Rick Perry Cool with Federal Disaster Relief....Well for his State Anyway

I suppose Texas could secede from the Union. But, the last time they tried that, northern soldiers slaughtered them. So, if Texas is forced to be part of the Union, they might as well take advantage of the north's money.

 

What they "deserved" and what they got are no longer relevant. Is Long Island fully recovered? No, and like NO it won't be for decades. That alone says all that needs to be said about where the money goes. Of course, Sandy wasn't a man made disaster like a factory blowing up, who will in all likelihood receive the majority of any disaster funding leaving the people to fend for themselves. Regardless of political sway, the system is flawed, as we saw with Bush and Katrina and Obama with Sandy. Billions are unaccounted for and will likely remain so. So, do I think Sandy only deserved $1.8B? Obviously not. But I do think there needs to be a line drawn between relief funding and pork barrel politics in times of need. People's homes and families and lives aren't budget derived and they're certainly not inserts in multi billion dollar riders to bills claiming to be relief oriented.

 

If the North were smart it would just let them go this time. For that matter any right-thinking person should be encouraging them to go. Then they could apply for foreign aid and we could airlift them our surplus cheese. And I'd love to see them dealing with Mexico on their own. I don't think "Don't mess with Texas" stickers and Reb flags on the back of a bunch of old beater Suburbans and primer gray F150s will be much help.

 

If at first you don't secede try, try again?

Let 'em secede. It's a Tea Partiers dream. Get rid of big government big time.

Then tell me how that works out in ten years when you want back in.

 

The pun alone is worth two likes.

 

They were their own nation once and undoubtedly many Texans believe they could be so again.

No. Lincoln proved, quite forcibly, that "Let 'em secede" is not an option. Well, that is, unless you have bigger guns than the big government you want to fight.

Who can really say? If they did secede and the U.S. peacefully traded with them (like any other friendly nation) it could be a win/win situation. There are pros and cons to either option. Hell, the lack of red-state Texas' electoral college votes could probably assure a Democrat in the White House for years to come. They would be free to enforce their border as they see fit and eliminate the murderous drug cartels infiltrating their nation which would, in turn, be a boon to the U.S. They already have ports and shipping lanes, so no problem there. People could cross back and forth into and out of the U.S. as easily as Canadians do now. There would probably be tariffs and taxes on imported/exported duties, but not more than with any other nation.

I'd have to set up my PayPal account to accept payments from the new "Nation of Texas", but it shouldn't be too difficult. Prices wouldn't be the same. Some products would, necessarily, be higher in Texas while others would be higher in the U.S. But, as capitalism proves, competition is the driving force in a free-market society and thus engenders improvement.

If I departed Texas, I'd need a passport (no problem, I think it was like $80 - someone correct me if I'm wrong) in order to leave the nation, but once out, I could travel to any of the 49 states unhindered. Texas would probably have to start buying back the interstate roads the federal government supplied some funding for over the years. But, after amortization and depreciation a deal could certainly be worked out by all. Federal buildings, of course, located in Texas would have to be sold to Texas (or moved out of Texas), so a deal could probably be hashed out. They could save a few to use as U.S. embassies. Dealey Plaza in Dallas could be registered as a U.S. landmark with agreement with the U.S. government so that anyone could come visit. But, I would consider raising the price on Shiner Bock just to make the Yankees pay more who love the brew.

I don't know, it seems to me that the U.S. would enjoy having a friendlier nation on its southern border. Then, the U.S. could work with Mexico and try to get the Mexican States of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Neovo Leon and Tamaulipas to become U.S. states. Think of all the many new citizens who could now vote Democrat. Viva el Presidente!

Ah, but alas... back to that Lincoln thing. Once in the Union, you're stuck with it for good or bad.

 

Then there's cities like Austin ...who want Texas to secede, but don't want to be part of Texas anymore (they want to continue being part of America, sans Texas)... LOL

 

"As IT has been written, so shall it be"...or whatever.

 

You made some points Coin but I just don't see it happening.

It's easy to say "we want to secede" or even "we're going to secede" but actually doing it is another animal.

Even in a "peaceful" secession I believe you would see a lot of Texans saying "what in the hell were we thinking?".