How-To: Secession of Texas

From time to time, I hear talk about Texas seceeding from the union. Why? Regardless of the reasons, here's a suggestion of how to do it:

Texas senators should modify every piece of federal legislation, every entitlement program to EXCLUDE TEXAS as one of the beneficiaries. Of course, that may require pulling some political strings, which means some of their votes can be used to buy the rewrites of bills so that Texas is written out of it. But fellow congressmen from other states will be favorable toward the idea anyway, since it reduces the cost of a new program if Texas is excluded. Everybody would be aware of what Texas would be trying to do, but incrementally, no one program could be blamed for losing Texas, so the legislation would speed ahead.

The short term effect would be a loss of federal programs. Texas would continue to pay federal taxes for programs they would not be the beneficiaries of. The difference would be small at first. But in a couple of decades, the gap would grow and the feeling would grow into a deep abiding resentment, akin to taxation without representation, although in this case the representatives were in on the ground floor. The effect would be to draw attention to all federal programs, "What are we getting, why are we paying so much." Fanning the flames of discontent, it would fuel the movement away from federal control in a way that would be unprecedented from any time before. And it could succeed.

Ironically, that would be the legislative action that all states should be taking today: To reduce, rather than increase federal spending. The problem they always run into is that the only spending they seem to be able to impact is that which affects their own state. How often does an earmark not affect a senator whose vote is needed? And when their own constituency is involved, the answer is always the same, "Give us our share." Today, Texas might be the only state that could have the fortitude to reject a greater federal presence. And in terms of eventual financial freedom as well as the political freedom that goes with it, the rewards are great for Texas, or anybody else that does that.

Would it work? It may not on the first secession attempt, but more years of time would allow more attempts to be made. Yes, it would work.