Texas secede? (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio: credit, gated, to live)

[Steel Man]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

Interesting question. The individual states are the basic soveriegn unit in our federalist system and are recognized as such by the division of powers within the U.S. Constutition. Not sure how counties are within the Texas Constitution, which would probably be the key to the answer, perhaps. Anyway, interesting question.



I don't agree with the "living document" thing IF by the phrase it means (as I think Justice William Brennan once put it) "it can be adapted to fit current needs." This is really just an ingenious way of saying the document can be used as a license to steal.



I don't necessarily disagree with this sentiment. In fact, it forms the basis of why the United States was formed to begin with. The individual states did not band together out of love or even compatibility with one another, but out of practical recognition that alone, none were strong enough economically and militarily to compete with the powers of Europe. However, they were careful to keep their individual soveriegnty and delegate only limited and specific powers to the shared (federal) government. Over the years however, at least IHMO, the 9th and 10th ammendments have become virtually meaningless (and in one case before the Warren Court, it was almost stated as such) and the federal government assuming powers which far exceed anything granted them originally. It is objection to this type power-grabbing which has formed the nucleus of many so-called secessionist movements. And to repeat again, I am not a secessionist at this point in time...but I very much sympathize with rationale behind some of them.

Excellent answers! What I meant by a "living document," was that amendments can be added, e.g., 11-27 Amendments. I'm an eternal optimist and believe that eventually things work out for the best. IMHO, we are still one of the best nations in the world. Despite flawed interpretations of the Constitution, we still enjoy many rights that many people do not in this world.

[ulsterscot]

This country is over. If Texas or Alaska don't secede ( the two most able or likely ), freedom as we know it will die.

I would stand and fight for any state fighting to maintain our God given rights. Ideally we would have from eastern Washington and Oregon, over to the Dakotas, and down to Texas and over to the southland.

Let the liberals in the NE and Socal fend for themselves. They wouldn't last a year without us.

[ahuimanu]

Originally Posted by TXLara

Hawaii wants to secede too.

That is a deep and complex issue involving sovereignty for native Hawai'ians - it is inaccurate to say the entire state wants to secede.

[ahuimanu]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

But that doesn't necessarily mean one cannot also believe that the United States Constitution has been perverted over the years by certain powers which will use it to their own ends. The phrase "I love my country but fear my government" is not at all unreasonable nor paranoid...

Most secession movements (whether in the past or contemplated) are not born out of sense of disloyalty nor hostility to the United States. Granting the few nuts out there...far from it. Rather, the feeling that the federal government today is/has/becoming the antithesis of what the Founding Fathers intended this nation to be.

Good post.

I don't understand why Texas would feel like it has been on the short-end of the stick though. One of your former Governors has been in charge for the last 8 years and his party controlled congress from 1994 until 2006. Isn't that a long time for Texas to be getting a fair shake? I'd say Texas has been in a position to get better-than-average treatment during this time.

Can you give some examples of how Texas was slighted during this time? Or before?

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by ahuimanu

Good post.

I don't understand why Texas would feel like it has been on the short-end of the stick though. One of your former Governors has been in charge for the last 8 years and his party controlled congress from 1994 until 2006. Isn't that a long time for Texas to be getting a fair shake? I'd say Texas has been in a position to get better-than-average treatment during this time.

Can you give some examples of how Texas was slighted during this time? Or before?

Thanks!

I don't personally think the rationale behind secession (which I repeat I am not advocating! LOL) it is a matter of Texas getting a fair shake or not, as it is a feeling the federal government has gone mad and assumed powers far beyond anything the Constitution ever permitted or intended.

[bluescreen73]

Well rather than secession and the start of a 2nd civil war, why not *drum roll please* use your Democratically given powers and front candidates who don't support the trampling of the Constitution and are in favor of state's rights?

Secession is just dumb, period. Is war what you really want? If so go enlist and stand on the front lines in Iraq or Afghanistan.

[brattpowered]

Originally Posted by momojojo

Do any of you Texans out there think that one day TX would secede from the Union? Is that just a lot of hoo hah from a small group, or could it be a reality?

They tried this before and they were soundly defeated.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by brattpowered

They tried this before and they were soundly defeated.

Not without one hell of a good fight, they (we) weren't!

[Spade]

Originally Posted by ulsterscot

This country is over. If Texas or Alaska don't secede ( the two most able or likely ), freedom as we know it will die.

I would stand and fight for any state fighting to maintain our God given rights. Ideally we would have from eastern Washington and Oregon, over to the Dakotas, and down to Texas and over to the southland.

Let the liberals in the NE and Socal fend for themselves. They wouldn't last a year without us.

Yeah and if you think those states see eye to eye with Texas with most of everything, you are delusional. Besides, the peoples of Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio will NOT go for that seeing as how they are becoming as liberal as it's Western and Midwestern peers.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

Well rather than secession and the start of a 2nd civil war, why not *drum roll please* use your Democratically given powers and front candidates who don't support the trampling of the Constitution and are in favor of state's rights?

Not a bad point at all, BlueScreen. And, darnit, some of these posts have almost put me in the position of defending something that I don't -- at this moment and has to get a lot worse before I do -- support. Secession, that is.

But to what you say? The problem is -- assuming that a lot of the rationale for so-called secession traces to an overbearing federal government -- is that elected representatives are themselves almost powerless to do anything about the problem...even if they wanted to.

That "problem" is something like the national debt. A bureaucracy which is virtually incomprehensible in terms of its magnitude and reach. No smart politician would vote to eliminate it because their own votes depend on that many of their constituients are employed by it.

And most Americans, sad to say, and most of us are probably guilty of it ourselves, for all we say we resent the feds....are ever willing to grab our share of the pie. Which is the key to why the feds have the power to begin with.

What a Catch-22, huh?