Go Soft on Soft Secession?
Christopher Armitage, founder of The Existentialist Republic, joins Pacific Time to argue that “soft secession” may be the most realistic way to defend democracy without tearing the country apart—and why the West Coast is uniquely positioned to lead.
Summary
As national institutions fracture and federal power grows more hostile to democratic norms, many Americans feel trapped between resignation and rupture. Christopher Armitage offers a third path. In this episode, he lays out a case for soft secession: a strategy of principled, research-backed state and local noncompliance designed to protect people, preserve democratic legitimacy, and rebalance power within the existing constitutional order.
Drawing on history, law enforcement experience, and comparative political models, Armitage explains why states don’t need permission to govern ethically—and why waiting for federal salvation may be the most dangerous choice of all. From public banking and healthcare compacts to moral law and historical precedents for resistance, this conversation explores what it would look like for the West Coast to act like the future is already here.
Highlights
- What “soft secession” actually means—and what it doesn’t
- Why strategic noncompliance can preserve the union rather than fracture it
- Historical precedents for state-level resistance, from the Fugitive Slave Act to post‑9/11 New York
- Krav Maga vs. Judo politics: when confrontation matters—and when building better systems matters more
- How public banking and non‑tax revenue could replace failing federal safety nets
- Why incrementalism fails in moments of authoritarian creep
- The role of moral law when institutional norms collapse
- What West Coast governors and mayors could do now
About Our Guest
Christopher Armitage is the founder of The Existentialist Republic, one of the fastest‑growing political Substacks in the U.S. He is a former law enforcement officer with graduate training in Homeland Security and is known for translating anxiety about democracy into research‑backed, actionable strategies. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Armitage focuses on federalism, state power, and nonviolent democratic resistance.
Christopher Armitage is the founder of The Existentialist Republic, one of the fastest‑growing political Substacks in the U.S. He is a former law enforcement officer with graduate training in Homeland Security and is known for translating anxiety about democracy into research‑backed, actionable strategies. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Armitage focuses on federalism, state power, and nonviolent democratic resistance.
Related Resources
- The Existentialist Republic | Christopher Armitage | Substack
- Respect states' rights, new bipartisan group of legislative leaders tells feds • Stateline
- Federalism All the Way Down - Harvard Law Review
- Letter from Birmingham Jail, by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Related Pacific Time Episodes
- 01 Reclaiming Democracy: The Case for West Coast Independence (Solo)
- 23 Refresh the American Brand, West Coast First? With Michael Megalli
- 26 Do Californians Want Autonomy? With Coyote Marin
A Few Spicy Questions: What if soft secession isn’t radical—but overdue? What if refusing to comply with immoral federal directives is the most patriotic act left?
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Thank You To:
- Guest: Christopher Armitage
- Producer: Tim Wohlberg
- Cheryl Pia for being a dear friend, Pacific Time’s biggest fan in Spain, and for steering me to The Existentialist Republic
- Postal Service for highlighting how the district sleeps and Death Cab for Cutie’s cool holiday tune
