# Texit next! Who could complain about that? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 25, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288 "2016-06-25T01:48:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [June 26, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/81 "2016-06-26T16:50:24Z")
If Trump wins the election, I bet a lot more states would consider an exit. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/82 "2016-06-26T16:56:36Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Alas, no. The Mexican immigrants aren’t bringing in exotic new foods or great new restaurants. They tend to eat at Mickey D’s or at 7-Eleven. Pity you don’t pay them enough to be able to afford fresh ingredients and the use of a kitchen, but I guess you folks have your priorities. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/83 "2016-06-26T17:35:43Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Pity you don’t pay them enough to be able to afford fresh ingredients and the use of a kitchen, but I guess you folks have your priorities. “Us folks”? Boy, to hear your tone, one would think conservative Texans were the ones encouraging millions of unskilled Mexican laborers to cross the border and drive down wages. Sorry, that’s YOUR doing. It simply isn’t possible to increase wages AND flood the market with unlimited numbers of illegal immigrants. Supply and demand, you see. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/84 "2016-06-26T18:47:57Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Hmmmm… Nope, you’re still wrong. Texas isn’t going anywhere, no matter how much you’d like to fantasize. I said no such thing. > [@astorian](#): > > “Us folks”? Boy, to hear your tone, one would think conservative Texans were the ones encouraging millions of unskilled Mexican laborers to cross the border and drive down wages. Of course they are; outright slavery isn’t allowed any more, so they want the next best thing. They wanted easily victimized people they could exploit and abuse, preferably brown ones. Then they demonized the “illegal immigrants” so they could feel virtuous about exploiting them. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/85 "2016-06-26T19:04:05Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > You’re from Fort Worth, which is just the very edge of Texas. You can probably stay in the Union. Well, we can have another Gadsden-like Purchase to buy Fort Worth back, maybe. I’m not all that familiar with the specific cities in Texas. Do we want Fort Worth? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/86 "2016-06-26T19:06:53Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Alabama, Mississippi, Florida. Wisconsin, however, may be salvageable. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/87 "2016-06-26T19:11:48Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > 1. _Willie_ Nelson is a National Treasure who prefers Colorado, Washington or some other pot-friendly state. Texas can have Ted Nugent. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/88 "2016-06-26T19:17:20Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > A bunch of people bitching in online polls a few years ago is not “a movement.” Especially when those polls didn’t exclude non-Texans; nutcases from other states also voted. The Texas-secessionists outside the state will gladly join forces with the Texas-secessionists within the state! As I wrote in the OP, win-win! Sorry for all the liberals living there. The fate of the sheep living among all the rams. I’m sure we can set up some fairly comfortable refugee camps for all y’all to come to. We’ll be able to re-integrate you into American society before too many years. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/89 "2016-06-26T19:30:41Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I guess I’ve never understood this boards hatred of Texas. I have to figure that most people talking about it haven’t actually been there. The percentage of board members (and left-leaning people in general) expressing loathing of Texas/Texans and pumping up overblown stereotypes is probably comparable to the percentage of Texans doing the same thing as regards New York and northeast liberals. In other words, a noisy minority with limited brains and influence. Texas has attractions as a place to live; important downsides being floods, droughts, snakes, unending heat adulterated with blue northers, vicious and [insane](http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-rise-of-the-crazy-ants/') insects as well as horrific traffic in some urban settings. If a bunch of jerks on Twitter was the deciding factor, it’d be impossible to consider living anywhere. > [@elucidator](#): > > All this about Texas, and not one word about bar-b-q or Willy Nelson. _Willie_ Nelson. You’ve been away a long time, haven’t you? Probably also put beans in your chili and Hellman’s mayonnaise on your barbecue. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/90 "2016-06-26T19:37:55Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > In other words, a noisy minority with limited brains and influence. Hey! I’ll have you know I’m _very_ influential. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/91 "2016-06-26T20:17:46Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Cite? All the data I’ve seen says it barely cracks the Top Ten (#10), and only for large population cities. I do see some mentions of it, but without backing data. It seems to be an article of faith that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. > > A bunch of California cities, New York, Boston, and Chicago all are ahead of Houston. [Is Houston diverse?](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/houston-most-diverse_n_1321089.html) > [@](#): > > Houston has surpassed the likes of Los Angeles and New York as the most ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the the U.S., according to a new report out of Rice University. > > The report, from the university’s Kinder Institute of Urban Research and the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, drew from census data from 1990, 2000 and 2010. > > The percentage of Latinos in the region increased dramatically from one fifth of the population (20.8 percent) in 1990 to more than one third (35.5 percent) in 2010. The Anglo population, on the other hand, decreased significantly from 1990, now encompassing 39.7 percent of metropolitan residents… > > Michael Emerson, co-author and co-director the Kinder Institute, attributed the region’s increased diversity to a 1965 shift in immigration laws. Whereas before 1965, the immigrant population was primarily composed of Europeans, now, the population is predominantly derived from Africa, Latin America and Asia Oh, and some of our interesting restaurants are run by Mexicans; of course, many more are staffed by them. The guy talking about the impoverished guys eating fast food lives in a city famed for hipster barbecue & hipster “tacos.” Besides, we have taco trucks… ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/92 "2016-06-26T21:05:51Z")
Will Ted Cruz be President for life? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/93 "2016-06-26T23:14:22Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Weird. I thought this thread existed **because there is a large actual organized public group of Texans advocating secession**. There is actually a group that has been pushing for (re-)secession for a couple of decades. How large that group is or how well organized is open to discussion. My post, however, was a sidebar addressing the question of SDMB attitudes toward Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/94 "2016-06-27T01:37:06Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I guess I’ve never understood this boards hatred of Texas. I have to figure that most people talking about it haven’t actually been there. As far as a Texit, leaving aside the fact that it’s a pretty small percentage of the population, much smaller than the Scottish independence movement and so would have zero chance of getting it through in a referendum (hell, they don’t even have the weigh to GET a referendum, unlike the Scots), I don’t see how this would be good for either the US or for Texas. What I think is it would be good for (in their feverish minds anyway) the ridiculous political extremists on both sides. Actually unlike the Scots–if somehow Texans actually held a referendum on secession the sitting President at the time would just laugh about it while saying “this isn’t legal.” Secession is not an option for any state. See Lincoln v. Davis, 1861-1865. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/95 "2016-06-27T01:41:07Z")
It’s not terribly important how big it is. Imagine if we held a poll on 9/12/2001 on “Should we expel all Arabs from the United States?” and I suspect, sadly, the percentage would be high. A majority? Maybe even, maybe not, but considering I saw 20% of Trump supporters felt slavery in the antebellum South was a good thing, I wouldn’t doubt it. But it doesn’t matter because our constitution disallows expelling an entire race of people, and it disallows leaving. So it’s like polling on things that can never be. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/96 "2016-06-27T01:52:55Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Wisconsin, however, may be salvageable. Take Scott Walker. Leave the cheese, beer, and bratwurst. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/97 "2016-06-27T02:26:26Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > It’s not “reasonable” as much as it is disbelief that “there’s no way there are so many stupid people in one state.” It’s a form of mental illness, but don’t take that personally, since many people suffer from it. There really are that many stupes. Indeed. I will go so far as to admit Austin is a decent place. And if I _had_ to be in Texas, Austin is where I would want to be. And as much as I hate Texas, if I had to live in Oklahoma, then I would just slit my wrists. But my hometown in West Texas was full of not only stupes like you say but outright sadists. Shortly after moving there when I was five years old, neighbor kids hanged our Cocker Spaniel, and my father did not report it due to concern over retaliation from the kids’ parents. It pretty much went downhill from there. I even dropped out of high school due to the merciless bullying, although I did eventually go on to university anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/98 "2016-06-27T03:22:29Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Shortly after moving there when I was five years old, neighbor kids hanged our Cocker Spaniel… JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. If that had happened to me, I would have gone totally apeshit with one of the AK-47s that seem to be so readily available down there. Headline: YANKEE HIPPIE SLAUGHTERS 36 NEIGHBORS OVER POODLE DEATH WHILE SCREAMING ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/99 "2016-06-27T03:31:14Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. If that had happened to me, I would have gone totally apeshit with one of the AK-47s that seem to be so readily available down there. > > Headline: YANKEE HIPPIE SLAUGHTERS 36 NEIGHBORS OVER POODLE DEATH WHILE SCREAMING It was a little over a year after we had moved to Texas and just a few months after we moved into the new house we’d had built, so I was seven. All I knew was the dog simply disappeared one day. Years later, my father admitted what really happened. As he was driving to work one day, he saw our dog hanging from a tree in a neighbor’s backyard. I was angry that he had not called the police. But it did help me to understand why we generally kept away from the neighbors and to ourselves. Good fucking riddance to Texas if it could ever happen, but it won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288/100 "2016-06-27T05:34:52Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Indeed. I will go so far as to admit Austin is a decent place. And if I _had_ to be in Texas, Austin is where I would want to be. And as much as I hate Texas, if I had to live in Oklahoma, then I would just slit my wrists. But my hometown in West Texas was full of not only stupes like you say but outright sadists. Shortly after moving there when I was five years old, neighbor kids hanged our Cocker Spaniel, and my father did not report it due to concern over retaliation from the kids’ parents. It pretty much went downhill from there. I even dropped out of high school due to the merciless bullying, although I did eventually go on to university anyway. That was a shitty thing to have happen, and it sounds like you were stuck in a particularly shitty corner of a state that undeniably has–and causes–plenty of problems. The rot runs deeps, especially in a lot of small towns that are hard to escape from. You’ve suffered from it much more directly than most people in this thread, and I understand the visceral reaction. Terrible things happen in those places, and all too often, justice is denied. I’m not defending the state’s institutions. They’re predominantly controlled by reactionaries, and they’re actively making things worse. All I’m asking is that people keep in mind that anger at those institutions–however justified that anger is–doesn’t make it right to dismiss or condemn millions of people who _aren’t_ fools, bigots, or outright sociopaths. We’re trying to make things better, and we don’t need people _cheering on the bad guys_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texit-next-who-could-complain-about-that/758288.md?page=6)