# Would Texas ever separate from America?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [April 30, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324 "2011-04-30T22:58:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/61 "2011-05-02T19:35:09Z")
> [@astorian](#):
>
> … And every little old lady in the Rio Grande Valley getting a Social Security check would have killed him, if anybody thought he was serious.
That would be a lotta dying.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/62 "2011-05-02T22:04:54Z")
Would Texas ever secede? The only possible answer to that is “yes”, given that they already did so once. Is it likely to happen again any time soon? That one’s debatable, but probably not.
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### Author:  [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/63 "2011-05-02T23:23:51Z")
> [@DrumBum](#):
>
> Maybe not. According to EIA numbers, Texas has proved oil reserves of 529 MM barrels ( ~ 11% of the US totals ), the vast majority being in the Permian basin. They produce 960,000 barrels a day yet consume almost 5.5 MM per day. Assuming they plan to go it alone and could increase production to satisfy their current demand, they will deplete their reserves in about three months and have to start playing nice with others. From the pictures I have seen of Gov. Perry, his hair alone must consume a barrel a day. 😃
Not even close.
First, Texas produces more that 960,000 bbl/d. You say you are getting your information from the EIA, well here is a [link](http://www.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&s=mcrfptx2&f=m) directly to the EIA’s website showing they actually produce 1,235,000 bbl/d. Of course, I imagine if Texas was actually independent, they would lay claim to reserves located offshore of it; these production numbers only include onshore.
Second, you are way off on your reserves for the state. Again, here is a [link](http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=RCRR01STX_1&f=A) to the EIA’s website showing that Texas has about 5 billion barrels of reserves. The Permian Basin alone dwarfs the reserve number you stated with around 3.7 billion barrels proved (counting Railroad Districts 8 and 8A as an estimate for the Permian). Further, proved reserves would obviously be an incredibly conservative estimate for reserves for this purpose. Also, again this only includes onshore.
Third, how in the world do you think it sounds reasonable to state that Texas consumes 5.5 MMbbl/d? That’s absurd. The entire Gulf Coast area of the U.S. doesn’t consume that much. The actual consumption number is closer to 3.3 MMbbl/d; however, that is obviously including crude oil that gets refined in Texas into various products and used elsewhere. In case you didn’t know, Texas has a large number of refineries and chemical plants. Crude oil may technically be consumed in the U.S., but then it is exported out of the state as gasoline, diesel, etc. Texas has something like 25% of the country’s refining capacity. Texas is eaily the largest industrial state and more than half of the consumption of the state is used for that purpose.
Finally, Texas is easily the largest oil producer, natural gas producer, and wind energy producer in the U.S. They are also the 12th largest coal producer, 5th largest nuclear, and 6th largest renewable producer. Add it all up and Texas is easily the largest energy producer in the U.S. To put it bluntly, Texas would have the capability of being “energy independent”.
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### Author:  [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/64 "2011-05-02T23:27:24Z")
> [@DrumBum](#):
>
> Maybe not. According to EIA numbers, Texas has proved oil reserves of 529 MM barrels ( ~ 11% of the US totals ), the vast majority being in the Permian basin. They produce 960,000 barrels a day yet consume almost 5.5 MM per day. Assuming they plan to go it alone and could increase production to satisfy their current demand, they will deplete their reserves in about three months and have to start playing nice with others. From the pictures I have seen of Gov. Perry, his hair alone must consume a barrel a day. 😃
By the way, I just noticed that your profile states you are a petroleum engineer. Wouldn’t it clue you in that you are way off on your numbers just from the simple fact that your reserves and production numbers would generate an incredibly low R/P ratio of 1.5?
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### Author:  [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/65 "2011-05-02T23:59:57Z")
Why is it anytime there are hypothetical talks about secession we speculate on how well a State would survive as a country that was expected to be 100% totally self-sufficient?
Not many countries in the world today are self sufficient by those standards, and that is the impetus for trade. Singapore gets along just fine BTW.
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### Author:  [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/66 "2011-05-03T01:11:50Z")
There will be an instant and sizable improvement in all metrics of society’s wellbeing the instant Texas secedes. It’s dragging US down and keeping the country among third-world levels in several areas of progress.
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/67 "2011-05-03T03:38:05Z")
> [@Grumman](#):
>
> So a pressing desire to enslave your fellow Americans and force them to kill other Americans makes you _not_ a traitor in Curtis-land?
This would be no different than in the Southern Rebellion.
> [@Naxos](#):
>
> There will be an instant and sizable improvement in all metrics of society’s wellbeing the instant Texas secedes. It’s dragging US down and keeping the country among third-world levels in several areas of progress.
Yes because a state with twenty-two million people, with three cities of more than a million, a GDP of 1.224 trillion dollars, several military bases, home to several corporations, and having rich resources is just a redneck shithole to you. Why don’t you say this in Houston or Dallas in front of a crowd?
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### Author:  [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/68 "2011-05-03T04:27:25Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> […]Why don’t you say this in Houston or Dallas in front of a crowd?
Because telling the ignorant they are worthless trash is dangerous, not because they are not, but because they are all carrying illegal guns on them.
That’s _their_ American Way… Kill.
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/69 "2011-05-03T04:28:37Z")
> [@Naxos](#):
>
> Because telling the ignorant they are worthless trash is dangerous, not because they are not, but because they are all carrying illegal guns on them.
>
> That’s _their_ American Way… Kill.
You are getting even more ridiculous in your regionalist stereotyping. Seriously do you get your ideas of Texas out of Family Guy or something?
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### Author:  [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/70 "2011-05-03T04:31:37Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> You are getting even more ridiculous in your regionalist stereotyping. Seriously do you get your ideas of Texas out of Family Guy or something?
I get my idea of Texas out of reality.
They’re scoring at the bottom 5% in about a dozen metrics, from education to social welfare.
It’s because they’re all Republicans. The US can do without Texas. It’s dragging the Union down and the numbers are there to show it.
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/71 "2011-05-03T04:38:07Z")
> [@Naxos](#):
>
> I get my idea of Texas out of reality.
>
> They’re scoring at the bottom 5% in about a dozen metrics, from education to social welfare.
Due in part to illegal immigration.
> [@](#):
>
> It’s because they’re all Republicans. The US can do without Texas. It’s dragging the Union down and the numbers are there to show it.
[/QUOTE]
Oh for crap’s sake… you do realize the mayor of Houston for instance is a Democrat?
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/72 "2011-05-03T04:52:37Z")
I grew up in Texas, spending 22 years there. Have you ever actually been there yourself? For the sake of the Board members who live there and like the place, I try not to bitch so much about it, but I see where **Naxos** is coming from. I was glad to see the last of it.
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### Author:  [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/73 "2011-05-03T04:54:40Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#):
>
> I grew up in Texas, spending 22 years there. Have you ever actually been there yourself? For the sake of the Board members who live there and like the place, I try not to bitch so much about it, but I see where **Naxos** is coming from. I was glad to see the last of it.
I know the US like you do… thanks for your comments.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/74 "2011-05-03T05:01:04Z")
> [@Naxos](#):
>
> It’s because they’re all Republicans. The US can do without Texas. It’s dragging the Union down and the numbers are there to show it.
I do not _really_ want to see the union broken but for giggles it’s [crossed my mind](http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-usliberals&tid=17835).
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### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/75 "2011-05-03T05:03:14Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#):
>
> I grew up in Texas, spending 22 years there. Have you ever actually been there yourself? For the sake of the Board members who live there and like the place, I try not to bitch so much about it, but I see where **Naxos** is coming from. I was glad to see the last of it.
Yes, I see where he’s coming from as well when he calls us all ignorant, worthless trash.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/76 "2011-05-03T05:04:56Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#):
>
> I grew up in Texas, spending 22 years there. Have you ever actually been there yourself? For the sake of the Board members who live there and like the place, I try not to bitch so much about it, but I see where **Naxos** is coming from. I was glad to see the last of it.
Do you have to live in Texas to disagree with Texans?
I have not doubt there are people there of like mind to me. I also know the state passes nutso laws so apparently at least 50% of the state plus one more person disagree with my notions. I am guessing it is more than that though.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/77 "2011-05-03T05:04:59Z")
> [@pravnik](#):
>
> Yes, I see where he’s coming from as well when he calls us all ignorant, worthless trash.
However, that only goes double if you’re in _West_ Texas. Oh, wait! 😃
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### Author:  [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/78 "2011-05-03T05:06:12Z")
> [@pravnik](#):
>
> Yes, I see where he’s coming from as well when he calls us all ignorant, worthless trash.
I did not call you all anything.
I called the State as the major reason the US is being dragged down to oblivion.
The decent people living in the hell hole of Texas don’t seem to be capable of changing their reality.
When they do, it will be a new day for the US.
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### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/79 "2011-05-03T05:08:30Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#):
>
> However, that only goes double if you’re in _West_ Texas. Oh, wait! 😃
_From_ West Texas, not in. I moved south. Even I have my standards. 😉
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### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2011, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-texas-ever-separate-from-america/580324/80 "2011-05-03T05:10:04Z")
> [@Naxos](#):
>
> The decent people living in the hell hole of Texas don’t seem to be capable of changing their reality.
Well, I _tried_ to vote twice, but they wouldn’t let me for some reason.
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