# Hypothetically, Let's Say We Gave Texas the Right to Secede **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944 "2012-11-14T02:53:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bpelta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Bpelta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bpelta)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/1 "2012-11-14T02:53:46Z")
Tens of thousands of conservatives and libertarians from a bunch of states have petitioned the White House for the right to secede from the United States of America; Texas has [garnered](https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/peacefully-grant-state-texas-withdraw-united-states-america-and-create-its-own-new-government/BmdWCP8B) almost 90,000 signatures. Meanwhile, here at the Dope, a [poll](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=670897) on which state the teeming millions would like to see kicked out has Texas winning. Currently,states are forbidden from seceding by the court ruling in Texas v. White, but hypothetically let’s say we gave Texas the right to secede. And hypothetically, let’s say they were whooped up into such a frenzy that they decided to secede. What would be the actual economic consequences to Texas and to the United States, respectively? ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/2 "2012-11-14T03:04:48Z")
The level of hostility would matter greatly. Most educated liberals would flee to the US before the secession began I am sure. They would first have to figure some type of military situation or the US would use Texas as a doormat. We would take from them what we want and use them as we see fit. Knowing the President of Texas, he would probably get into bed with some global dictator like all Bush’s have done in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Fatalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@Fatalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatalis)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/3 "2012-11-14T03:08:11Z")
Texas would be part of Mexico by the end of 2013. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/4 "2012-11-14T03:08:55Z")
I’m sure companies would pull out of Texas like crazy. I wonder what all these dolts think they are going to do for employment? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/5 "2012-11-14T03:10:05Z")
As for economic consequences, I assume that Texas would have to assume its share of the national debt. Perhaps this might be allocated on a per capita basis. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/6 "2012-11-14T03:12:11Z")
> [@Fatalis](#): > > Texas would be part of Mexico by the end of 2013. I started think that too. But How weird would that be? It is too f’ed up. Plus the types that would go to Texas and participate would be too proud. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/7 "2012-11-14T03:40:52Z")
Good lord, why would Mexico want Texas? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/8 "2012-11-14T03:49:56Z")
Texas would start invading Mexico if anything. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/9 "2012-11-14T04:11:32Z")
So idiots from 40 states have started petitions to secede, but it’s only Texas. Our batshit insane governor has even dissed the petition, for crying out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/10 "2012-11-14T05:24:25Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > As for economic consequences, I assume that Texas would have to assume its share of the national debt. Perhaps this might be allocated on a per capita basis. Yup. They can’t leave until they pay their share of the national debt, and pay for all current federal infrastructure and installations in Texas that must be moved. ---
**Author:** ![J\_Cubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@J\_Cubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_Cubed)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetically-lets-say-we-gave-texas-the-right-to-secede/640944/11 "2012-11-14T06:00:20Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_Rat](#): > > So idiots from 40 states have started petitions to secede, but it’s only Texas. Our batshit insane governor has even dissed the petition, for crying out loud. To be fair, the Texas petition has the most votes and Texas has a history of being both a separate country and part of Mexico, so it’s not really a stretch.