On Laputa... And Secession

Yesterday, I wrote that the CONgress-led government at the Centre must be thrown out. A reader commented that libertarians should form a political party and attempt to occupy the vacant political space. I wrote back saying this was impossible because of legislation, and I also referred the commentator to an earlier post titled “For Gold, Guns, Secession and Liberty.”

In this post I will write about two things: first, the word “Laputa” that I often use to describe out ruling establishment; and second, “secession,” a word we need to understand today.

The word “Laputa” refers to one of the adventures in Gulliver’s Travels (PDF here, go to page 93). In this kingdom, Gulliver finds that the ruling elite live on an island that floats above the population. On the floating island, the King is preoccupied by mathematics. Further, each elite has a servant called a “flapper” who uses an instrument to blow air onto his ears or mouth, without which the ruler can neither hear nor speak. The floating island deals with rebellion down below by blocking sunshine to that area, and raining rocks on the populace. All this finally comes to a grisly end. As political satire, I rate Gulliver’s travel to Laputa far higher than the more popular one about Lilliput. You are well advised to read this particular story, if only to acquaint yourself with the ugly reality of what we in India are faced with.

It is noteworthy that, in Adam Smith’s personal library, the most handsomely bound volume was a copy of Gulliver’s Travels. His biographer reveals that he read the book often, though completely in disagreement with Dean Swift’s total rebellion against the ruling establishment. I am confident that the story of Laputa must have struck Adam Smith the hardest.

Now, onwards to “secession”: this is not an ugly word in politics. Rather, it is the only way by which areas can break away from New Delhi’s nonsensical and predatory rule. I think it is essential that all of us take the word secession seriously, and study it in theory and practice. It may be our only road to Liberty.

In this connection, I am providing the link to a journal article on the subject – an award-winning journal article, if I may add – that I benefited greatly from reading. It is by Andrei Kreptul of the Seattle University School of Law, titled “The Constitutional Right of Secession in Political Theory and History.” Did you know that Singapore seceded from Malaya – by being “expelled”! Now, wouldn’t that be a great idea for Goa? To read the article, click here.

Anyway, happy reading. Read about Laputa. And think. Read about secession, and think even harder. That is what this blog urges you to do.