Vanity: Seeking opinions on Texas Secession

[Fishface]

I write a political column in my hometown newspaper. I am writing a column next week proposing that a Texas secession is the only solution to Barack Obama's massive Government expansion. I would like some feedback on the potential positives and negatives of a Texas secession. I really value your critical opinions and want to make sure I am not overlooking any critical aspect of this issue.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Now if the government wins the lawsuit against Arizona, I could see them seceding and taking 3-4 states with them.

[Fishface]

There will be massive immigration to Texas. If it is done correctly with low corporate taxes, no mandated health care and less restrictive regulation, all of the businesses will flock to Texas creating a massive economy.

Obama’s United States cannot compete with a low tax environment like Texas could offer.

[HospiceNurse]

It will NEVER happen. Texans would stop it. Even George Bush would have stopped it.

[Fishface]

Imagine a Country with no EPA, no Department of Education and no thousands of other bloated Government agencies that restrict our freedom. The only Americans that wouldn’t want to move to Texas would be the looters in America.

[deport]

What currency are you proposing? Can Texas back up the currency and secure loans/debt? Texas is facing upwards of an $18 billion deficit this next legislature. What’s going to happen with the infrastructure... roads, pipelines, electric grid, communication, water from the north, etc. What type and how will you structure the military or police? Just a few things to consider.

[deport]

You may want to dig around for background on Texas history, etc.

http://www.lsjunction.com/events/events.htm
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/secession/index.html

Which paper do you write for up in MA?

[x]

I read that Texas gives more money to the Federal Government than it receives annually.

That's true of any state that doesn't have an income tax.

If I remember correctly, though, Texas is the state without an income tax that gets the most back from federal spending.

[Starboard]

“Obama’s United States”

I don’t think the word ‘United’ applies under Obama. His policies are pitting states against each other. Just look at the boycotts against Arizona.

[kimoajax]

My understanding is that because Texas was a republic when it became a state it negotiated a clause in its statehood agreement that if the Governor and both Senators agreed to leave the Union, that is all it would take. Am I wrong?

[IronJack]

If you're serious about the potential impact of a secession movement, try looking up an incident called (variously) "The Civil War," "The War Between the States," "The War of Rebellion," "The War of Northern Aggression," etc..

Even today's revisionist history books make some mention of it. Happened sometime in the mid-Nineteenth century if memory serves ...

[tophat9000]

In regards to any state's secession from the union

I view the federal government as creation by contract between the member states... as the state voted on the federal government creation by approving the Constitution...and the states by Constitutional Convention can alter or or even dissolve the federal government if they wish

So in simpler term the US is a contract between the 50 states and the states can vote to and/or release members from that contract by the term of the contract (the Constitution) by voting to change the contract (via Constitutional amendment)

Now can any one state leave without approval on the other member states as per the contract? Well you join up for benefits under the contract and you have obligation to the other states per the contract so I say no you need to get approval of the other member to leave

Well what if a state is not get it benefits or services as promised under the contract(the Constitution)

Well the contract(the Constitution) provider's an arbitrator for the contract(the Constitution) , the Supreme Court

So after all that if the other member will not release you from your obligation under the contract, and the arbitrator rules your getting you contracted services so your still bound to your obligation under the contract(the Constitution) .... and you still want to leave...

Then stated you reason clearly like these fellow did

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

And leave.... and be ready to fight a war if needed

[Owl558]

“Texas will lure profitable businesses from the U.S. by offering lower taxes and less regulation.”

If the last Texas secession is any indicator, the rest of the US will immedietly declare war, close the borders, and institute a blocade of all Texas ports while the military prepares to invade. I suppose the US navy would also seize all Texas’ oil rigs in the gulf as well.

How will Texas attract US businesses if they are unable to import or export anything? It might also be tough to attract business with cruise missile barrages taking down much of Texas’ critical infrastructure.

Remember, secession is an act of war. Discussing it like it’s some legal issue is kind of silly. Legalisms won’t stop the state from seceeding if that is what it comes to, but secession is the beginning of civil war, not the end.

Long live Texas! Long live the United States! Long live freedom!

[libertylover]

We barely could get them to support attacking Saddam Hussein and they are going to support strangling Texas.

Liberals would support attacking Texas way more than they supported attacking Saddam Hussein as long as they personally didn't have to fight.

[lone star annie]

That law doesn’t mean squat if people want to secede. Sheesh we have lawa now that our federal govt. ignores except those tyrannical ones to squeeze money out of us.

When I came to Texas years ago, there were three things that I was promptly told by native Texans:

Texas is the ONLY state in the union that is totally self- supporting.

Texas is the only state in the union that has the right to secede.

Don’t brag too much about Texas to people from other states because we don’t want them all moving here and screwing things up!

[libertylover]

Texas, or was it Oklahoma?, missed a good chance a few years ago. There was a case where a guy was facing the death penalty in TX or OK. He was also wanted for a crime in New York and Mario Cuomo got him sent to NY in order to nullify his death sentence, thus they allowed NY law to trumph TX (or OK) law. They should have sent the guy back in a body back, i.e., after local sentence was carried out.

[lone star annie]

TEXAS FOREVER!!

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Some things to consider:

1. Texans ould have to kick out the National Guard and beef up Texas's State Militia.

2. Would Texas have a right to its own coastline, or would that still be considered US waters?

3. Instead of seceding, would it be possible, as a short term strategy, to try and get other states to combine together as a super-state? The downside is that the super-state would send fewer senators to congress, but would continue to send the same number of reps. Over time, if the super-state gets big enough, it may have a better chance to secede, or get better terms with feds via reformed legislation granting more rights to the states.

4. Whenever the issue of secession has come up the claim has been made that the US would still own all of the infrastructure in the state created by federal edict, e.g. federal highways, parks, etc. The claim is that the US might let Texas secede, but only if they paid for all the stuff they got from the feds. This number might be in the trillions. A case could be made that all of those projects were partially funded by Texans and that Texans help pay for federal infrastructure in the other 49 states, so its a wash. But if we're still talking about a peaceful secession, then I imagine the courts would argue in favor of the feds. So Texas might be encouraged to secede, and then decide not to because of the price tag.

[Brilliant]

Not going to happen until the federal gov goes bust.

[IrishCatholic]

What makes you think Texans want to secede? What will you do to those that do not? What if half the counties do, and half don’t? Will you pit one county against another? What about those that like America? Are they now traitors?

Can you answer these questions to start?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

What currency are you proposing?

Sam Houston: $100 bill
Stephen F. Austin: $50 bill
Davy Crockett: $20 bill
Picture of Battle of San Jancito: $10 bill
Alfonso Steele: $5 bill
Dwight Eisenhower: $1 coin