With President Obama’s re-election, people in all 50 states have submitted petitions to the White House demanding that their states secede from the union. These petitions are gaining traction, and the most notable one is the one suggesting that Texas secede from the nation. It’s gained over 100,000 signatures, and with the petition being signed on Whitehouse.gov, the Obama administration is entitled to respond to it if it gains over 25,000.
The petition can be found here.
It’ll definitely be interesting as to how the administration responds to a secession request- if they do at all. Even though it is their policy to respond, I question whether or not they will.
But I also question something even more important; Could Texas actually secede from the Union, and would the state survive? The answer is yes, and yes. States have the right to secede from the union, as written in the Supreme Court case Texas v. White in 1869. This case describes that states may secede from the union pending consent of the states. Essentially, if all state legislatures were to pass a bill asking Texas to secede from the union, Texas would have the right to break off.
Could Texas survive to break off? Probably. Texas is the only state, in my opinion, that could ultimately survive independence. Texas has the second largest economy in the country, 15th in the world. They produce nearly 85% of America’s oil (If my memory is correct), and most American made computers and technology come from Texas. Building materials, machinery, food, and an extremely large percentage of ‘Made in America’ products come from Texas.
They don’t have a state income tax, and they can do without the federal funds for services the Federal Government provides. They only receive 94 cents in federal funds for every $1 on federal taxes. Obviously, Texas would save money by seceding from the union because of this. And with Texas being home to more Fortune 500 companies than anywhere else, it has an amazing economic base.
Texas could survive economically, after all, the unemployment rate in Texas is only 6.8%, considerably less than the National average. But what about defense, wouldn’t the state loose all it’s security? With over 25,000 members of the Texas Military Forces, the state can surely defend its borders on it’s own. And remember- you’re in Texas. Militias will form.
I’m not endorsing secession of any kind from any state, but with the threat of secession by the citizens, I’m sure Texas could pull it off and survive. Do I think it will secede from the Union? Nope. The most interesting thing will be the response from the Obama administration.









November 14th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
I think they could just do it. Nobody has a stomach for a civil war. Those days are long gone. Seems Texas would benefit immensely from secession, as they are far more a self-reliance state than a welfare state. They could establish their own business climate and social policies far more than today. Not that I am advocating it, but they could get away with it.
Ryan, nice first post. Welcome aboard!
November 14th, 2012 at 11:48 pm
People there have been threatening to secede, at least since the JFK assassination. I always wondered why they didn’t split up into 6 states. If they secede, they’d eventually become part of Mexico, I think.
Nice article, Ryan.
November 15th, 2012 at 12:14 am
Texas is supposed to be the economic model for the charter city being set up in the Honduras. If they can make it on their own then the Lone Star State will prove to be the model for entrepreneurial free market economies in the world.
November 15th, 2012 at 1:05 am
Well, I couldn’t find an adequate antonym for secede, but the idea of shedding Mexifornia is like a banana. It’s appeeling.
sorry
November 15th, 2012 at 5:18 am
Nice article, Ryan! Welcome a board to RP!
This secession thing is just venting. Nothing will come of it. At least not until some major catastrophe, such as the dollar collapsing. But even then, the Feds already have a plan in place to split the country up into 10 sub-nations.
I’d worry about those signing these petitions winding up on the FEMA camp lists. LOL!
November 15th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Arriba, California is already part of Mexico. Maybe we could form a new union with Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and call it “Jaja California.”
Awl, California is needed by the other states. We are, after all, the nation’s largest exporter of wine, porno films, and gay liberals.
November 16th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
with Ron Paul living in TX… there’s the first Republic of TX president!!!!
November 19th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Texas could pull it off -
Only 3 electrical grids in the US – East, West and Texas. Texas has its own grid separate from the East (currently 118% capacity) and the West (currently 107% capicity) – and Texas (currently 78% capacity)