Following is a post I uploaded to another blog of mine, using other blog software that I'm thinking seriously about abandoning. Blogger seems to work much more intuitively -- for me, at any rate. This post was written a couple weeks ago. Since then, I've begun seeing bumper stickers that show the word "SECEDE" with the Texas flag as a background. Interesting. Beginning in the early 90s, I began to believe that certain states would clamor to secede, but I'd always figured it would be Hawaii and Alaska, and probably in that order. Hawaii wants its monarchy back, and Alaskans are a mighty independent lot. Almost as independent as us Texans :) But for whatever reason, I just never thought I'd have seen or heard the first signs of secession coming from Texas. Guess it makes a large amount of sense that it would, in retrospect. Anyway, here's the earlier piece:
I live in Texas. Houston to be exact. I was born and raised a Texan. But shortly after I turned 21, I moved to California, and spent the next 24 years there. Served a hitch in the US Army, and while in the Army, also lived in Monterey, CA, Olympia Washington, and briefly, Ft. Wainright, Alaska, which is just outside Fairbanks. So, I have something that many Texans -- and Californians, for that matter -- don't: perspective.
The recent news of Texas Governor Rick Perry taking a stand for Texas and against the ever-encroaching federal government had me fired up. But I have found it amusing and predictable that most media outlets and much of the blogosphere choose to misquote and misrepresent what Perry said. If they can twist a conservative's words so they can slam him and rake his butt over the coals, they'll do it in a heartbeat. So predictable. And for those of us who bother staying informed, all it does is further reduce their credibility. As if it could get any lower.
I also find it predictable that Perry is talking tough at this time, since he's facing a powerful challenge to his job from Texas' popular Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Seems like the only time he starts talking tough is when an election is approaching.
But what Perry said needed to be said. He understands something that a lot of other folks in government don't get: he governs, he doesn't control. We Texans are an independent-minded lot, and the more independent among us tend to think of the federal government as little more than a necessary evil . . . one that is, in fact, becoming a growing liability as each day passes. Regarding his comments on secession, it bears reading the comments themselves, without all the spin attached. First, let's look at what led to his comments -- (HCR)50, a resolution passed by the Texas House, which Perry supports.
From Texas Governor Rick Perry's website (April 9th):
Gov. Rick Perry today joined state Rep. Brandon Creighton and sponsors of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 50 in support of states’ rights under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Gov. Perry said. “That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union.”
A number of recent federal proposals are not within the scope of the federal government’s constitutionally designated powers and impede the states’ right to govern themselves. HCR 50 affirms that Texas claims sovereignty under the 10th Amendment over all powers not otherwise granted to the federal government.
It also designates that all compulsory federal legislation that requires states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties, or that requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding, be prohibited or repealed.
Very clear and straight-forward, seems to me. This sort of thing needs to be said to the federales, and said often just in case they weren't paying attention the first few dozen times the States have protested. But resolutions have no teeth to them, so the federal government will do what's predictable -- it'll ignore the protests and warnings like an old man with his hearing aid intentionally turned down.
Now, let's have a look at what Perry specifically said that set off all the furor. Following his speech at the April 15 Tea Party held in Austin, Texas, in talking with reporters, Perry said:
“There’s a lot of different scenarios. Texas is a unique place. When we came into the union in 1845, one of the issues was that we would be able to leave if we decided to do that . . . My hope is that America and Washington in particular pays attention. We’ve got a great union. There’s absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what may come of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we’re a pretty independent lot to boot."
I have a couple of degrees in Linguistics, and I can parse English grammar as good as the next guy. Hell, better than the next guy, if you want to know the truth. What's the first thing he said? He mentions different scenarios. Different possible paths that a government or the people who consent to be governed by it may take. Then he reminds folks that Texas entered the Union with the specific right to leave if it wanted to. But he then states his unconditional support of the Union, meaning the federal goverment system. Meaning he has no desire to push this secession thing. Then his warning: not only is the federal government willfully ignoring the concerns of the states, but it is forcing them to comply with unconstitutional legislation and regulations. Further, there's the possibility that if this irresponsible behavior continues, disaffection will grow into something more severe and tangible. Finally, Texas is a state like no other in the union: it was established as an independent sovereign country after its people fought for, and won, independence. Texas proved it could go it alone before, and there are many Texans who believe that Texas can go it alone again, if push comes to shove. That, my friends, was his message.
-M
"You might want to give some serious thought to thanking your lucky stars that you're in Texas."
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