Brexit could beget Texit

When Great Britain voted to leave the European Union, it caused a seismic shift in the world, especially economically. The Dow Jones dropped 600 points. The U.S. economy alone lost $800 billion in market value. Great Britain lost £125 billion, which in USD is $175 billion.

Ireland is really taking it on the chin since much of its economy is tied to the EU, but it’s Europe itself that is feeling the biggest crunch. And the separation hasn’t even begun as of yet. The people of the UK just voted to leave. Imagine what will happen once Britain starts to separate itself from the EU.

Proponents of the Brexit plan are ecstatic of course. They see this as a great achievement, Great Britain reclaiming its rightful sovereignty and most importantly: keeping them damn Muslim refugees from infiltrating the Kingdom. Parts of England and the rest of Western Europe are as anti-immigration as parts of the U.S., which is to say they are at least borderline insane.

Stupid-TexasDonald Trump, who is visiting Scotland to promote his golf resorts there, loves the idea of Great Britain leaving the EU. The British Pound lost 10 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar, so Trump’s response: “When the pound goes down, more people are coming to Turnberry,” he said, referring to his golf resort.

Hundreds of thousands of Britons might lose their jobs, many will see their wealth take a dive and the drop in the value of the British pound will most likely cause inflation, but what the hell, it’s working out for Trump, so it’s a good thing.

Already over a million British voters have signed petitions to have a do-over. Some people who said they voted to leave the EU claimed they did so because they never really thought the measure would pass.

Sort of like our presidential election in 2000. In my mind there was no way George W. Bush was going to win the election (I was right, he didn’t) and Al Gore was a “sure thing” (he did win the popular vote). So I — and millions of others — voted for Ralph Nader (facepalm). Who knew Florida would be so screwed up and that the U.S. Supreme Court would appoint George W. Bush president?

Take away the Nader votes just in Florida and the election result would have been different.

So the British voters would like a do-over and the British government, which is largely against the idea of splitting from the EU, just might give it to them.

That £125 billion lost in the stock market after the vote is like 15 years worth of payments to the EU. The people who want a do-over say they never expected Prime Minister David Cameron to resign, they didn’t expect half the leadership of the Labour Party to resign — they didn’t expect a lot of things to happen — that are now happening.

British voters were told they would be saving hundreds of millions of pounds per week — they aren’t — that could be diverted to the NHS (the National Health Service) — and there’s no guarantee any of the money would make its way into the NHS.

One Brexit proponent even admitted — after the vote — the NHS money claim was “a mistake.” Oops. It was the number one selling point of the Brexit campaign, plastered on buses and shouted from every digital and analog rooftop available. But it’s a lie.

Not to mention, once again, to actually separate from the European Union will take at least a year, probably longer. So the possibility of the Brits getting a do-over is pretty good.

As the vote breaks down demographically, older people that are not well educated voted for Brexit (to leave) and young, more educated people voted to remain.

Younger people that like being able to cross national borders unimpeded to get jobs, travel, hook up and otherwise lead rather free spirited lives. They don’t see the world in such nationalistic definitions. They were overwhelmingly against Brexit and they can’t see how a retreat into isolationism will be a step forward for anyone.

It sort of, but not completely, mirrors what’s happening in the U.S. Donald Trump is the standard-bearer for old white folks, or under-educated white folks. Hillary Clinton will get most of the rest.

Gary Johnson will probably get some younger voters because he wants to legalize pot and other drugs and get the government out of our bedrooms.

Tex nutsBut some of his other policies are downright mean to poor people.

Of course the Quitter — Sarah Palin — had to chime in. She is all for Brexit, claiming it was just like our Declaration of Independence. She hopes America will take heed and vote to leave the United Nations. “May that refreshed spirit of sovereignty spread over the pond to America’s shores!” And “America can learn an encouraging lesson from this.

“It is time to dissolve political bands that connect us to agendas not in our best interest. May UN shackles be next on the chopping block.”

“Merica! Woohoo!”

Except when it comes to Texas. Then it ain’t “Merica,” it’s “Hey Texas time to secede!”

Shortly after the vote in Britain Texans and friends of Texas got on Twitter calling on Texans to secede from the union — as if they could actually do that. There is nothing in the Constitution that allows states to secede and for over 150 years the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that once a state has joined the Union it is here to stay.

In 1869 Supreme Court Justice Salmon P. Chase addressed Texas specifically on the subject of secession. “When, therefore, Texas became one of the United States, she entered into an indissoluble relation. All the obligations of perpetual union, and all the guaranties of republican government in the Union, attached at once to the State. The act which consummated her admission into the Union was something more than a compact; it was the incorporation of a new member into the political body. And it was final. The union between Texas and the other States was as complete, as perpetual, and as indissoluble as the union between the original States. There was no place for reconsideration or revocation, except through revolution or through consent of the States.”

Deceased Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia once wrote, “If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede.”

But some Texans being Texans (and thankfully not representing all Texans), tweeted away about their bright shining fantasy, calling on the governor (Abbot) to prepare Texas to leave the U.S.! The Texas Nationalist Movement created a meme for Twitter, saying, “In the wake of the decision by British voters to exit the European Union (Brexit) on Thursday, the Texas Nationalist Movement is formally calling on the Texas Governor to support a similar vote for Texans.”

They could get some sympathy from Governor Gregg Abbott. He is after all the governor who told the Texas National Guard to keep an eye on the U.S. Military as it conducted a training exercise in the state. Remember Operation Jade Helm 15? Governor Abbott is one of them, a member of the tin foil hat brigade.

So the calls to secede abound. Go on Twitter and search on #Texit. You will be entertained.