Nickels claimed the economy around Seattle makes up 67 percent of the state's economic activity.

"If we were a country, [our economy] would be just a little smaller than Thailand. We would be larger than Colombia, Venezuela. We are held back because our state and federal government still believe our economies are driven by wheat farms and timber logging."

While the mayor's office said the mayor was just expression frustration after the state opposed transportation projects and gun-control legislation he wanted, the mayor did say "I am serious when I say we ought to talk about independence"

"We have rural legislators making decisions on things like the viaduct and whether we can keep our city safe," Nickels said.

This is rich. Of all areas complaining about the amount of control they have over the state, it SHOULDN'T be the Seattle area. Has Seattle forgotten it controls nearly half of the state legislature? Has the Seattle-area forgotten it has more members of the congressional delegation than all other parts of the state, COMBINED?

What’s more? Mr. Nickels, who could also be called Mr. Global Warming for his insistence that everyone change their life to save the planet, admitted at this conference that he has 'no clue' what his public bus number is because he doesn't take the bus. Two other Puget Sound area mayors knew their bus numbers.

Am I the only one who says, "Yes! Please by all means, Seattle... break away from the state and become your own country!?"

This is the first thing I have ever agreed with Mayor Nickels on, but it's a biggie! So please, Seattle... become your own country. Get rid of electricity because of global warming, build for freeways that you'll tear down in years, build more sports stadiums using taxpayer dollars, and declare the mayor King Nickels. The People's Republic of Seattle. Sounds good to me.

What do you think?