We want to be alone: The Texas Independence Movement wants America's second largest state to leave t

[atomic_joe2]

At noon on 8 January, the first day of the 2013 legislative session, around 200 Texans stood stubbornly in the rain on the north steps of the capitol building in Austin. Some carried state flags, others placards bearing messages such as “I want off the sinking ship”. To cries of “Remember the Alamo!” and “Liberty or Death!”, Daniel Miller, the

Comments

[silver_apples]

I wish these people would at least pretend to think about the practical issues. Even if they started the process today, by the time all the details of a peaceful secession were worked out, we'd have had another presidential election and maybe someone they like will win. I think they honestly believe all it takes is the federal and state governments saying "yeah sure" and Texas is its own country and everything will run as smoothly as before or even better. Nevermind that there are army bases, a bureau of engraving, federal offices, non-Texans living in the state, Texans living outside the state, Texans serving in what will be a foreign country's military, inter-state trade, federal funds...it is not a simple or quick process.

We’re not even allowed to execute people who molest children

Aren't death penalty laws decided on the state level?

[intrikate88]

I wish these people would at least pretend to think about the practical issues.

Exactly! If they want to leave, I'm not going to stand in their way, but WAAAAH WAAAAH WE DON'T LIKE TAXES AND ACCOUNTABILITY is not a valid independence proposal. If they want to try the example of the SNP and other separations, they have to work out a plan for how they are going to support an entire economy all on their own. Every single type of imported goods would no longer be just trucked in, it would be international trade and there would be regulations and tariffs and all of that. And everything you mentioned about gaps in citizenship and the whole military issue and participating as a player in international diplomacy... this is some serious commitment, and it's not just a commitment to being an assface.

[agentsculder]

State laws regarding the death penalty are still subject to the US Constitution, and the Supreme Court has basically said you can't execute people for crimes that didn't cause another person's death. That's why people can't be executed for rape, child molestation, and any other myriad of horrible crimes that didn't result in the death of the victim. The Court has said to do so would be cruel and unusual punishment, and therefore in violation of the US Constitution.

If Texas was its own nation, it could decide to execute people for jay-walking since it would no longer be held to the US Constitution.

[shhh_its_s3cr3t]

ALL of this....

Also let's not forget that we're not exactly going to leave all the military bases and equipment behind for them. Also the Mission Control NASA thingy... IT CAN AND WILL BE MOVED TOO.. so you lose that as well. I would definitely love to hand out some real timelines to these people so they can see just what they are truly asking.

Reality - its a downer.

[sandstorm]

As someone born in San Antonio and living elsewhere...go ahead Texas. Make like a banana.

[carmy_w]

Or a hockey player....

[mollywobbles867]

Go ahead. You'd lose the vast majority of residents who think you're idiots, you'd lose a military, and Mexico would try to get you back and the US would offer to help but only if you rejoined the union.

[ragnor144]

I would say good riddance, but too many good people are stuck in that hellhole of a state.

Here's an idea guys - instead of wasting all of this energy on succession, why don't you join those of us on the left that are outraged by real threats to liberty like the Patriot Act provisions and a legal climate where corporations are more a person than people are. Stop chasing phantom oppressions and work on the the oppressions of racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. Oh wait, that doesn't affect you, so you don't care about those limits on freedom.

Oh, and your independent country of Texas wanted to become a state so that your slave-owning Americans could transport their human chattel throughout the South without running up against the prohibition of foreign slave trade in the Constitution. Quite ironic that you are whining about your liberty.

[quizzicalsphinx]

Door's that way, guys.