264,000 Texans want to secede from the Union following Brexit referendum

From Great Britain to Texas, the Lone Star State could finally have its secessionist moment fully realized.

A few years ago, there was a movement in Texas to secede from the United States. At the time, then-Texas Governor Rick Perry just talked about it in passing, arguing that the Lone Star State could technically secede. But there were many Texans who wanted more than talk. Soon after it made the news, there were, of course, accusations of racism and believing the state was superior to the rest of the country.

Well, a couple of days removed from the historic Brexit referendum, a growing number of Texans want out. In fact, the push is now being referred to as a Texit.

On Friday, Daniel Miller, head of the Texas Nationalist Movement, issued a tweet to Texas Governor Greg Abott, urging him to schedule a statewide referendum for “Texas independence.” Immediately afterwards, the #Texit hashtag began to trend locally.

Good Morning @GregAbbott_TX
Its a great day to schedule a referendum on Texas Independence!https://t.co/u0U3aSHvOX pic.twitter.com/zLQTsNxjvY

— TNM (@TexasNatMov) June 24, 2016

So far, more than 264,000 Texans have signed a petition to make Texas an independent nation.

From 1836 to 1845, Texas was an independent country. However, experts say that it would be illegal for Texas to secede because of historical and legal precedents.

“The legality of seceding is problematic,” said Eric McDaniel, associate professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin, in an interview with the Texas Tribune. “The Civil War played a very big role in establishing the power of the federal government and cementing that the federal government has the final say in these issues.”

Moreover, state Republicans have rejected previous measures to hold a referendum on secession. Late last year, the Texas Republican Party passed on a proposal to allow Texans to consider secession during the March 1 primary.

The general consensus is that many states that want to break away from the Union are just “too small” to “go it alone.” But are they too small? Hardly.

As Ryan McMaken writes over at the Mises Institute:

“…few Americans appreciate how enormous some American states are, especially the largest four states: California, Texas, New York, and Florida.

“In terms of both population and GDP, California is about equal to Canada — and with much better weather. Texas is equal in economy and population size to Australia. Pennsylvania’s economy is similar in size to Switzerland.”

Here is a map of states renamed for countries with similar gross domestic products (SEE: A look at U.S. states renamed for countries with similar GDPs)

Here is another chart of nominal GDP in U.S. states and nation states:

Since the movement has nearly a quarter of a million supporters, a statewide referendum could take place in 2018.

Ostensibly, the Brexit is prompting many jurisdictions to hold their own referendum as other European countries want out of the European Union.

When the federal government becomes too big, ignores the constitution and imposes its will on states then it’s time to secede. The founding fathers made it very clear in the 1776 Declaration of Independence that states have the right to secede:

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and institute new Government.”

Is a Texit possible? Only time will tell. But much like Brexit, it will be messy.