In case you haven’t heard through the grapevine, there’s talk of five counties in Maryland seceding and forming their own state.

It was started this summer by a few fed-up individuals on a Facebook page called “Western Maryland: A New State Initiative”.  The page now has over six thousands likes.

Don’t worry, we’re confused too.

So we here at USDemocrazy, have assembled a little guide to the “Great Secession Poppycock”.

1. What constitutes “Western Maryland”?

It’s that little skinny land area in the left part of the state. Traditionally, Western Maryland consists of Garrett, Allegany and Washington Counties, but many include Frederick County as well. Carroll County is also listed in the plan – though it’s very obviously part of Central Maryland, it’s also home to conservative activist and the “Founding Father” of Western Maryland, Scott Strzelczyk.

2. Why do these counties want to secede?

Many residents of conservative-leaning Western Maryland feel underrepresented in Annapolis, where the state is run by a Democratic governor and a Democrat-controlled General Assembly. Taxes are too high, gun restrictions are too strict and state and federal funds rarely go to improving infrastructure in Western Maryland.

Republicans are also still salty about the redrawing of Congressional District 6, which was approved on the 2012 election referendum. Long-time Republican Representative Roscoe Bartlett was voted out of office when liberal voters from Montgomery County were suddenly added to the same district as Cumberland, Oakland and Hagerstown. (Disclaimer: Roscoe Bartlett, a slowing octengenarian probably needed to leave Congress… after sixteen years, anyways).

Here’s a statement from their… erm… Bill of Rights or something:

We, the people of Garrett, Allegheny, Washington, Frederick, and Carroll County intend to separate from the State of Maryland and form the new state of Western Maryland.

We intend to exercise our right of self-determination and self-governance to better secure our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Annapolis has repeatedly injured us and abridged or denied our fundamental rights and violated numerous articles in the Maryland Declaration of Rights. Our pleas for redress of grievances to the General Assembly and the Governor are ignored or rebuffed.

3. Who organized this movement?

Scott Strzelczyk is a self-declared “constitutionalist concerned with the legitimate role of the federal government and the infringement of our unalienable rights to life, liberty, and property.” While we’re not entirely sure what he does for a living, he writes his own blog called “A Citizen’s View.” As the movement gained national attention, Strzelczyk was interviewed by The Washington Post, Kojo Nnamdi on NPR and even Russia Today. Here’s his most recent television appearance on Fox News.

4. Is this even possible?

Er… well… Not in a million years. However, possibly in two million.