This week, Republican governors across the country escalated their conflict with the Biden administration over the southern border by invoking the same legal theory that slave states wielded to justify secession before the Civil War.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, joined by 25 other GOP governors, now argues that the Biden administration has violated the federal government’s “compact” with the states—an abdication that justifies state usurpation of federal authority at the border.
This language embraces the Confederacy’s conception of the Constitution as a mere compact that states may exit when they feel it has been broken. It’s dangerous rhetoric that transcends partisan grandstanding. And as before, it’s being used to legitimize both nullification and dehumanization.
Like everything else, it’s a risk trade-off calculation. On the one hand, I’d love to leave now, but If we leave before 2029, it could cost us potentially $1-3million in teacher retirement pension. (spread across 20-30+ years as my wife can retire quite early because she started so young)
So one must balance the risk of Texas really seceding vs the financial cost of leaving early.
At this stage, while it’s a ‘fun’ (I use that term very loosely) thought experiment, I think the likelihood of Texas actually seceding is pretty low. If at some point it starts to look like it’s actually likely, then we’ll reevaluate if it makes sense to let go of that much money.
That’s a tough spot to be in, good luck to you.
It really sucks to think how many people may be held hostage in Gilead states just like you seem to be.