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So What If Texas DID Secede From The Union?
Tony Romm is now a contributor for The Cram, a student news arm of the newly launched PoliticsDaily.com. To follow his future work, click here.
The blogosphere is still rumbling this week after a suggestion by Texas Governor Rick Perry that the (now
literally) Lone Star state secede from the embattled union. It does not help, of course, that a poll released on Thursday by Research2000 merely confirms the unfortunate truth that Perry's comments may have resonated among some Texans: In the survey, nearly 35 percent of respondents, mostly Republicans, indicated they felt Texas would be better off as an "independent nation."
It would be naive to take these findings seriously; gauging public opinion on any topic is difficult and daunting, especially when the questions themselves are indulgent and practically invite silliness. It is likely that many of the survey's respondents answered only out of jest, submitting to Perry's gaffe without the slightest contemplation of what secession would actually mean for their state, personal or geographic.
But that hasn't stopped a plethora of pundits from jokingly hypothesizing on their behalf. Earlier this week, Daily Kos noted a few drawbacks to Texan secession: the loss of its coveted military bases, exorbitant NASA funding and most of its dirty industry. Preceding that prediction was Nate Silver, who reminded politicos at FiveThirtyEight that an America without Texas would have catapulted the Democrats to a filibuster-proof supermajority in Congress -- even without Al Franken's help -- and ensured that not another Bush family member could have won the White House in 2004.
Indeed, we can attribute to Texas' departure a number of interesting benefits (that only those wary voters who stuck out the economy's apoplexy could reap). For example...
(CLICK TO READ MORE...)
In the realm of higher education, an America without Texas would save the federal government more than $1 billion in Pell Grants (.xls), the program provided annually to college students who demonstrate significant financial need. In the 2006-2007 academic year, the Department of Education awarded Texas enough Pell Grant assistance to cover more than 440,000 college students -- money that would obviously disappear if the state left the union. To give this figure more perspective, recall that the most recent federal stimulus included a provision to increase Pell Grant funding by more than $13 billion dollars, almost $300 per student. When you subtract Texas from that equation and add the money saved by its absence, the United States could opt to cover more students or increase eligible students' current awards (even if only by a tiny amount).
A more substantial benefit from Texas' exit, however, is environmental in nature. According to The New York Times' assessment of state environmental quality, Texas emitted 224.76 million metric tons of CO2 last year -- ranking it first in total pollution. Presumably, this is because Texas also boasts the second largest population in the United States, weighing in at well over 22 million residents. Unfortunately, population totals matter little when state or federal agencies must offset carbon output. It currently costs the country anywhere between $1-30 per metric ton to address troublesome emissions, which would translate in Texas' case to anywhere between $224.76 million and $6.7 billion in CO2 offset fees. Of course, the Lone Star state's withdrawal would not exactly address the root environmental problem here; Texas would still emit pollutants at an alarming rate. However, secession would absolve the United States of its responsibility to pay for or fix it -- good news to the few voters who still weep openly about deficit spending.
And, finally, for those in the nation's capitol still bitter at Sen. John Cornyn's, R-Texas, vote against D.C. voting rights, Texas's exit would permit the District -- should it ever receive statehood -- a spot on the flag. Unlikely, but nonetheless important to the same cadre of cynical voters who first brought you Hippos for Hypocrites.
Indeed, many of these "benefits" are moot; the Lone Star state's exit would severely dent U.S. exports, among other areas of the economy, and test President Obama's foreign policy credentials. Then again, perhaps Obama too stands to gain from Texas' secession -- in some perverted sense, it would finally offer the ersatz Lincoln-ite the chance to walk in his idol's footsteps in more than just name.
The blogosphere is still rumbling this week after a suggestion by Texas Governor Rick Perry that the (now
literally) Lone Star state secede from the embattled union. It does not help, of course, that a poll released on Thursday by Research2000 merely confirms the unfortunate truth that Perry's comments may have resonated among some Texans: In the survey, nearly 35 percent of respondents, mostly Republicans, indicated they felt Texas would be better off as an "independent nation."It would be naive to take these findings seriously; gauging public opinion on any topic is difficult and daunting, especially when the questions themselves are indulgent and practically invite silliness. It is likely that many of the survey's respondents answered only out of jest, submitting to Perry's gaffe without the slightest contemplation of what secession would actually mean for their state, personal or geographic.
But that hasn't stopped a plethora of pundits from jokingly hypothesizing on their behalf. Earlier this week, Daily Kos noted a few drawbacks to Texan secession: the loss of its coveted military bases, exorbitant NASA funding and most of its dirty industry. Preceding that prediction was Nate Silver, who reminded politicos at FiveThirtyEight that an America without Texas would have catapulted the Democrats to a filibuster-proof supermajority in Congress -- even without Al Franken's help -- and ensured that not another Bush family member could have won the White House in 2004.
Indeed, we can attribute to Texas' departure a number of interesting benefits (that only those wary voters who stuck out the economy's apoplexy could reap). For example...
(CLICK TO READ MORE...)
In the realm of higher education, an America without Texas would save the federal government more than $1 billion in Pell Grants (.xls), the program provided annually to college students who demonstrate significant financial need. In the 2006-2007 academic year, the Department of Education awarded Texas enough Pell Grant assistance to cover more than 440,000 college students -- money that would obviously disappear if the state left the union. To give this figure more perspective, recall that the most recent federal stimulus included a provision to increase Pell Grant funding by more than $13 billion dollars, almost $300 per student. When you subtract Texas from that equation and add the money saved by its absence, the United States could opt to cover more students or increase eligible students' current awards (even if only by a tiny amount).
A more substantial benefit from Texas' exit, however, is environmental in nature. According to The New York Times' assessment of state environmental quality, Texas emitted 224.76 million metric tons of CO2 last year -- ranking it first in total pollution. Presumably, this is because Texas also boasts the second largest population in the United States, weighing in at well over 22 million residents. Unfortunately, population totals matter little when state or federal agencies must offset carbon output. It currently costs the country anywhere between $1-30 per metric ton to address troublesome emissions, which would translate in Texas' case to anywhere between $224.76 million and $6.7 billion in CO2 offset fees. Of course, the Lone Star state's withdrawal would not exactly address the root environmental problem here; Texas would still emit pollutants at an alarming rate. However, secession would absolve the United States of its responsibility to pay for or fix it -- good news to the few voters who still weep openly about deficit spending.
And, finally, for those in the nation's capitol still bitter at Sen. John Cornyn's, R-Texas, vote against D.C. voting rights, Texas's exit would permit the District -- should it ever receive statehood -- a spot on the flag. Unlikely, but nonetheless important to the same cadre of cynical voters who first brought you Hippos for Hypocrites.
Indeed, many of these "benefits" are moot; the Lone Star state's exit would severely dent U.S. exports, among other areas of the economy, and test President Obama's foreign policy credentials. Then again, perhaps Obama too stands to gain from Texas' secession -- in some perverted sense, it would finally offer the ersatz Lincoln-ite the chance to walk in his idol's footsteps in more than just name.
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Joe D
3:01PM 3:01PM Apr 27th 2009
when was the last President to be killed in Mass?
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Charles E Smith
4:49PM 4:49PM Apr 26th 2009
Obama sure as hell is not my president. People with any common sense needs to impeach him before he does more harm to America. Obama sure as hell is not an American. Deport him back to Kenya where he can rule as a dictator. America does not cater to dictators of the world Order of the United Nations
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Gregory Dittmer
8:44PM 8:44PM Apr 26th 2009
Charles E Smith
4:49PM 4:49PM Apr 26th 2009
Obama sure as hell is not my president. People with any common sense needs to impeach him before he does more harm to America.
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Sorry Charlie, no matter how you feel, if you are an American citizen, then Obama IS YOUR President. As for impeachment, Obama has not broken the law or done anything else that would be an impeachable offense.
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Mario
7:01PM 7:01PM Apr 26th 2009
I am in favor of Texas leaving the union. You ever live there? I have! This is one of the worst states in the union today! Losing Texas would honestly not be a loss. Texans are very different people from other Americans. They are war-mongers, hawkish, verbally combative, verbally hostile, quarrelsome... Their legislature is a joke! Laws included! Too many small counties for a state its size! Fire and brimstone type religions! Texas loves to execute people! Racism alive and well there too! Mexico would not want Texas back! Hell! Would any state?? The Bushes completely reflect, for the most part, the average Texan!
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James Lumley Sr
7:14PM 7:14PM Apr 26th 2009
If Texas did leave the union, the United states would be the looser. Wonder where else we would find for refineries and many of the industries established there.
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schibler953
7:32PM 7:32PM Apr 26th 2009
I WANT TO MOVE TO TEXAS
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Kathleen
8:04PM 8:04PM Apr 26th 2009
The last time I checked Texas was a donor state; meaning it pays more in taxes than it receives in federal benfits.
As all politically savvy Texans know; Perry is going to have a challenger in the Republican primary next time. That means that he is already running for reelection in the Republican primary which means he is swinging far to the right. That's where the comment came from. He's pandering. But he has no power to actually do anything about it; in Texas the Lieutenant governor is actually more powerful than the governor in terms of legislation. All Perry has done is hand Kay Bailey Hutchison her campaign theme song: "I'm proud to be an Amedrican....."
Perry was pandering. He is desperate to win the Republican primary. If not his political career is over; he will certainly never pass a confirmation hearing for a national post after that wisecrack. But I think that Texas Republicans will realize that their base is shrinking as all the major urban counties in Texas are now Democratic and nominate the more centrist, or at least more discrete Senator Hutchison.
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b-fromBigD
1:04AM 1:04AM Apr 27th 2009
The fact remains that our President does not represent most Texans; neither is he legitimately holding office because U.S. presidents must be natural born citizens. He has never proven that he was natural born and, in fact, his grandmother who told the newspapers that she was present at his birth [in Kenya] died suddenly as he took office. This has everything to do with the Democratic socialists in our country usurping the power of the office --- and yes, when you usurp power, you STEAL what is not rightfully or legally yours.
As for Texas seceding from the union, this has been discussed for many generations among native Texans. This is not a new idea for most of us and has nothing to do with how much Texas costs the U.S. in any area of the economy. It really has to do with the fact that we are large enough to sustain ourselves and we like being independent.
In Texas, we have mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers everywhere, a coastline, a desert and a green eastern clay hill country. We have a standing army, a major port, oil, cattle and farmland. We have major technology companies and some of the country's best scientists. We are a largely EDUCATED population -- although the rest of the country enjoys painting us as hicks -- and we have a very strong work ethic.
I have lived in other parts of our great country and I cannot say so much for the rest. Although I will not spend time insulting any other state, I will say that you are all hard pressed to find another state that provides so much with such a good attitude.
And, because we have a "CAN-DO" attitude does not make us arrogant, stupid, Klanish or any other ignorant title you want to throw our way. It makes those whom it offends weak, self-pitying, lazy and jealous.
As we say here, "Those who can, do; those who can't, need to sit down and shut up."
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Michele
5:02PM 5:02PM Apr 27th 2009
Amen, Brother!
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Gregory Dittmer
4:35PM 4:35PM Apr 27th 2009
b-fromBigD
1:04AM 1:04AM Apr 27th 2009
The fact remains that our President does not represent most Texans; neither is he legitimately holding office because U.S. presidents must be natural born citizens. He has never proven that he was natural born and, in fact, his grandmother who told the newspapers that she was present at his birth [in Kenya] died suddenly as he took office.
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This whine by the right wingnuts is really getting old. Obama DID produce his birth certificate, but right wingnuts got some half baked idea that he is required to have something, ANYTHING other then an actual birth certificate.
For some reason, EVERY right wingnut now seems to think they are experts on determining the legitimacy and the required information to be on a "proper" birth certificate. Just because Obama's does not contain certain information, the claim is it is a fraud or it does not contain suffcient information to be used for certain things like getting a passport.
I still have my ORIGINAL birth certificate issued two weeks after my birth. I have used this certificate for every possible need from getting a marriage and driving license, getting a passport, registration to enter school, on and on. I have NEVER been required to produce anything other than this for any reason.
This is ALL of the information on the certificate... it has a 5 digit "registration number," it lists my full name, it has the date of my birth, it lists my sex, it has the date of issue and it has a certificate number that is simply the particular piece of paper on which all is written... and thats it!
No where on it does it list the actual physical location of my birth. It makes no mention whatsoever about my parents, my race, nor does it mention anything about the hospital or the doctor. This tattered little certificate is about 2.5" X 4" on heavy weight paper with the raised seal of the state Department of Health.
I have seen both the original and copies of birth certificates for my wife and our children... NONE of them have ALL the information right wingnuts seem to think is so vital!
Now, whether YOU like it or not, Obama IS the POTUS meaning he is YOUR POTUS as welll as he is the POTUS of ALL Texans and ALL American citizens. You don't have to like him, you don't have to agree with him or his policies... but he IS your President.
Now please... I have been asking this for the past year yet NOT ONE single right wingnut has provided ANY evidence to support their claims. If you have ANY proof to support your claims of where Obama was born and EXACTLY what must be listed on a birth certificate to please the right wingnuts... PUT UP OR SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!
As for your low class inference that Obama's grandmother's death was suspicious or sudden, you are WAY out of line. His grandmother died after a long battle with cancer!
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Panapada
12:35AM 12:35AM Apr 27th 2009
I am not a Texan but I do know a little about Texas. Tennessee is nicknamed the Volunteer State because of the Frontiermen from that state that went to Texas to fight the Mexicans. More volunteers came from Kentucky than Tennessee. The one big fact that even most Texans are unaware of is that at anytime, Texas can decide to divide into five states without any further action required by the Congress, the President or the Supreme Court. What is now Texas would have the same number of votes in the U S House but would then have 10 Senators. Don't believe me, check it out.
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Joe D
3:10PM 3:10PM Apr 27th 2009
Tenn is called the Volunteer State because they had the highest percentage of Volunteers during the War of Terror agains the Union 1861-1865 The Tennesseans who fought at the Alamo were no better than the Al Queda in Iraq forgein born frighters in a battle agaisnt a legimate Government (The Mexicans)
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john
6:00AM 6:00AM Apr 27th 2009
I like a trial separation, just for like 10 years; see how Texas takes care of itself. If it goes great, great; if it goes bad, and Texas wants back into the Union, I say okay and be quiet for about 100 years.
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Mary
8:59AM 8:59AM Apr 27th 2009
Succeed? Reality....Gov Perry asks Fed gvernment for help.
Gov. Rick Perry today in a precautionary measure requested the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide 37,430 courses of antiviral medications from the Strategic National Stockpile to Texas to prevent the spread of swine flu.
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DanRad
1:22PM 1:22PM Apr 27th 2009
Actually of all the US States Texas cannot secede even under the Confederate logic used to promote the southern states' efforts in the late unpleasantness, it joined freely of its own will, and was not covered by the prior independent status of separated colonies and earlier Articles of Confederation which had dubious de jure transcendence by the Constitution...though of course that had definite de facto authority.
The Republican governor of Texas is foolish in another way however. The REAL threat from the Lone Star State is that in the original compact of its joining the union, which may or may not have been transcended by its forcible reunification in 1865, was the right given for it to form up to 5 states from its territory. :)
So Texans can be proud, their putative ancestors[although most Texans are NOT descended from those founders] DID find a way to browbeat, though not blackmail, their colleagues in the Federal Union. They can add 8 more electoral votes[and probably 12 total --for rounding off House Districts]without even trying :)
So the rest of us have to be generous with their little quirks and peccadillos. Which I define as their politicians and their sometimes goofy ideas. They are also good for a laugh and for venting with or upon. God bless Texas, and God save the Union. It is much more fun yoked together-grin!
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momofdjt
1:31PM 1:31PM Apr 27th 2009
Why would he not ask for help? Isn't this what our tax money goes towards? Believe me, Texans pay in our fair share and deserve to get money back. Until the day comes when we no longer have to send tax money to Washington, we will continue to request services and funds in return.
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rstillday
1:43PM 1:43PM Apr 27th 2009
Although I would love to see Texas and some of the rest of the village idiots who live there secede, it can't. Also, you UN-American jerks who keep trying to put down the best president you will probably ever see, are simple minded bigots, who HIDE behind the flag. No real veteran would say the things you have about your Commander in Chief. My Dad is a Marine Corps Vet of 20 years, who believes that the best man to run the country is the one we have in office right now. He never said anything disrespectful of Bush, even though he didn't agree with anything his administration did, so back off you redneck jerks and start behaving like citizens of the U.S. instead of members of the KKK!
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momofdjt
2:21PM 2:21PM Apr 27th 2009
I take offense to those who call me a bigot simply because I do not agree with the ideals of the current president.
In order to maintain a balanced nation we must keep in practice the offering of two or more sides to important issues. Checks and balances... To sit back and agree with everything that is placed before us based on the rank of the individual presenting, would lead to a national collapse.
There are many issues that are of importance to myself, but of little importance to others... We learn to compromise on some issues in order to push through others.
This does not mean we should lay down and let the party in charge walk all over us. This also does not mean we are bigots.
AND, calling us 'village idiots' simply because we will not be pushed around by the Federal Government is very juvenile. If you are content in allowing the talking heads in Washington to spend your tax dollars at will, then by all means remain silent.
Those of us who are concerned will continue to voice our concerns. It is called free speech. ;)
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Keith
2:19PM 2:19PM Apr 27th 2009
HAY @$$WIPE, HOW DO YOU KNOW IT WAS ""REPUBLICANS""", MO.RON?HOW MUCH WOULD OIL SERVICES AND HEATING OIL COST YOU SCUM IN THE NORTHEAST? ALSO, WE COULD OUTPRODUCE THE ENTIRE NATION ON LABOR EFFICIENCIES AND WE ALREADY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF A VAST MILITARY, HIGH TECH PRODUCTION, MORE MONEY THAN 44 STATES, ETC ETC ETC.SO TEXAS WOULD BY FAR BENEFIT.
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Joe D
2:23PM 2:23PM Apr 27th 2009
I live in Texas and I want to move out soon NOTHING but liars cheaters and men who would sleep with their mothers, leave a Twenty on the Dresser and she would keep it, Only thing they do right in Texas is kill elected Presidents
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