Go for it, Rick

[thunderhawk]

politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/16/texas-governor-says-secession-possible/

Texas Gov. Rick Perry isn't ruling out the possibility his state may one day secede from the nation.

Speaking to an energetic and angry tea party crowd in Austin Wednesday evening, the Lone Star State governor suggested secession may happen in the future should the federal government not change its fiscal polices.

"There's a lot of different scenarios," Perry said. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot."

Shit Rick, you can't even keep impoverished Mexicans from invading your state. How the fuck do you and Texas President Chuck Norris think you're gonna take on the United States military.

Ha. If you thought what Sherman did to Atlanta was nasty...

[twinegarden]

Does that mean the Dallas Cowboys would leave the NFL too. I'd be okay with that. God Texans are fucking stupid.

[thunderhawk]

Apr 16, 2009 10:47:56 GMT -6 @twinegarden said:

Does that mean the Dallas Cowboys would leave the NFL too. I'd be okay with that. God Texans are fucking stupid.

Lance Armstrong pretty much lives in Europe these days so at least we wouldn't lose him.

Would captured Texans be classified as enemy combatants?

FWIW...one of my favorite events from the first Civil War was when the Texans tried to invade Colorado, and were ambushed and massacred in the mountains.

God I love Colorado.

[NOTTHOR]

I tried to propose a spinoff of California several months ago. Ultimately, I think the debt is the thing that will hold the union together. No state could bear the pro rata portion of the federal debt that it owes that the Feds would assign to it upon secession. The glue holding the federal government together is the printing press over at the Federal Reserve building that gives the gov an unlimited supply of the world's current number one reserve currency. When the Chinese take that number one reserve currency status, then the debt will break the union. We've got time.

[Saggitariutt Jefferspin (ith)]

Let them secede. Then we'll invade them and conquer them for their own stupidity.

[NOTTHOR]

Oh yeah, that reminds me of some of the stupidity I heard yesterday, which was the "No taxes" chant. Um, there have to be some taxes because there are public goods and common goods that the market simply will not provide effectively without taxation, such as defense. Of course, the guy who pays $300 a year all-in for taxes is probably not smart enough to realize that.

[twinegarden]

It would be interesting to see what would happen to our transportation infrastructure without a tax system.

[NOTTHOR]

Apr 16, 2009 12:13:27 GMT -6 @twinegarden said:

It would be interesting to see what would happen to our transportation infrastructure without a tax system.

If you privatized heavily traveled interstates, they would probably get better. Charging to use them would keep the proles off of the roads, which would be nice. A few lawsuits for unsafe conditions from trucking companies and drivers when too many potholes develop would force them to keep the roads in order. The problem would be the sidestreets. No plows and no repairs.

[lpcalihawk]

Apr 16, 2009 12:26:34 GMT -6 NOTTHOR said:

Apr 16, 2009 12:13:27 GMT -6 @twinegarden said:

It would be interesting to see what would happen to our transportation infrastructure without a tax system.

If you privatized heavily traveled interstates, they would probably get better. Charging to use them would keep the proles off of the roads, which would be nice. A few lawsuits for unsafe conditions from trucking companies and drivers when too many potholes develop would force them to keep the roads in order. The problem would be the sidestreets. No plows and no repairs.

You mean like that fabulous toll road I-88

[Master Blaster]

I say they secede, we conquer and make them a territory vice a state. Let Guam or PR join the states in their place, that way we don't change the flag.
Fuck Texas.

[NOTTHOR]

Apr 21, 2009 9:51:08 GMT -6 lpcalihawk said:

Apr 16, 2009 12:26:34 GMT -6 NOTTHOR said:

If you privatized heavily traveled interstates, they would probably get better. Charging to use them would keep the proles off of the roads, which would be nice. A few lawsuits for unsafe conditions from trucking companies and drivers when too many potholes develop would force them to keep the roads in order. The problem would be the sidestreets. No plows and no repairs.

You mean like that fabulous toll road I-88

That road is state owned.

[thunderhawk]

Apr 21, 2009 17:38:09 GMT -6 NOTTHOR said:

Apr 21, 2009 9:51:08 GMT -6 lpcalihawk said:

You mean like that fabulous toll road I-88

That road is state owned.

Won't ever happen. Too many interstate commerce/national security hurdles to clear to convert current government owned interstates. Too cost prohibitive to construct privately-owned interstates.

I-88 sucks. Build some fucking rest areas ya pricks!

[NOTTHOR]

Not a new series of privately built roads, but as states become more and more stretched for cash, they will gladly sell off stretches of road. Chicago has had massive deficits for years and they have masked them nicely with a few asset sales. They effectively sold the Chicago Skyway in what is a 99 year lease and they just sold the parking meters in a long term lease, too. The scary shit will be when they run out of shit to sell and they don't have the revenues they used to have, but they'll still have the same liabilities plus a bunch of retirees pensions and healthcare benefits.