Two years ago, over 125,000 people petitioned The White House to let Texas secede from the
United States.
While the petition was unsuccessful, it does bring up the question: could Texas make it
on it’s own?
How Powerful is Texas?
Well, Texas is the largest state in the contiguous US, with nearly 27 million residents.
That means that about 1 in 12 Americans live in the Lone Star State.
Texas also generates about 1.5 trillion dollars a year.
Which would put the hypothetical nation of Texas right between Spain and Australia as
the world’s 13th largest economy.
This is largely because of their abundant resources.
Texas has more farms and ranches than any other US state, and massive oil reserves.
Alone, they produce 35% of the US’s crude oil.
So on paper Texas has enough people, land, money, and oil to survive.
But what about an army?
Well, Texas is home to more than 25 military bases, including the only nuclear weapons
assembly plant in the United States.
They also have a bevy of lucrative aerospace contracts.
We’re not saying that Texas would be able to maintain this military prowess or even
marshall up an army, but the culture and infrastructure are already in place.
But despite all of this Texas still has some huge problems.
The Bureau of Labor reports that the average worker's median income is below the national
average.
They also have a higher poverty rate and worse income inequality than much of the country
AND more minimum wage workers than any other state, making up nearly a fifth of all minimum
wage jobs in the US.
Poverty on this level could lead to economic collapse or social unrest.
A possibility that grows even more real as you look at some of the criticism directed
at their social policies.
The Center for American Progress gave Texas an F on it’s treatment of women, citing
wage inequality, limited access to reproductive services, and poor elderly care.
Texas is also one of the few states which restricts public office to those who believe
in a “Supreme Being”.
Texans and their elected officials tend to vote along a strict conservative line, usually
against things like minority rights and gay marriage.
There is a chance that an independent Texas wouldn’t exactly be the land of the free
that proponents of secession would promise.
In the end we can’t know whether or not Texas could make it on their own, but we do
know that their role in the US economy and defense is crucial.
And that this alone makes Texas one of the most powerful regions on earth.
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For some stories about other places in the world working towards independence, check
out the video below.
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