We hereby petition the Federal government to exploit the 2012 secessionist movement in the following manner to solve or minimize certain problems facing the United States today. The key to the the solution is taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the current secessionist movement. The generalities of the solution are as follows: A. The foundation to the the solution is the underlying land and resource value of the states that are threatening secession and which were not part of the US states immediately following the initial formation of our country. When the colonies got together and initially formed the United States, the land that was not part of the original colonies, such as land purchased in the the Louisiana Purchase, became federal property. These federal lands (i.e., everything other than the original 13 states) were granted by the federal government from time to time to people under the Homestead Acts and other legislation. These Acts and other legislation were essentially contracts by which additional US states and territories were created and land granted to people with the explicit understanding that these lands would be part of the United States and that the people would cultivate and improve the lands and support the Constitution of the United States of America. When one of these states secedes from the union, the Federal government must argue that the contract has been broken and the land comprising the state (if not one of the original 13 colonies) reverts back to the federal government. In this manner, we can be a nation of no more than 13 states possessing amazingly valuable territories. Rich farmland. Enriched oil lands. Vast coal mines. Copper mines. Natural gas. B. The seceding states would be made to promptly pay back all federal loans and subsidies owed by them on their way out. If they are short cash, the US would need to seize assets within the state and liquidate those to the highest bidders. Ebay would allow worldwide reach here. Listings, packing and mailing would be done by a newly created federal agency, creating thousands and thousands of jobs. Net profits would be used to pay down the deficit. C. Concurrently, all programs to the benefit of the people of seceding states would promptly cease. The money saved this way would also be used to pay down the federal deficit D. The reaquired lands would become federal territories once again. A very conservative return to simpler times of simple American values. However, all exploitation of natural resources -- oil, agriculture, coal, etc.-- in these territories would be government controlled and all profits would used to pay down the deficit and, thereafter, would belong to every citizen and would be paid to them in the form of tax credits. E. Unfortunately, but only initially, we'd have an even larger illegal immigrant problem. Millions and millions of "new" illegal immigrants will exist -- since our former fellow American will not be US citizens and will be on our land. F. We would offer a very strict immigrant policy (we should be very very conservative here). Any illegal residents within the newly reaquired territories will be allowed to take an oath to support and uphold the Constitution and would be allowed to become a citizen of the Unitied States (after a 5 years probabtion period of course). But they can only take this oath and initiate the citizenship process after passing a rigorous battery of academic tests. These tests would be a necessary part of our War on Terror (don't ask me how). The tests would be graded on a percentile basis with only the top 10% passing. This would allow the US to quickly rise up in the world ranks of education and will improve productivity and creativity levels on a per-capita basis. Seceding former citizens should be aware, however, that our new immigration policy will be opened up to people worldwide, so competition for a place in the Unitized States could be stiff. G. For those who don't want to take the oath or who can't pass the admission tests -- We could start the extradition processes quickly and put them on boats with 200 days of food and a good supply of bibles (after assuring them that the world is not flat). They can explore the great wide world to discover a country more aligned with their political and social beliefs. As an alternative they could also be offered temporary residence and minimum wage jobs picking lettuce or corn in our newly acquired farmlands (they will, of course, need to be responsible for their own medical care costs as those are prohibitive).