Texas is unique in that it joined the United States as a treaty between two equal nations. Both Texans and Americans died to secure our freedoms. This is why it is appropriate for Texans to choose to fly the Texas flag at the same level as the American Flag. Similarly, Article 1, Section 1 of the Texas constitution states unequivocally that Texas is a free and independent State, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and the maintenance of our free institutions and the perpetuity of the Union depend upon the preservation of the right of local self-government, unimpaired to all the States.Our right to self-government is and has been severely impaired by the federal government.
The rights of the federal government are “few and enumerated.” All powers not specifically delegated to the Federal Government are reserved to the states, or to the People. However, over the past two centuries, the rights of the states have dwindled to the point that Texans struggle to identify any area in which Texas retains any autonomy. Even in areas where the constitution is silent, the Federal government uses its power of taxation to bribe and extort Texas to bend to its will. The Texas Legislature must strongly reassert the terms of our contract with the Federal Government per Article 1, Section 1 & 2 of our Texas Constitution. Texans died for our liberty and we must endeavor that Texas be governed by Texans and not by unelected, career bureaucrats in Washington D.C.
Federally mandated legislation that infringes upon the 10th Amendment rights of Texas must be ignored, opposed, refused, and nullified. Regulation of Commerce in Article I Section 8 of the Constitution has exceeded the original intent. All attempts by the federal judiciary to rule in areas not expressly enumerated by the United States Constitution should be likewise nullified. Any federal enforcement activities that do occur in Texas should be conducted under the authority of the county sheriff.
Through decades of mismanagement and crushing bureaucracy, the federal government is undeniably standing at an economic cliff. In the coming years, it appears possible that the dollar will no longer reign supreme and the ability of Washington to debt-finance trillions of dollars per year will be impaired. In contrast, Texas has a tradition of maintaining a fairly balanced budget with a relatively minimal debt.
The Texas Legislature needs to consider and support fairly expansive measures that will ensure that Texas is, as much as possible, insulated from current and past decisions made by Washington D.C.
The Texas Legislature will need to secure and protect the interests of Texans as increasingly draconian actions will be taken by Washington to cover (through taxation) its diminished ability to provide services due to the accumulation of debt.
The fate of Texas is, and ought be, in the hands of Texans.
Intrastate Commerce should not be subject to any Federal scrutiny or regulation.
Texans should have the right to opt-out of Social Security.
I support the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the US Constitution and I support the original mechanism for sending Senators to Washington, D.C.
I oppose all forms of warrant-less government surveillance of United States citizens and businesses.
I support the repeal of the Freedom Act. Spying on law-abiding Americans must stop immediately. Court-ordered warrants should be required in cases directly involving national security.
All federal land in Texas should be returned to, and administered by, Texas.Exceptions should be made for land specifically authorized in the Constitution, such as military bases, federal buildings, post offices.
The Texas Legislature should enact legislation to end time changes in Texas: we should adopt one time standard (Central Daylight Time or Central Standard Time).
