Ocracoke Presses On

Ocracoke – a remote barrier island located off the North Carolina coast – recently began the petitioning to become a state. The people of Ocracoke have been clear about their intentions to simply create the tiny fifty-first state, not secede from the Union, and so far their efforts are proving successful. In 1796, when current-day Tennessee broke from away from Virginia, and when the best part of Virginia went west and formed West Virginia in 1863, they did exactly what Ocracoke aims to do now: gain independence.

By following the procedures outlined in Article IV, Section III of the United States Constitution — which details the relationship between each state, and the states and federal government – the residents were able to easily start the process of turning Ocracoke into a grand new state. Section III details what must be agreed upon to form states or federal property, and with approval from North Carolina’s state legislature, Ocracoke is on its way to independence from North Carolina.

Governor Pat McCrory released a statement saying, “I support Ocracoke’s decision to form its own state and believe Mainland Hyde County will flourish on its own. Here in Raleigh, we support the decision of the people of Ocracoke to live outside of the control of North Carolina’s government and wish them the best of luck in their new endeavor.”

After the Governor released the above statement, an anonymous source close to the Governor’s office leaked a series of emails and text messages to the media.

McCrory wrote that, “It’s not like missing out on those votes from Okrakoke will harm my chances of reelection,” and, “49% of Hyde County voted for Obama in 2012, and I guarantee it wasn’t the Mainland part. That 49% of voters clearly had on their stupid hats.”

Since the state legislature voted to approve Ocracoke’s request, the decision now lies in the hand of Congress.

Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, both Republicans representing North Carolina in the U.S. Senate, have spoken out against Ocracoke becoming a state. Tillis and Burr are supporters of offshore drilling and want to begin drilling as soon as possible.

“If Ocracoke Island becomes its own state,” stated newly elected Tillis, “the state’s legislature will surely prevent offshore drilling, and we don’t want that to happen.”

The Senators both contributed to an amendment of the Keystone Pipeline proposal that would allow drilling to occur off the east coast from Florida to Delaware. The amendment also includes a proposal for each state that allows offshore drilling: those states which participate in the drilling will receive some of the profits. More than likely, if Ocracoke does succeed in becoming a state, the governor and state legislature will not agree to offshore drilling. And that would make Tillis and Burr sad – very, very, sad.

With hope that Congress will pass Ocracoke’s request, the residents have started a “To do” list. The first task will be to elect a governor of Ocracoke, as well as members of the state’s legislature. Once law makers have been voted into office, the community has vowed to reinstate the art program and the three teacher’s aide positions that were cut at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. The teacher’s aide cuts were – no joke – announced on April 1, 2014, and shortly after, the art program was cut from the budget. Since the announcements, the community has been quite vocal about their wish to have art classes at Ocracoke School, yet unfortunately, art has not been reinstated.

Next on the list will be to organize a competition to pick Ocracoke’s state flag! The community has also decided to put picking a state flower, bird, shell, and sea creature to a series of votes. The dates, rules, and requirements for all flag entries and state symbols are going to be announced in the near future, and information will be available online at ocracokecurrent.com. After statehood *fingers crossed* is granted by Congress, Ocracoke will also begin plans for establishing a Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Transportation, and other required state-run services.

An extra-super-duper special congressional session is expected to be held April 1, 2015 to discuss Ocracoke Island’s statehood request. Capitol Hill is buzzing with rumors that Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will be reciting Dr. Seuss’s Yertle the Turtle (because Green Eggs and Ham is, like, so 2013) as comedic relief from the hot topic at hand.