The independent states of America

[(SWGO)SirPepsi]

... Thus illustrating that the people who want to secede don't have the slightest clue what it would actually involve.

Definitely, my friend.

[Hobo]

Well there's over about 80,000 people that signed the petition bill on the White house website. If Texas were to secede, all of the government programs would go away, which would really suck. We may not have to pay the US anymore taxes, but I don't think the money would even out. Last time we were a country we were waaaaay deep in debt. We had to sell a ton of land and we had to wait 9 years before joining the Union. We even considered joining the British. But technichally, yeah we can secede. It says in the Texas Constitution, that Texas is an independant and free state, only bound to the US Constitution. And no-where in the constitution does it say that we can't secede. But should we? Probably not.

[Brazosgrad]

I agree with you sir. And in truth, all the states can say they are also independent and free. But read it this way: while the Texas constitution says no where explicitly that we cannot secede, it also nowhere says that we can. Because both of these statements are inherently true, it then becomes a determination of someone other than the state government: the courts. And I just don't see a lot of willing people who want to go that route. Now, should the federal government do anything that is contrary to the U.S. constitution, then yes, I would venture to say many would have heartburn with that. And therein lies the current difficulties with these petitions. They are just unhappy with the current administrations policies.

Last time I checked, the constitution hasn't changed lately. Policies aren't enough to bring about secession no er how much you want to make them look like they are anti-constitution. This specific latitude in the management of our government is allowed, for crying out loud. No er how much we disagree with it personally.

[WD-40]

We're just a [m'kay] up Country, full of [m'kay] up selfish voting Minorities and children and stupid women who want their [m'kay] up free [poo]. And that dumb ass Chicago thug Obama got re-elected promising it to them. Only problem is, it's not really 'free'. And when the economy tanks, Obama will just blame Bush. If the states somehow manage to succeed, they'll be better off running their own economy than the retardasses in the White House and Congress.

[WD-40]

Secession cannot happen at this point. It's not demographically, economically, or militarily feasible. Most people understand this, and no government official is going to take any more action than to point and laugh. It's just a few people over-reacting to the election rhetoric, a few others with rosy delusions about "states' rights," and a lot of trolls joining in.

'Revolutions' ALWAYS start with an 'idea'.

[WD-40]

Texas, IF we (yes we I live in Texas) did secede, would run just fine as our own country as we have all of what Cater mentioned above. Also it's less of a minority than it is that most of the population would LIKE to secede but don't fell like putting forth the effort to actually DO what we WANT. Most of us, I believe, are content to just wait a few more years at least to see how America is doing at the time, but of course I can't speak for everyone in Texas.

Yeah, but you have an assload of Hispanics there too. If Texas went that way, I'd say inside 10 to 20 years, they will be running Texas due to voting power...Just like the rest of the USA.

[WD-40]

... Thus illustrating that the people who want to secede don't have the slightest clue what it would actually involve.

History teaches plenty of what it 'involves'. And it's all over the Internet on what was 'involved' over Centuries of counties experiencing such an event in various circumstances. So I disagree with this 'assumption'.

[WD-40]

As much as some Texans would like to have you believe it, they are just as bound to the union as anyone else is. Texas has neither a legal right to leave, nor a legal requirement to stay. All Texas has the legal right to do any longer is split into five separate, smaller states. And THAT ain't gonna happen. So all this secession hogwash is just smoke and mirrors. Once you join the Union, you cannot economically leave...unless you do it by a revolution. And you gotta have a damn good case to convince an entire state our size to be able to do that. Now go back to your library and keep reading and be a good robot.

Brazo, with all due respect, I don't think desperate people (if certain States in our Country went that way out of desperation) would care at all about 'legalities'. If an actual succession were to occur, things would have to digress into chaotic, almost lawless times. Legal methods may be explored, but successions most certainly could still occur.

Sorry for all the separate posts.. I'm in Amsterdam on an iPhone and cannot cut/paste like I could with a laptop.

[Brazosgrad]

Noted, Steve. I should have said I was only referring to legal secession, not illegal-overthrow-etc. I would assume you of all people here have had plenty of education and training in this area... ;)

[Mandalore]

I'm almost positive that there was an act or provision in one of the laws passed either during or directly after the civil war federally prohibiting secession. And like someone mentioned before, there are a lot of benefits that the federal government provides that most people don't think of. If the US blocked Texas' entry into the WTO and levied their own tariffs against Texas, the economic butt [m'kay] would be so hard Texas might actually start to like it.

As for the incredibly unlikely event that a second civil war would happen, people forget about the massive reserves of manpower and industrial capacity that the north still possesses. Assuming that the secession went down much like the presidential election then the South and rural midwest would secede in opposition to the northern states and the west coast. This would cut the "North" off from most domestic production of petroleum, and that's about it resource wise. But the thing that honestly is the reason I don't think you'd see a serious civil war is that the US Military is no longer a ho hum organization. It is now the largest (by assets) and most professional force in the world. The entire reason the South could secede in the first place was that the military leadership had erections over whatever state they were born in and thus neglected their oath. I don't see that happening a second time around.

And I honestly question whether some of you are even American, this country was built on meritocracy and immigration. Those damn hispanics are probably going to be the reason that the US is still relevant in half a century. It honestly sickens me that we as Americans still haven't embraced our entire god damn idea of nationhood after two centuries of picking new immigrant groups to hate on. I mean for [m'kay] sake! What's even funnier is how the Republicans don't see how naturally that hispanic immigrants fit into the far right fold. I mean, you guys really had to try to [m'kay] it up, and by God you did.