By Bill Burch Grass Roots Institute of Texas (GRIT)
What Are the Pros & Cons of Secession?
A few things that are often sited in discussions about Texas seceding are the size of our National Guard and our economic strength.
In regards to our military size the National Guard is a part time force. However Texas would not need much of a military because we would have no reason to take on the job of being the policemen of the world. Texas could probably maintain a military force close to those in the countries of Australia or New Zealand.
In regards to our significant economic strengths we have about 90 of the oil refining capacity in the United States today. We are a major producer of natural gas agricultural products fishing clothing finance military hardware and aircraft automobiles timber coal chemicals computers electronics medical equipment and so many other products and services that it would be impossible to list them all here.
Texas is about as close as you can get to being a self-sufficient state or nation for that matter. There is nothing produced in Texas that would stop or be eminently curtailed just because we became a Republic.
With the tax revenues received from our refined products exported natural gas and other import and export taxes fees etc. it would be quite unlikely that Texas would need to collect an income tax. This would prove to be and already is a great attraction to businesses worldwide seeking to reduce their expenses by location in one of the tax-friendliest havens in the world.
Texas could double in size very rapidly. This would present a series of difficulties.
First and foremost is where would you put all these people. Its difficult to drive in our major cities as it is. We would also need to develop new sources of water expand our electricity capacity and build new roads and towns. Mass transit would take on a whole new meaning.
We would also need to look at a monetary system. We know the mistakes of having a central bank and how it is a major cause of inflation but what if the states political leaders become convinced by the bankers to put in a central bank? If we can avoid this and use our natural resources to back our currency we could have one of the strongest currencies in the world.
It would however take time to gain acceptance of our currency. Texas would need to work rapidly with our main trading partners to gain acceptance and would probably have to get some major country to agree to guarantee our currency until it becomes more established.
And then there is the question of what kind of political system we would have.
Most of the world uses a Parliamentary system where each Party gets a proportional amount of the seats. This gives rise to many Political Parties gives a greater say of the grassroots activist for the various parties and allows a seat at the table for all views.
However our current system has worked fine and many if not most people will prefer to stick with what they know best and feel comfortable with.
The mere writing of a Constitution is something that would be far from easy. To do this you would need a special group of people liberal and conservative with the ability to work together and work quickly. They do exist but they would have to be financially compensated. And you probably dont want many legislators because they are more involved with carrying bills than writing them.
Even with this special group of people you have to ask yourself exactly what will it say? Will they ban guns or will they allow open carry? Will abortions be allowed or outlawed? What about our school systems city charters property taxes and economic incentives for businesses?
Oh yes what about illegal aliens? Not just from the south but from the east west and north … because everyone will want to live in Texas.
Surely no one will want us to wall off the entire state.
What will be the qualifications to be a citizen? Will it be anyone who is inside the line as of a set date?
How about those who were here illegally before are they now citizens?
What about our current members of the military can they come back to Texas when their tour is over?
I also have questions regarding social security and other retirement plans. Who would pay the social security payments Texas or the United States? What about future obligations? What about withdrawals from your IRA or 401.k if there is no income tax?
How about state county city and school bonds?
Will their ratings change? Will anyone even buy them?
Would you convert existing bonds from being paid in U. S. dollars to a possibly stronger or weaker Texas dollar? Who will rate them? Who will regulate them?
Who will regulate the banks? What about our current State Government infrastructure departments Constitution rules regulations and employees?
I and many others served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Many died in this same service. Many have contributed in many ways to our country. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. There is an enormous amount of work to go into doing it right; do we want to commit the time and effort necessary?
Maybe just maybe there are other alternatives. I will examine some of those in part three.
In conclusion to this Part II What are the Pros & Cons" Texas would survive and potentially thrive if it were to secede. But do we really want that?
If we do find that it would be overwhelmingly to our benefit to secede then we need to start making plans well before the actual act so that there would be a smooth transition. There is no room in the state budget to do this and the participants would need some sort of financial compensation so that you could attract the right people for this task.
You would have to find an existing organization that would be willing to work with people of all political views and make them part of the process and the willingness to raise the funds to pay for it for it to be successful.
In Part III of this article I will dispel many of the Texas legends and come to some interesting conclusions.
There are many people who are aware of this discussion who have contributed in various ways to it. But no one knows the actual conclusions reached.
What I will tell you is that the conclusions if implemented will change America forever. As a result every part of Part III will be documented because of the seriousness of the ramifications.
If you enjoyed and found Parts I and II interesting you will be on the edge of your seat for the Part III.
May God continue to bless the great State of Texas. and the United States of America.
Bill Burch is Chairman of the Grass Roots Institute of Texas (GRIT) is a past candidate for Texas State Representative in District 93 past director of the State Bar of Texas and is the author of Merlin the Sorcerer".
