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28 November 2012
SECESSION: Texans petition to secede, but probably won’t succeed.
by Amy Wang, Staff Writer
The petition asks the government to “peacefully [allow] the State of Texas to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.” Petitions on We the People require 25,000 signatures in the first 30 days in order to be presented to the administration; as of now, this particular one has over 115,000 signatures.
The petition in question was created on November 9, just a few days after the presidential election. That and the fact that Texas is largely Republican prove that this petition is nothing but bitter Texans’ overreaction to President Obama’s re-election.
The creator claims the secession is meant to “protect its citizens’ standard of living and re-secure their rights and liberties,” but really, that means “protect its citizens’ money.” Texas is America’s top state for business, and has one of the strongest economies among the states. It’s understandable that they want to protect their economy from the federal government’s taxes, which they see as a threat to its status – but is secession really the only answer?
And through an online petition?
Texas Governor Rick Perry voiced his disapproval for the petition. Although he is also “frustrated […] with our federal government” he does not think secession from the union is the right answer.
Honestly though, what would Texas do if it were to secede? It would not get any more federal funding, health benefits or anything else the federal government provides. Texans are confident in their economy’s strength and ability to uphold itself, but would it hold up as well as they think it would? That’s a big risk for both Texas and the United States to take.
No one really believes the government will allow Texas to secede. After all, wasn’t that what the Civil War was for – to keep the states together? What makes Texas believe we’ll really give it up so easily just because of an online petition? Especially one with less than .005 percent of its population’s online signatures.
Fun fact: Austin also started its own petition to secede from Texas so it may stay with the United States, and it has over 8,000 signatures so far. Not enough to get any consideration, but enough to say something: even Texans are finding this petition ridiculous.
These petitions are nothing but talk. 40 states now have their own petitions as well, and several states passed the 25,000 mark by now. None garnered as much attention as Texas’, though. But they can all be seen as yet another ridiculous, resentful response to Obama’s re-election.
The chances of Texas succeeding in seceding are slim – even slimmer than saying that phrase ten times quickly without messing up. But Texas staying? That’s much easier to say and believe.