... I was going to block you, and if your next reply is as dumb I will. But I wanted to respond to this one because you raised an interesting company.

AT&T

In secession, AT&T's assets in Texas would be offered the following choice:

"Cooperate, or be nationalized by force."

Did you even read what I said?

these huge corporations who would not be able to operate both places

They're not "huge" corporations.

They're huge franchises. You're missing the difference. A franchise business has only nominal loyalty to its brand.

Consider: Bennigans does not exist. It went bankrupt years ago.

There is a Bennigans in Des Moines today. It still exists. They still serve the same menu they did.

Consider: Blockbuster does not exist. It went bankrupt years ago.

There is a Blockbuster in Oregon. They post regularly to twitter.

I'm done with this conversation because you're a moron. You have no experience and understanding of how the world actually works.

how many walmarts, targets, starbucks, gas stations, mcdonalds, burger kings, and the like are there in Texas

And you think there won't be those businesses in secession?

Business doesn't care about politics.

Most of those businesses operate on a franchise model. That means the business is not "national walmart" or "national mcdonalds" but rather "Houston area restaurant chain operator".

In secession, that won't change.

For example, in Des Moines, all the McDonalds are controlled by Raccoon Valley Parners, which is an Iowa based investment group that controls a bunch of restaurants... in Iowa.

I also love how you keep dodging my question of what to do with the literal millions of unemployed people a violent secession would cause?

They'd leave.

You think they're gonna stay in a seceding state?

Hell no.

And you have some really weird misconceptions about how the economy works and who has real power.

Just twenty five thousand farmers could kill this country if they were committed to a two year plan of deliberate non participation in the economy.

A hundred million people would die.

Is this good? No, of course not.

But it illustrates who has real power.

Modern society has lost sight of reality. The reality is the red states have virtually all the cards and they aren't playing the game like they are.

Natural gas comes from red states. Shut off the pipelines and the north dies. Gasoline comes from red states. Shut off the supply and the north can't move.

two

Try twenty.

If Texas secedes, the midwest does too.

To put it bluntly, if you get the midwest to secede, the Union will have to capitulate and acknowledge secession in order avoid starvation.

no internet

You don't know how the backbone is architected. Your fears are unwarranted.

no delivery of any good manufactured outside of the state

You don't know how delivery systems work either. Get Tennessee and Kentucky and you have FedEx and UPS by the balls.

good way to start a country

There are no good ways to start a country, only necessary hardships to deal with the intolerable preceding one.

Two thirds of the military are MAGA republicans.

When secession starts, guess which side they're gonna join.

Y'know, Lincoln offered Lee command before Virginia did.

As for sanctions and starving... guess which states grow most of the food?

As long as Iowa is in Texas.

Buy

Uh, no, that's not how this works.

Since you seem to be concerned about the space program, I'll explain what would happen to the space program in a secession situation.

In short, it's fucked.

In a secession situation the first thing that would happen would be the detaining and deportation of federal officers who aren't willing to work with the new government, followed by seizure of federal property in the territory. That means NASA.

In all likelihood, the NASA complex at Houston would be seized and requisitioned by the Texas National Guard.

Once an agreement for a peaceful secession is hammered out, it might be possible to lease the complex back to NASA, though frankly I doubt the breakup of the Union will be that peaceful. I think it can be done without war, but I don't think there will be any spirit of cooperation after it happens.

To be frank, the space program will be the first causality of the end of the Union.

Sanctions?

Sanctions?

Dude, a third of the US money issued in the history of this country was printed LAST YEAR and you care about sanctions?

Sanctions on monopoly money are a joke.

If the seceding states control resources of real value (oil, farm fields, livestock) then the world will trade with them. The south failed last time because they believed having a near-monopoly on one asset (cotton) was enough to outweigh being overmatched in terms of food, mining, factories, and people. Economically, the south was dead the second they seceded.

This time, it's the blue states that bring nothing to the table, the manufacturing belt is in ruin because of China.

Imagine thinking that force is necessary to secede.

Force is only necessary to prevent secession.

States secede, and then the nation decides whether to respond. If they decide to respond, then the military (individually) decide where their loyalties lie.

But why would you want to have something that's full of people who you will constantly be fighting for control?

That's why the answer is secession. Their half, our half.

Well if you don't live near them then you don't have anything to worry about.

And you and your surrounding neighbors have the liberty to not create such services.

Hospitals.

Dams.

Water systems.

None of this is free.

What a person picks to opt into is a function of where they choose to live. That's why property taxation is more fair system than income. If you don't want a service, don't live near one.

I don't think those people will be involved in it this time.

Come on Texas, secede already, let's get this started.

Property taxes are more responsive for geolocated expenses. Schools for example. It's straightforward to say "this property is served by this school district and so pays for that district". As to the actual spending, that can be controlled by voter initiatives.

Police, fire, and courts are good examples. A national tariff isn't very effective at paying for local services.

Secession. Do it Texas.

Yes, that's my question.

Come on Texas, secede already so we can get this ball rolling.

You've got your steps out of order.

Step 1 is formal secession. Lean on Texas to do it.

No.

No we should all urge Texas to get this party started.

The heck are you waiting for, PUSH THE BUTTON.

Why be part of the nation?

Dark?

Dark?

This is the beginning. Secession time.

The ones you're paying taxes for?

Secede already Texas, lead the charge.