the anniversary of the 1867 act which created the federated country)
1986 - British control over the Australia and New Zealand constitutions is terminated as those countries gain full independence and proclaim their own constitutions
To this day, Queen Elizabeth II remains head of state in Canada, as in Australia, New Zealand and several other countries, but this is by our own choice. We may drop this at any time and become republics like other countries such as India and South Africa have done. It would take only an amendment to our own constitution to do that and would not involve Britain. The governor general is the Queen's representative, but is a local citizen chosen by the Canadian government. The debate over whether to retain the Crown or become a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations will continue in Canada, Australia and New Zealand

Book about Independent Long Island

There is a really nice little book about Independent Long Island written by a fellow who has been interested in creating an independent nation of Long Island. While his idea is off-topic for us; the book is still an interesting read. Here is a link to the Amazon site where it can be purchased.

Independent Long Island Book

Election Laws for the 21st Century

One of the great opportunities available to the State of Long Island is to set up our systems governing elections and political parties. While, we can't abrogate US Federal law, I think there is still a lot of power the State of Long Island could exercise.

Here are some ideas I'd like to see in our State Constitution:

1) A unicameral (one house) legislature with multiple member districts that is large enough to truly represent "we the people" and lean enough to get things done. An advantage to a unicameral legislature is that there would be no duplication of staff. With a bicameral legislature you have two of everything - lots of duplication. Also lots of cozy jobs for politicians and professional political operators and staffers.

2) Create ballot access laws that are fair, equal and equitable to all political parties. Whatever we do, we've got to attempt to ensure that we don't have a two-party duopoly controlled by one cabal as we do in New York City and New York State with the Republican and Democrat Parties. The threshold for ballot access should be relatively easy and simple. Yes, there will be some goof ball parties, but I think that is a small price to pay for political democracy and political choice.

3) Use Proportional Representation to fill seats in our State Legislature, which I will call the State Senate.

4) Use Instant-Runoff Voting for all elected positions in the State of Long Island.

5) In elections for President of the United States; use IRV to award our votes in the Electoral College according to the percentage of the popular vote in the State of Long Island.

6) Use IRV for elections for US House of Representatives and US Senate from the State of Long Island

I encourage us to consult with non-profit groups, academics and attorneys who have experience in electoral reform; among them are:

Fair Vote:
http://www.fairvote.org

Free and Equal Elections Foundation:
http://www.freeandequal.org

Larry Sabato:
http://www.larrysabato.com

Professor Sabato is one of the leading experts on politics, elections and constitutions in the country. He is the Director at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Professor Rick Hasen of Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (CA)

 http://www.lls.edu/academics/faculty/hasen.html

 Professor Rick Hasen's Election Law BLOG

Professor Hasen has listed other sources on his BLOG as well.

I believe that one event we could plan for 2013 would be an event featuring these people and other experts to discuss the topic;

How to Create the 21st Century State - Promise and Hope for the 51st State of Long Island

A Clean Financial State for the State of Long Island

As we begin the process of exploring the possibility of taking the many arduous efforts that will be needed to form Long Island - 51st State we need to look into the process of being able to disavow all debts incurred on our behalf by the States of New York and New Jersey. An example would be the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey. This is one of many government agencies formed in the last century that is heavily in debt, and this is only the beginning. There are tons of other debts that would be our responsibility upon severing from New York City, New York State and joint agreements with the State of New Jersey. It IS a financial nightmare!!! I hope we can attract people to our cause who are subject matter experts in municipal and government finance. We need to have a strategy worked out ahead of time so that our grandchildren are not crushed by this overwhelming debt load.

LONG ISLAND - The 21st Century State

States do have some powers and the State of Long Island should be very diligent in asserting its powers as a State. The federal government has become too large, too intrusive, to inefficient and too expensive. The other 50 States have become mired in bureaucracy, much of which was developed between 1900 and 1960. That was a LONG time ago. The State of Long Island should insist that we are the first new US State of the 21st Century and use "best practices" from many sectors to create our new state. We can become the most modern, well organized, most flexible state in the Union. We can really create ways for our citizens and businesses to have their needs met. Personally, I prefer a much more libertarian approach. Let the State of Long Island facilitate processes for people and business taking care of themselves.

Perhaps our State Slogan should be:

LONG ISLAND - The 21st Century State

51 Star US Flag - Finally

Here is an image of a 51 star US Flag.

The Important Things

A government should provide the basic needs to keep it's taxpayers happy. It should also fund programs that will benefit and make their citizens stronger throughout the future. Money should be put into kids through different ways, there should be money put into after-school programs and schools. Schools should not be the ones to suffer because they provide kids with future and they will represent their state. More money should be put into college educations as well, because when the clamp with budgets start the future college students feel the pinch the most. Most 18 year olds don't have $30,000 or the time to make that much. This is what you need for most private schools now and federal aid is limited. If your in the middle-class college is basically out of the picture for you if your parents fiscal status is not well. There are families who make to much on the books but really have no money at all and the kids get hurt the most. The government assumes that they can afford their kids education with their savings but they have none. This leaves so many kids with a less that great education because they simply just can afford to go to the best possible school for them which is unfair. So many great minds are being thrown away because their families don't have the money to help them go to college. This should be changed if Long Island becomes a state. Long Island should focus on itself and the future of it's residents. It should develop programs that would allow kids to go to college much easier while not putting the state in debt. This needs to be done but done right or the state will just become how New York is now.

The New York State Budget Passed! Or not?

Well the budget finally passed! Actually the correct budget didn't pass due to an "administrative" issue. That's a shame because it only makes this whole ordeal look worse. New York has been tripping over itself as it rushes to finally pass the delayed budget. It's sad because Long Island can simply do better than New York because we are an already developed government that does not make nearly as many mistakes as Albany does. We foot the bill for everything but we are the last to get compensated for it. We are just used and mainly left in the dark as battles go on in Albany. We should be looking to the future and if New York cannot fix it's fiscal problems and it's neglect of Long Island we should step up the movement to become a state.




Here is the link with the story
http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=82499&catid=13