Texas would be better off as a
free republic in many ways. First, the taxes paid to the federal
government by Texas would now be staying in Texas. In 2007, this
amounted to $225,390,904,000 . The most recent Texas State budget
amounted to $182,000,000,000. By shifting the location to where these
tax monies go, Texas could operate effectively on the monies
currently paid in taxes to the federal government without increasing
any taxes itself. The monies currently collected for Texas's use
could then be used to pay down debt and national defense.
As
a republic Texas could protect its own borders effectively and set
up a sound immigration policy to replace the current
federally-mandated one. Texas would also be free to deport illegal
immigrants. A Lone Star republic would also be able to refuse
services to illegal immigrants, which currently drains State resources
to the tune of $4.3 billion annually. A refusal of services to
illegal aliens and their families would force them into a track of
seeking legal immigration status. Texas needs population growth. With
Texas in control of immigration policy, the future of her
demographic make-up could be managed in Austin rather than in
Washington, DC. This means that the needs of Texas would take
priorities over political paybacks to ungrateful nations whose
children we school and immigrants we are forced to absorb under the
US plan. Presently, unfunded federal mandates cost Texas over $4
billion each year. This kind of burden hurts educational
effectiveness and slows economic growth.
In
terms of national defense, Texas could provide the manpower to
protect its national interests. Rather than having our sons and
daughters fighting imperialistic wars, they would be kept in Texas
to protect our sovereignty and borders. With Texas as a free
republic, there would not be obligations or treaties to protect other
overseas nations unless Texans wanted there to be. By going
independent, we would keep out of foreign entanglements and wars.
Texas sons and daughters would not have to die in jungles and
deserts around the world based on fuzzy foreign policy or defending a
UN agenda.
Regarding
technology, the fighter airplane plants in the Dallas-Fort Worth
area and other factories would provide Texas with state-of-the-art
defensive capabilities, including combat vehicles, missiles, ships,
and avionics. Presently 65% of the united States defense
contractors are located in Texas. When a policy of defense rather
than offense is sought, the type of weapons needs also change. Texas
could become the world leader in military technology.
Texas
would not need a fleet of carriers to patrol the seven seas or
bases in the Indian Ocean like Diego Garcia. Maintaining a presence
in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic would adequately provide for
our defensive needs. With the shipyard facilities in Texas, such
vessels could be constructed within the republic. Texas is poised to
be a player in space technology as well, although it would need to
work with other nations in launching its own satellites.
In
the area of energy, Texas could provide for its own needs without
the federal red tape currently in place. A Lone Star republic could
develop its own oil fields within its own land boundaries and
offshore. Texas already produces 1/3 of the petroleum in the U.S.
The Texas oil fields would be able to improve their productivity.
The petroleum produced would also be a valuable export that could be
traded with other nations. Texas also has its own electrical grid,
which could be maintained independent of other nations, such as the
US.
In the areas of
banking and economics Texas has many large banking interests already
in place. She is already the largest exporter of goods in the United
States. By going independent, that trade would increase rather than
decrease.
In terms of
trade, the Port of Houston is already the sixth largest in the
world. Texas has three of the 10 largest US ports located in our
borders. The air cargo facility at DFW is viewed as one of the
world's best. We already have more farms and more farm acreage than
any other state. Transitioning to an independent republic would be
easily accomplished without major interruptions in agriculture,
trade or economics.
Texas
also has its own culture, cuisine, art, music, and literature.
These areas are important in establishing a national identity. With
these items already in place, the transition from forced Statehood
within the Union to independence could be accomplished easily in
terms of having a separate culture and identity.
All
in all, Texas would be served better in providing for the well
being of its citizens, national defense, economic stability,
education, and trade as a sovereign, independent republic than as a
part of a sinking imperial union. Leaving the Union would remove many
of the restraints and shackles from a powerful nation that has been
held back. Texas would be allowed to blossom and achieve its
fullest potential as a separate republic. It will never reach its
full potential as a subservient political sub-district in this current
bankrupt Union.
