Who needs federal programs, anyway?

Diane Kremser, Las Vegas

Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 | 2:01 a.m.

It’s admirable that Nevadan Steve Vaughan has launched his drive for states to secede from the union, and it makes perfect sense for citizens to support his position and sign his petition. Who wouldn’t want the freedom to fend for themselves exempt from taxation and government overreach?

The federal government provides or subsidizes so many unnecessary services such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, veterans’ benefits, aid to education and dependent children, disaster relief, the federal highway system, the National Guard, the U.S. military, unemployment compensation, food stamps, free emergency health care, and myriad agencies.

In addition, there would be no need to vote because you would have no president, Congress, Senate, federal courts, judges or prisons. You would finally be totally free to live as you like, totally independent of government control and/or safeguards to your civil liberties. This must be exactly what the Tea Party has been demanding for the past few years when its members decided to take their country back — to the 18th century.

Oh, for the good old days without an interstate highway system, railroads or municipal airports. The Pony Express looks pretty good, but no; that was a federal program! Oh well, enjoy your freedom! And don’t forget to get your passport — you’ll need it to visit America.