Developments in The Lone Star Republic

Didn't notice this when it came out, but Governor Rick Perry of Texas recently signed a little fuck-you note to the Federal Government of the United States. Details here.

The contents of the note, which was drafted by joint efforts within the Texas State Legislature, focused on the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which was the final item on the United States Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was the product of early wrangling in the fledgling US government, when substantial elements of the voting quorum refused to sign the Constitution, on the basis that, without further clarification or restrictions, the Constitution itself allowed for a Federal government that was far too large and powerful. The people didn't ever want to have to battle against another monolithic entity telling them How It's Going To Be Whether You Like It Or Not. They understood the need for government, but also understood that too much government was NEVER a good thing. The Tenth and final Amendment to the Constitution focused specifically on that topic, and asserted that the STATES retained power and sovereignty in all areas and issues other than those specifically accorded to the Federal government by the Constitution. In short, the Federal government's power was established by the Constitution, but was also limited to the bounds of the Constitution, with all other powers being reserved to the states, and to the people.

Of course, things have changed since then, with ever more power vesting in the Federal government. This happened not only through things like drastic political changes (like the Seventeenth Amendment, which changed the senate from a check/balance supporting State Power into just a smaller version of the House), but also through legal acrobatics around things like the commerce clause. The end result is the situation today, where we all generally acknowledge that the United States is our sovereign, and that the State governments are largely just regional managers.

Except, again, for Texas.

In the little note to Barack's Washington, Texas is telling the United States, loud and clear, to back the fuck off. They cite specifically to the Tenth Amendment, and overtly assert that the Federal Government has become too large. The implication is that Washington is usurping power properly held by the states.

Realistically speaking, they're right. While it's all been determined to be perfecly legal in current form, the text and intention of the Constitution would NEVER have allowed the Federal government to do things like enforce Federal drugs laws, firearms laws, or other shit within the boundaries of the States, because it was express that the Federal government COULDN'T do that sort of shit. Yet here we are, where nobody really knows the bounds of power, and the result is a simple clusterfuck. Example: You can go to a doctor in California and get an Rx for medical marijuana (usually for cataracts, cancer, or AIDS). While CA considers it absolutely legal to own and use that ganja, you could still be arrested by a Federal DEA agent enforcing Federal drug law, and get sent to a Pound-Me-In-The-Ass Federal prison. Within the bounds and jurisdiction of California, and acting with a green light from California, you are still subject to being sent to the clink because of a conflicting Federal law. Washington has taken it upon itself to not just oversee commerce, co-operation and defense, but also to try and control the day to day lives of every American citizen.

Apparently, Texas ain't having that shit, and is letting it's displeasure be known. Hopefully people in Washington are paying attention, because if Texas gets frustrated enough with Federal control, they DO have an out, in which case we are all going to lose. The Federal government does not intimidate Texas, and loyalties of love are becoming increasingly strained. Clearly, the Texas political apparatus is concerned of ever increasing Federal efforts to tell Texans how to live their lives.

Perhaps not conincidentally, Barack is currently trying to force through new Federal firearms legislation, which will allow it to remain legal to own guns, but only by offering the soul of your firstborn as a hostage. Have I mentioned that Texans take their firearm ownership issues very seriously?

In any rate, polls still overwhelmingly show that Texans DO NOT support secession. But Texas politicians certainly aren't being shy about creating a rift between Austin and Washington. It will be interesting to see how this goes.