I know I’m going to get a lot of nasty comments on this story, but I set two standards for all of my stories. I don’t write stories just to make people feel good and I only publish the truth. I love Texas and admire the way Texans don’t take crap from anyone. Economically, no other state can touch them for job creation and luring businesses away from other states. The process of secession is long and grueling and probably cannot be achieved. But I’m not going to get into that here. I am strictly dealing with the economic ramifications of secession.
Which state do you think would be best suited to stand alone? Texas, right? Now I will begin to surgically remove all doubt on my position. What companies would have to move out of Texas immediately? Texas Instruments, with a market cap of 33.25 billion. They have 27,100 employees. Halliburton has a market cap of 29.20 billion and 50,000 jobs. Misc military contractors in Texas. With contracts that amounted to 352 billion over the last 10 years or 35.2 billion per yer. All military bases:(Or bases that hold no military but do have civilian federal workers)
- Sheppard AFB
- Fort Sam Houston
- I don’t know how many employees and how much money, but I assure you it’s a lot. Lackland is the largest military base in the world (Based on area). They would have to move also. You see Halliburton and Texas Instruments get most of their money from military contracts, which by law cannot go to a foreign country and be assembled by foreign workers.
The next item are Texas products which are exported. Since they would now be their own country, they would have to reach trade agreements with every country in the world. This would take 2 to 3 years at best. During that time, they could not import any of their products without putting their products at a disadvantage because of the high tariffs and you can bet the United States would lock Texas out in revenge no matter who is president.. This includes the remaining 49 states in the union.
Fortune 500 companies would begin migrating out of Texas. If they didn’t, they would be subject to the new Texas federal tax and an additional 35% in taxes to bring the money back to the United States.
Oil refining: Texas has a large oil refining industry, unfortunately they do not have nearly enough oil to keep them open. More lost jobs and revenue.
In order to secede, Texas would need to pay their share of the national debt, based on population. That would be 565 billion, due immediately. Not to mention refunds on grants not yet used.
And of course all residents of the state will lose their Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, unless Texas can come up with a second trillion dollars to cover either 4 or 5 years of the programs.
Anyone with relatives in nearby New Mexico and Oklahoma and other states would need both passports and visas just to visit.
Now Texas will have to develop their own border patrol and military.
On top of that, the most qualified workers would follow their employers out of the state.
With all of this in mind, is it any wonder Gov Rick Perry quickly shot down the idea and which Gov Bobby Jindal of Louisianna called “downright silly”?
Would other states have an easier time? Like Ohio, Tenn, Pennsylvania? They are landlocked and would be cut off from the world until they reached a treaty with the US for flyover rights.
Now exactly what part of secession do you find desirable?
Texas and Texans have a lot to be proud of, but to think they could survive the first few years is iffy and to think you would thrive is nonsense. Please don’t message me with insults unless you have some plan to replace 40% of your yearly GDP.