The REAL “Free State Project?”

[4sarge]

The REAL “Free State Project?”

It seems to me that, increasingly these days, truth is not so much relative as it is democratic. In other words, truth is exactly and only what the majority say it is. Even in matters where the scientific method should cool judgments, “9 out of 10 doctors” or “most scientists agree” conclusively trumps the minority’s truth.

This phenomenon goes double where right versus wrong, good versus bad is involved.

There are plenty of currently newsworthy examples, from “Climate Change” to the economy, in which wrong is somehow voted into truth, and people suffer as a result.

But let us consider the Republic of Texas. There is still a slim chance that, at least in a way, truth could prevail over majority madness.
Of course “everybody knows” that states have no right to secede. The majority has concluded that the matter was settled conclusively with the Civil War – and States’ Rights lost. Because the majority so strongly believes this, a sort of perverse “Tinker Bell Effect” makes it so.

Legally, as far as written law goes, states do have the unambiguous right to secede. Even after the Civil War, the federal constitution was never amended to prohibit it, and the Texas Constitution is both clear – and couldn’t be more up-front about it. Here are the very first words of that contract:

(Article I, Sec. I) Texas is a free and independent State, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and the maintenance of our free institutions and the perpetuity of the Union depend upon the preservation of the right of local self-government, unimpaired to all the States.

Then consider Article I, Sec. 29:
To guard against transgressions of the high powers herein delegated, we declare that everything in this “Bill of Rights” is excepted out of the general powers of government, and shall forever remain inviolate, and all laws contrary thereto, or to the following provisions, shall be void.

While it’s the longest of all state constitutions, the Texas Constitution has no “commerce clause” or other vague wording like “necessary and proper” that could be “interpreted” to authorize anything outside the black-and-white written words.

So, right off the bat, we see that Texas’ subservience to the Constitution for the United States of America depends upon the federal government’s obedience to that contract. If the federal government breaks its side of the contract, we technically no longer even have a federal government, and even the contract, as written, is wholly void as far as Texas is concerned.

It’d be their duty as both Texans, and as citizens loyal to the US Constitution, to oppose such a rogue power.

Could there be any doubt that the federal leash has snapped? Do any states have anything like “self-government” anymore? What law, what action can’t be overturned by federal courts, federal legislation, or federal action?

The real argument is not whether Texas should secede, but whether the federal government has already seceded from the USA.

The words in the federal and state constitutions are in this case quite plain.

OK, so y’all could vote on whether any of this matters or not. Anything is equivocal if you really want it to be. But consider this:
If the words that guarantee states’ rights don’t mean what they say, then neither do the words that guarantee any of your rights.
If constitutions don’t mean what they say, then pick a favorite part of the Bill of Rights…and then consider it gone.

Without constitutions, you have no legal rights to property, pursuit of happiness, liberty …or life.

Are you ready to wave those legal words away?

[homeless]

Interesting point, what comes next?

[Hoosier8]

4Sarge, you are the type of person that just irritates and bores those around you while you try to draw attention to the problem. I know, I do the same thing and I find it difficult to restrain myself. Fact is that most people I know just do not care.

I like the 9 out of 10 doctors comparison. That is a good analogy. Most people I know think exactly that way and cannot comprehend the opposite, which makes it difficult to make headway.

Maybe when people give up on blaming Bush for everything and start realizing what is going on with this administration, they will start listening and learning. Until then, it is like talking to a brick wall.

[melensdad]

4sarge, I always liked Andy's blog, he's a good writer.

Sort of shows the possibilities of what could be, not what is.

[Dr Falken]

I was just browsing back issues of "Backwoods Home Journal" and John Silviera's column was discussing states rights to secede from the Union, I realize there are many things that I was misinformed about!

[4sarge]

Originally Posted by melensdad

4sarge, I always liked Andy's blog, he's a good writer.

Sort of shows the possibilities of what could be, not what is.

He is moving to Texas but he may go further in politics there than he was able to achieve here in Indiana.

[mettle]

Misinformation and hysteria are the new rule of thumb. Perhaps the statement could go like this: What the mob believes, is...

If you talk to anyone who chooses to remain ignorant, they will believe and be emotional charged about the latest news tragedy. The media gears their mood, guides their voting and generally orients to which poll they need to stay close to, north or south.
Because of the reach of mass media, actual cognitive thought has not been a requirement for existence in this country for about a decade now.

[ntrngr]

Ha! LIke how many parts of the "contract" have to be broken before we pull the plug? Take the 2A for instance. The wording nearly makes the right untouchable. But, it is the most downtrodden of them all even with the states piling on more guarantees. The *MAJORITY* decided they didn't like it so they wee wee'd it away and now we have to be fingerprinted, taxed and licensed to only partially be able to excersize it. Democratic socialism is what we're near. Tyranny of the majority is what you are talking about. The majority approves so its OK to break the law. Where the heck are we going?

[leveraction]

It is the
VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is
the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is
the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.


It is
the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

[Woodsman]

Here's a link to a recent news article:
Tenth Amendment Movement Aims to Give Power Back to the States - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

Seems everyone is starting to get fed up with the over reaching intrusion of the federal government. The best place to fight this is at the state level. Tell your congress critters to shape up and vote the way you would like them to. They are the states representatives at the federal level, therefore it should not happen in Washington DC if they do not vote for it.

Once enough states get realigned, the problem should start taking care of itself. If not, find new elected representatives to vote in to do your bidding. That's why they are there after-all.