Texas Gov. Declares State Sovereignty

[richmondesi]

Not to worry, it has a better chance of happening 150 years from now, if at all, than it does any time in the near future. Like the tea bagging parties (snerk), these are a minority few whose views will not be gaining any traction in the majority public view. And even if they had, the federal government would not allow it, denying them by law and/or show of force. Take all the 2nd amendment protected small arms to the fight that you'd like, you may as well be shooting peas compared to the government's military might. There are no civil war comparisons to be made when you're talking about going up against a modern day superpower.

This is an interesting point, but I wonder how the world community would respond to the US denying a state secession. Look at the stance that has been taken over former USSR states, Taiwan, etc. ???

This is totally hypothetical because like you I don't think this kind of thing would ever really happen (at least not in my lifetime)

 

[liege]

Not to worry, it has a better chance of happening 150 years from now, if at all, than it does any time in the near future. Like the tea bagging parties (snerk), these are a minority few whose views will not be gaining any traction in the majority public view. And even if they had, the federal government would not allow it, denying them by law and/or show of force. Take all the 2nd amendment protected small arms to the fight that you'd like, you may as well be shooting peas compared to the government's military might. There are no civil war comparisons to be made when you're talking about going up against a modern day superpower.

I think that maybe that's what the founding fathers were afraid of when this country came into existence. It's just another step down the slippery slope to tyranny.

 

[JohnP]

Governments ALWAYS forget where they came from and no matter how "utopian" they were planned to be, continually march toward tyranny. The job of the people is to pay attention to this instead of being dulled by other pursuits, and to enforce their will on the government, not the other way around.
We have a lot of career politicians who know exactly what to say into what camera, and how to pose and what to say in a speech...to get elected, or re-elected, and remain in power. Sure, there's lots of money involved too, but I think most lust for power. They like thinking they are more important than other citizens, which was never the intent of this thing when it was founded, but when one makes the rules and KEEPS getting elected...then has the power to make more rules that make himself seem not only relevant, but harder to challenge at election day....
well you see where I go with this.
It's hard to sort through who's who, but its a safe bet quite a few have forgotten that even as a senator or congressman (or even the President) one should remember that he or she still is no higher status than any other citizen, and except for the will of the voters (or these days, what the networks report) they would not be in this position. Power in the US is not a Divine birthright. We as citizens simply need to remind them from time to time.

And pay attention and do a little READING before we vote, otherwise, we all know who MTV MSNBC CNN ABC NBC wanted elected. How many people who voted...actually studied the (somewhat bad) choice we had this last election-congress and the messed up bills we've been having for the last 2 or 3 years-(and longer) has essentially remained unchanged; the difference is one party has a rubber stamp all the way to the white house;
The problems the current administration claims it inherited...were created by the same people that are in it now.

If we do not study the candidates (the President is a distraction almost, the Congress is where we haven't been paying attention) we get the government we deserve; if we do not exercise or fight for our rights...tea parties or whatever else,
we will lose them

John P.

 

[Obsessed]

You know, I imagine that JohnP and I disagree on virtually everything , but I have to agree that it's shocking how many people don't seem to feel the need to become informed about the issues and the candidates before voting. As I see it, that's a responsibility of living in a democratic (small "d") society.

As for secession, I assume no one is actually thinking about it, so there's really no point in arguing about it. I have to say, though, that were Texas to secede, I would view it as extremely unsportsmanlike. We had to put up with your guy for eight years, now you have to put up with our guy for four or eight years. Fair is fair. (i.e., this last part is tongue-in-cheek)

 

[ClubmanRob]

I put up with you not having an avatar for a long time. Now, out of nowhere, you slap a weird picture next to your name and you want me to just deal with it? No way, buddy. I'm seceding from this thread!

All jokes aside, I supported seceding under Bush and I support secession under Obama. It's really less about the candidate and more about sovereignty.

 

[vroddrew]

Question: What did Rick Perry do for a living, prior to becoming Texas Governor?

Answer: He worked on his family cotton farm.(From the Texas Governor's Website)

It’s been a few years since I lived and worked on my family’s West Texas cotton farm, but I’ve never forgotten the values I learned there: hard work before leisure, family before self, and faith and freedom before all of those things. Those values are enduring, and I am proud that they are still the glue that holds together many rural communities across Texas today.

You know what he forgot to mention? That the US cotton industry gets a MASSIVE Federal Subsidy. Federal subsidies for cotton growers amount to about $4 billion per year - more than $200 per acre. The total value of the US cotton crop is estimated at around $3 billion.

And he's preaching to people concerned about wasteful Government programs, or socialism? That are pissed off about the Stimulus?

Yeah, right: It's people who voted for Obama that are uninformed ones. Keep telling yourself that.

 

[Obsessed]

I put up with you not having an avatar for a long time. Now, out of nowhere, you slap a weird picture next to your name and you want me to just deal with it? No way, buddy. I'm seceding from this thread!

I'm just touched that someone noticed. Can I presume from the "weird picture" comment that you've never seen Dr. Strangelove? One of the all-time great movies, IMHO. (With apologies for diverting the thread.)

 

[Abagadro]

Ice cream, Mandrake. ICE CREAM!

 

[Obsessed]

Ice cream, Mandrake. ICE CREAM!

 

[ClubmanRob]

I'm just touched that someone noticed. Can I presume from the "weird picture" comment that you've never seen Dr. Strangelove? One of the all-time great movies, IMHO. (With apologies for diverting the thread.)

No, it's one of my favorite films. That still doesn't mean it's not a weird pic.

 

[Obsessed]

No, it's one of my favorite films. That still doesn't mean it's not a weird pic.

Fair point. I was going to use Dr. S himself, but I saw that someone else out here was already using him at some point.

I'm not saying we wouldn't get out hair mussed . . .

 

[SRock]

Secession would be a disaster for any state. Someone mentioned that Texas is the 9th largest economy on Earth. Assuming that is accurate (it is believable) where would it rate once the federal funding stopped and the US troops pulled out. You'd have a new nation incapable of defending itself that lost a majority of its critical funding.

Texas seceding is one of those silly novelty ideas that has hung around since the last attempt. Telling Texas it has the right to secede is about as meaningful as telling Kansas that it can secede. Secession in Texas is an old played out elitist attitude akin to the people in California who think they are better than the rest of the country simply because they are Californian. It's just the human need to separate ourselves from others, to stand out. Actually I think both attitudes are sad and horribly outdated. Americans should be proud to be American. It shouldn't matter if a great great forgotten relative came from China, or Germany or the UK or the first state our people moved to was Texas or Indiana or Kansas. Be proud to be a part of our great nation as a nation.

Secession of Texas won't happen in any of our lifetimes. I highly doubt it will ever happen. In fact it is more likely that the US will unite with other countries (again not in our lifetimes) before they will fall apart.

What do Texans think about seceding but not getting their entire state as it stands now? If I'm not mistaken the Texas Panhandle was part of the Louisiana Purchase meaning it belongs to the United States. So secession would not only pull Americans out of the US but it would tear their own state in two.

 

[richmondesi]

Secession would be a disaster for any state. Someone mentioned that Texas is the 9th largest economy on Earth. Assuming that is accurate (it is believable) where would it rate once the federal funding stopped and the US troops pulled out. You'd have a new nation incapable of defending itself that lost a majority of its critical funding.

Texas seceding is one of those silly novelty ideas that has hung around since the last attempt. Telling Texas it has the right to secede is about as meaningful as telling Kansas that it can secede. Secession in Texas is an old played out elitist attitude akin to the people in California who think they are better than the rest of the country simply because they are Californian. It's just the human need to separate ourselves from others, to stand out. Actually I think both attitudes are sad and horribly outdated. Americans should be proud to be American. It shouldn't matter if a great great forgotten relative came from China, or Germany or the UK or the first state our people moved to was Texas or Indiana or Kansas. Be proud to be a part of our great nation as a nation.

Secession of Texas won't happen in any of our lifetimes. I highly doubt it will ever happen. In fact it is more likely that the US will unite with other countries (again not in our lifetimes) before they will fall apart.

What do Texans think about seceding but not getting their entire state as it stands now? If I'm not mistaken the Texas Panhandle was part of the Louisiana Purchase meaning it belongs to the United States. So secession would not only pull Americans out of the US but it would tear their own state in two.

Interesting points... First, we could do without the panhandle.

Second, the majority of us are Americans by accident of birth. While I am proud to be an American, I am also proud to be a Texan, just as some of our fellow members are proud to be Black, and some are proud to be White.... Some of these are accidents of birth and some aren't. We shouldn't be forced to be anything that we don't want to be assuming there is a possible remedy. If for some reason the majority isn't proud to be American for whatever reason, they should have the ability to change that.

Third, Texas sent in $14 billion more than we received from the Fed. It would have a lot of Allies world-wide if secession became reality... Which I agree with you that it wouldn't. I think that many European countries, China, as well as others would jump at that opportunity. And the US couldn't afford the negative attention that would result in them repressing the secession of one of its states in light of our historical positions.

 

[Dustinl]

I just heard today that when the Kinkster runs again (this time as a Democrat), secession will be one of his agendas.

First of all, Kinky will not beat Perry. Second, Kinky will not beat Kay Bailey Hutchinson if she beats Perry. Though I enjoy Kinky's writings, I, as well as the majority, will take him with a grain of salt.


DL

 

[Sullybob]

I think it will be hard to take him seriously (the Kinkster) if his platform is secession.

Why run if you are not going to be taken seriously?

 

[Dustinl]

I think it will be hard to take him seriously (the Kinkster) if his platform is secession.

Why run if you are not going to be taken seriously?

For him it a publicity stunt. He spends a ton of money campaigning, but the return would be far more than that spent. Book sales, cigar sales, record sales.


DL

 

[Sullybob]

For him it a publicity stunt. He spends a ton of money campaigning, but the return would be far more than that spent. Book sales, cigar sales, record sales.


DL

Unfortunately, that makes a lot of sense.

Is he already independently wealthy?

 

[Mr. Clean]

I just heard today that when the Kinkster runs again (this time as a Democrat), secession will be one of his agendas.

First of all, Kinky will not beat Perry. Second, Kinky will not beat Kay Bailey Hutchinson if she beats Perry. Though I enjoy Kinky's writings, I, as well as the majority, will take him with a grain of salt.


DL

I'll certainly pay attention to him, again. I've seen Perry and KBH in action and without raising his cigar Kinky has them both beat in a race for Texas governor. Based on KBH's actions or lack thereof recently in dealing with a local metroplex issue I wouldn't vote for her for...well...suffice it to say I won't be supporting any campaign she mounts. She can, take her pom-poms on down the road.

 

[smoothjim]

Secession would be a disaster for any state. Someone mentioned that Texas is the 9th largest economy on Earth. Assuming that is accurate (it is believable) where would it rate once the federal funding stopped and the US troops pulled out. You'd have a new nation incapable of defending itself that lost a majority of its critical funding.

I'm just stoking the ashes here, so don't take it seriously, but it would be a two way street, with slightly more traffic going in the other direction.

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/001630.html

149000 Number of Californians who are in the armed forces, the most of any state in the nation. Next were Virginia (131,000) and Texas (107,000)

82,000 Number of Navy and Marine Corps members serving at California military installations in 2001, the most of any one military branch in any state.
Texas was home base for the most soldiers (64,000) and Air Force members (43,000). Overall, Texas had the most men and women in uniform (114,000), followed by California (107,000) and North Carolina (86,000).

7 Number of states with 1 million or more veterans. They include California (2.6 million), Florida (1.9 million), Texas (1.8 million), New York (1.4 million), Pennsylvania (1.3 million), Ohio (1.1 million) and Illinois (1.0 million).

-----

FWIW even in Mass many have secessionist fantasies.
In the 70s Nantucket and the Vineyard tried to secede from both Mass and the Union, and there are movements in western MA to form its own separate state.

 

[Dustinl]

Is he already independently wealthy?

He is pretty much an AUstin celebrity.

I've seen Perry and KBH in action and without raising his cigar Kinky has them both beat in a race for Texas governor.

No disrespect Mr. Clean, but only time will tell on that one. I think we both know how Texans vote. Besides, what has changed since the last election (besides his party affiliation)? He wasn't taken seriously then, and he won't be now. I don't see Texas Dems backing him.

I'm just stoking the ashes here, so don't take it seriously, but it would be a two way street, with slightly more traffic going in the other direction.

I think we would see a mass exodus of people coming our way.

Disclaimer: I am not saying that I agree with this happening, I just think people are getting fed up.


DL