Texas Secession? What's next!

I love living in Texas... I love being a Texan... even though I'm a "got here quick as I could" Texan... I wasn't born here... but I got here, quick as I could. I've lived here for 26-years, and I will live here till I die...

Texas fits me like a glove. I "get" Texas, and Texas "gets" me. I know that other people in other states love their states... but there is something about Texas... we LOVE our state... we love what it stands for... we love who we are... we love how the rest of the world looks at Texas...

I've been to other parts of the world... when someone asks "Where are you from?" and I answer "Texas"... they know where Texas is... in their minds eye they see cowboys and oil wells; windmills and mountains... ; prairie and pine trees... ; Lone Star... Everyone has a vision of Texas... but none more so than a Texan.

If you're from the Southeast and you move to Texas... you're automatically accepted as a "Got here... Texan"... no questions asked... I'm one of those Texans... My youngest daughter is a "native"... yep.. that's what they call 'em here... and my hubby, Ricky, yep... native... along with his entire family... They have roots in Texas... and I married roots.... thank you Lord.

So when I read this message from Texas Congressman Dr. Ron Paul... I get it... I really get it.

Texas Straight Talk
A weekly column by Texas Congressman, Dr. Ron Paul
"Secession: the Ultimate States' Right
Last week the governor of Texas ignited a media firestorm for his remarks involving the idea of secession. He did not call for Texas to secede from the United States. He merely pointed out that the federal government was treading heavily on the sovereignty of the states and that this can not continue indefinitely without a breaking point.

The reaction to Governor Perry’s statements has been nothing short of hysterical. He has been called treasonous for making this obvious point and opening up a discussion. I am not calling for secession either, however there is nothing wrong with a healthy and open discussion of this issue. America was born from an act of secession. When King George’s rule trampled on the rights of the colonies, we successfully seceded from England. It took a war, but we were well within our rights. We applauded when former soviet states seceded from the USSR and declared their sovereignty. And hopefully the United States will eventually secede from the United Nations. We pay most of the bills of the UN, yet do not have the commensurate votes, so someday we will wake up and realize that membership, for these and other reasons, does not serve our interests.

On a personal level, contracts you enter into can be terminated if one side unilaterally changes the terms. If a credit card company jacks up your interest rate, you have every right to fulfill your obligations and close the account. Imagine if you were forced to stay with a credit card company forever no matter what just because you previously signed up! The principle of self-determination applies to political unions as well. In the cases I mentioned above, governing organizations transformed into much more overbearing entities than originally agreed upon. Several state constitutions originally had clauses explicitly allowing them to opt out of the Union down the road if they so chose. I doubt our country would have ever come together if this were not the case. Just because the north successfully kept the union together by force with the Civil War does not mean that enslaving the states is a legitimate alternative.

Secession is the last resort of states whose sovereignty is over-ridden by an overreaching federal government. The federal government has only itself to blame for this talk. Recently, some states have enacted laws allowing for the medicinal use of marijuana, yet these laws are basically voided by the continuing raids by the DEA, sanctioned by the administration. The federal government is also strong-arming states with stimulus money, forcing them to expand programs they know they will not be able to afford in the future, at a time when many states’ budgets are already in the red. This is not a new problem. No Child Left Behind burdened the states’ education systems and forced them through many hoops designed by federal bureaucrats in distant Washington DC rather than allowing communities to tailor education to their children’s unique needs. There are numerous other examples of the erosion of state sovereignty and many governors are frustrated, not just ours in Texas. Without the right to secede, state’s rights are meaningless.

A republican form of government should also be as close to the people as possible, which means the decisions of local governing bodies must be respected. Where the decisions of local governments are disregarded, the voice of the people is also disregarded. The more that happens, the more frustrated and angry the people will become."

Well said as always Congressman Paul...

Back in November, I wrote a piece on "Will Texas Secede"... and while it has never received many comments... when I look at my live feed from Feejit... it gets more "hits" than any post I've ever done... at least a couple each week...

Don't be surprised if, one morning when you least expect it, you open your morning paper and read... "Texas Secedes the Union"... It's what we're thinking about down here in French Lique...