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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
There is no built-in legal process for a state to leave the Union in the way there is for a member country to leave the EU ("Article 50"). If it ever came to a point of there being a clear majority (unlikely, even as messy as things are now) and a referendum was allowed to happen and pass, one would have to be invented (or risk Civil War II).
If Texas asked to secede, Congress would probably give it to them, albeit under the worst conditions they can think of. (Of course, since Texas can't pay to patrol the Rio Grande for illegals...The Punishment Is the Crime?)
"Alright, Texas, you win. We've deliberated it and we decided to grant your request. You are no longer a part of the United States. We've sold you back to Mexico."
My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.Why the fuck would we even let them have a referendum anyways? Also, considering we won't even get rid of the penny for fear of dishonoring Abraham Lincoln, I doubt we'd allow secession, something he spent his entire Presidency fighting against, to happen. Mind you this could change, as immigrants and milenials give no fucks about history or tradition,especially America's, for better or worse
edited 24th Jun '16 3:09:38 PM by JackOLantern1337
I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.It's unlikely we'd allow secession since it's already on the books that it's illegal (in fact, IIRC there were precedents for it being illegal even before the Civil War).
However, if I understand correctly, many libertarians are of the opinion that secession being illegal is hypocritical on account of the US being formed by seceding from the British Empire. Since the Founding Fathers seceded from a government, they argue that everyone should be allowed to secede from their government more or less automatically.
Some even go as far as to say that Lincoln was in the wrong on these ground. On one of the right-wing youtube channels I used to listen to, every time they praised Lincoln they'd get a thousand of these responses (the channel has more than one video giving these people a "Reason You Suck" Speech).
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I think he's being hyperbolic. "These people generally care less about tradition". I don't particularly agree, but still.
To anyone who wants to secede, I say: "Go right ahead, and good luck with that." Then, when they discover that they can't really manage without some kind of help from the federal government, and they come begging for handouts, tell them: "Hey, you insisted on independence, so you got it — along with all that it entails. Sorry, you're on your own."
Considering how much aid (financial or otherwise) various states and regions receive from the US government, secession looks like a losing proposition. Say, for example, one or more of the Gulf Coast states secedes. Then, when the next major hurricane devastates the region, they get no help from FEMA or the National Guard, no disaster relief funds, etc. I think they'd soon come crawling back, begging to rejoin the USA.
This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
Well, the thing with Texas is that it has a strong enough economy that it actually could survive on its own if it seceded. It gives more money to the Federal Government than it actually receives (this is not true for most states).
Hank Paulson, Treasury Secretary under W Bush, has endorsed Clinton. And he says that there are plenty of Republicans like him.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/24/politics/hank-paulson-hillary-clinton-endorsement/index.html
I think Texas is a pretty strong state, only CA and NY can trump it. I'm not sure why they entertain the thought of being sandwiched between the US and Mexico though.
edited 24th Jun '16 3:55:46 PM by flameboy21th
Non Indicative Username

The concern of Trump's chances increasing because of Brexit is something of a Morton's Fork.
Option A) Britain leaves, and they do fairly well up until the election - proof that Trump's rhetoric is right and the US should be more isolationist/xenophobic since it worked so well for the UK!
Option B) Britain's economy does poorly, destabilizing the global market and sending ripple effects to the US - proof that the Democrats aren't fit to lead, thus Trump should be the President and not Clinton!
"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"