Secession Isn't An Option. Let's Change Direction Instead.

I did something Thursday and Friday I'd never done before.  I attended my state Republican convention as a delegate.

I readily admit to voting in GOP primaries and financially supporting GOP candidates.  I've held fundraisers (some in my home) for GOP candidates in state and local races.  I will say, however, I don't find myself feeling very Republican over the last 15 years or so.   My feelings on that are irrelevant for this post, as are my reasons for wanting to attend this past convention as a delegate.

But I would like to discuss an initiative we voted on at the convention as it is a prime topic for Texas preppers: whether Texans should get to vote on whether to secede from the United States.

While it may sound funny, there are a number of Texans who would like the option to do just that.  And there are a number of people outside of Texas that would be happy to see us go.  

Delegates to this weekend's convention were asked to vote on amending the official party platform calling for a state referendum on whether Texas should secede from the Union.  (I voted against the amendment, which failed to pass.)

Friends, secession is not a good idea.  I think we need to be discussing why it isn't, among the preparedness community, so that we can channel our efforts into something that will actually work.

Setting aside the legality of secession for purposes of this discussion (and admittedly, this is a big set aside), we should look at the practical and logistical challenges that even a peaceful secession would create.  

1. The unwinding of the federal/state relationship would be extremely difficult and time consuming. A number of programs from Medicaid to the National Guard would have to be unwound and then replicated at the state level.  A clean break would be virtually impossible.  
   
   
2. Speaking of replicating things, we'd be replicating EVERYTHING that the federal government currently does.  From issuing a currency to providing for a Texas national defense, we'd be doing that on our own now.  Neither of these things are easy or cheap to do.  We currently don't need our own nuclear missiles or strategic bombers.  We don't currently need an international intelligence gathering mechanism.  If we were to secede, we'd need to provide those things on our own. 
   
   
3. Don't assume Texans can do it better than politicians in Washington.  The state pension system is underfunded.  Lawsuits challenging the adequacy of state programs and tax systems could cost the state billions.  Texas Child Protective Services is, to put it mildly, a mess.  Here in Austin, we can't even have Uber and Lyft because of bureaucrats.  
   
   I've sat in enough meetings at the city, county and state level that I can attest with certitude:  If you want secession, you'd better be able to show a track record of doing things better, consistently, than they are done in Washington.  Don't assume we can do it better in Texas simply because we're Texans. 

In short, those advocating secession will likely be unhappy with the resulting government.

I don't say that as a statist who believes Washington should be running our lives.  I'm a strong proponent of federalism and the 10th Amendment.  I suspect I can out libertarian most of you reading this.  But I'm also a pragmatist, and I realize that even peaceful secession is not the panacea that liberty proponents think it is.

So how do we fix what ails us?  How do we fix Washington?

The answers are simple, but the work is hard.  

1. You fix things nationally by fixing them locally.  If you want Washington to follow your lead, set a course it can follow with proven results.  I shared this just yesterday with a Texas state senator: Utah has practically ended homelessness.  We need to be creating workable solutions that are cost effective, demonstrating that they are scalable to a larger geographic area.  Texas is a prime state to be a laboratory for such efforts, given its racial, cultural and geographic diversity.  Make it work here, and it can work in a lot of places.
   
   
2. You fix things by getting involved - personally, frequently, and substantively.  I must admit - I am amazed at the number of people who complain about government programs and tax dollars being spent for things they think can be better handled by charities and other community efforts, who then never bother to lift a finger to help those charities and community efforts.  
   
   If you aren't actively involved in fundraising, serving on a government board or council, or actively participating in a charitable organization that addresses societal or civic issues, you need to stop complaining and start volunteering.  You will learn a lot (I have) and feel like you have a personal stake in fixing some of the issues affecting our communities (I do).  Stop complaining.  Start volunteering.
   
   
3. You fix things by stressing preparedness and resiliency.  This is where our group can really shine. The collective knowledge and wisdom in the preparedness movement can be put to use in any number of local efforts.  I'm personally helping my high school alma mater become better prepared, my kid's high school classmates who are taking for-credit classes on preparedness, and the local animal rescue shelter's preparedness planning.  Your community needs you to get involved to help not only with the core missions of various civic groups, but also with the need to make those groups better able to carry out those efforts during and after an emergency.  

Secession will not fix what ails us.  Finding solutions and personally getting involved in the process will.