Federal Tax Dollars And Secession

This graphic shows the amount of tax money each state receives for every dollar their citizens pay to the federal government. Note that only 18 states pay more to the federal government than they receive back -- and every one of them, with the exception of Texas, is a blue state that voted to re-elect President Obama. Meanwhile, all of the red states get more money from the federal government than they pay in to it.

Doesn't that make them "takers" (as the GOP describes it) -- those who take from the federal government. I don't suppose any of them would like to return the extra money they take over the amount they give. No, I didn't think so! Red state politicians are quick to label the poor and underprivileged as takers, but somehow they think it's different when they are the ones doing the taking. Personally, I think that's pretty hypocritical.

Oddly enough, it is some of these same red states who are now passing petitions around to secede from the United States. It makes me wonder how they plan to pay their own bills when that extra federal money is no longer there. And how do they plan to provide their elderly with Social Security and Medicare, or how will they fund their own military? It sounds to me like they have let their racism override their common sense. But then, common sense is not exactly a red state strength is it?

Secession is a stupid idea, put forward by stupid people, to sooth their pride at losing an election. It is not going to happen, and should not even be considered as an option. Those who have put forward this idea should be ashamed of themselves, because they are spitting on the graves of the brave men and women who fought for this country and its democratic ideals. It seems that their racism is stronger than their patriotism.

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In addition, it seems that the Supreme Court has already ruled on this matter -- and their ruling was that no state has the right to secede from the United States. Fellow blogger Jolly Roger over at Plutocrap did some research and found this case (Texas v. White) which seems to settle this question once and for all:

Texas v. White, 74 U.S. 700 (1869) was a significant case argued before the United States Supreme Court in 1869. The case involved a claim by the Reconstruction government of Texas that United States bonds owned by Texas since 1850 had been illegally sold by the Confederate state legislature during the American Civil War. The state filed suit directly with the United States Supreme Court, which, under the United States Constitution, retains original jurisdiction on cases in which a state is a party.

 In accepting original jurisdiction, the court ruled that Texas had remained a state ever since it first joined the Union, despite its joining the Confederate States of America and its being under military rule at the time of the decision in the case. In deciding the merits of the bond issue, the court further held that the Constitution did not permit states to unilaterally secede from the United States, and that the ordinances of secession, and all the acts of the legislatures within seceding states intended to give effect to such ordinances, were “absolutely null”.