POSTED: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 6:39pm
UPDATED: Friday, November 30, 2012 - 11:33am
Texas leading the charge
TYLER — It's not just Texas.
There are petitions for nearly every state asking the government to peacefully let them go to start their own government.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Texas was leading the charge with around 80,000 signatures. With likely thousands more by the time you read this story.
Tammy Blair is with the Texas Nationalist Movement. They wanted secession before secession was cool.
She says even though the open petitions do make a statement, they're not going to work.
"You have to understand that you don't ask. Freedom isn't given. It's taken," Blair said.
She says here in Texas, citizens have to pressure representatives here in Texas, and they'll hopefully issue a referendum so the idea can be seriously talked about.
"This is a peaceful movement. That's important. We're not looking for war. And if people think that we are, we're certainly not. It's not a racist movement, it's a movement about liberty," she said.
Many East Texans agree.
"I think Texas probably should be its own country. By looking around, I think Texas is doing a lot better than the rest of the country," said Dustin Williams.
So what if this actually were to happen?
We asked Tyler Junior College government professor, David McClendon.
"Think about all the things that we would be giving up! If we're no longer citizens of the United States, we are no longer members of social security, so anybody receiving social security would lose that completely and totally," McClendon said.
And you think we've got border problems now...
"Not only would we have the border issue on the Rio Grande but we'd also have the border issues with the other states," McClendon said.
Politics aside...what about football? Can UT still play Oklahoma?
What about the Dallas Cowboys?
Blair says the East Texas chapter of the Texas Nationlists are meeting this Thursday in Tyler if anyone would like to join.
Secession is the hot topic. More information on that below.
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What: Smith County Texas Nationalist Meeting
Sponsored by: Texas Nationalist Movement
When: Thursday, November 15th, 2012. 6:30pm
Where: The Diner (7924 South Broadway Avenue #1000 Tyler, TX 75703)
About the event: The Smith County chapter of the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM) is holding a General Information meeting on Thursday in Tyler. The purpose of the meeting is to familiarize local citizens with the organization goals to promote, secure and protect the political, cultural and economic independence of Texas.
TNM is experiencing explosive growth that began before the election was called last Tuesday. The website has had several million hits over the last week and membership is skyrocketing. Many Texans are realizing that growth of the national government will not be checked by either party and central planning will continue with collectivist, one-size-fits-all policies. As a result, large numbers of Texans are seeking a restoration of the Rule of Law and self-determination. TNM believes that this discussion is necessary and timely.