4 ms·

Key West Declared a Faux War on the United States in 1982

75 points by antoviaque 12y ago

CapitalistCartr 12y ago
I remember this; it's because the Federal gov't treats The Keys like the proverbial red-headed stepchild.
tedunangst 12y ago
The Wikipedia article links to a few sources. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conch_Republic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conch_Republic
hvs 12y ago
As a small-"l" libertarian, these kinds of stories make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. In all seriousness, people willing to stand up against bureaucratic mistreatment is one of the signs of a healthy republic. I'm not sure we still have that.
- s_dev 12y ago
  I recall reading the same story on reddit in a TIL - but it was paraphrased as a looney mayor who simply declared war on the US as a joke. However this story depicts it much more accurately by giving attention to the cause which was the grievance of having tourists blocked and the offense at the explanation offered of "non of your business". I do think that spirit is still there though. They handled their bureaucratic mistreatment very very well. I'm not sure its a repeatable solution.
  - CapitalistCartr 12y ago
    The Federal reaction to the Mariel boatlift was heavy-handed and didn't return to normal after. That made the residents furious at being treated like prisoners in Siberia (from their viewpint).
sgnelson 12y ago
"The Mouse that Roared" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mouse_That_Roared http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mouse_That_Roared
xai3luGi 12y ago
No one declares a false war. All wars that have been declared, have never ended...
golemotron 12y ago
It wasn't fake. Key West is subverting the US with margaritas and t-shirts.
screwedup 12y ago
Did anybody else initially read this as "Kanye West Declared..." and then get really confused when they got to "...in 1982"?
- macintux 12y ago
  Yes!
- anigbrowl 12y ago
  I'm so relieved not to be the only person <:-o
yaiu 12y ago
I live in the Northern Territories (Key Largo) and I have a Conch Republic passport.
peterwwillis 12y ago
These exact same roadblocks exist today throughout parts of the southwest united states, but they have (to my knowledge) not been challenged by their respective states. It's kind of terrifying that they continue to be allowed to exist.
tomohawk 12y ago
This is exactly what should be done to resolve this: http://www.wired.com/2008/10/aclu-assails-10/ http://www.wired.com/2008/10/aclu-assails-10/
dmritard96 12y ago
Conch Republic ftw

75 points by antoviaque 12y ago

I remember this; it's because the Federal gov't treats The Keys like the proverbial red-headed stepchild.

The Wikipedia article links to a few sources. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conch_Republic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conch_Republic

hvs 12y ago

As a small-"l" libertarian, these kinds of stories make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. In all seriousness, people willing to stand up against bureaucratic mistreatment is one of the signs of a healthy republic. I'm not sure we still have that.

s_dev 12y ago
I recall reading the same story on reddit in a TIL - but it was paraphrased as a looney mayor who simply declared war on the US as a joke. However this story depicts it much more accurately by giving attention to the cause which was the grievance of having tourists blocked and the offense at the explanation offered of "non of your business". I do think that spirit is still there though. They handled their bureaucratic mistreatment very very well. I'm not sure its a repeatable solution.
- CapitalistCartr 12y ago
  The Federal reaction to the Mariel boatlift was heavy-handed and didn't return to normal after. That made the residents furious at being treated like prisoners in Siberia (from their viewpint).

sgnelson 12y ago

"The Mouse that Roared" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mouse_That_Roared http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mouse_That_Roared

xai3luGi 12y ago

No one declares a false war. All wars that have been declared, have never ended...

golemotron 12y ago

It wasn't fake. Key West is subverting the US with margaritas and t-shirts.

screwedup 12y ago

Did anybody else initially read this as "Kanye West Declared..." and then get really confused when they got to "...in 1982"?

macintux 12y ago
Yes!
anigbrowl 12y ago
I'm so relieved not to be the only person <:-o

yaiu 12y ago

I live in the Northern Territories (Key Largo) and I have a Conch Republic passport.

peterwwillis 12y ago

These exact same roadblocks exist today throughout parts of the southwest united states, but they have (to my knowledge) not been challenged by their respective states. It's kind of terrifying that they continue to be allowed to exist.

tomohawk 12y ago

This is exactly what should be done to resolve this: http://www.wired.com/2008/10/aclu-assails-10/ http://www.wired.com/2008/10/aclu-assails-10/

dmritard96 12y ago

Conch Republic ftw