“I want a government small enough to fit inside the Constitution.”
Although months had passed since the Texas Crisis, it had roiled markets on a global scale. Oil prices skyrocketed and the stock market lost almost twelve percent of its value in three days.
There was some bounce-back in the markets once Bartlett was elected, with a small surge in the stock market that evaporated a week later. There was another surge right after her inauguration but, like the brief rally that occurred after Election Day, the small gains made after her inauguration quickly evaporated.
Politicians across the country continued to ignore the staggering debt that was nearly thirty-nine trillion dollars and instead focused the blame of the economic quagmire squarely on Texas. Governor Brahman had briefly shut down natural gas and oil pipelines from Texas to the rest of the country when the feds blocked access to Texas ports and interstate highways. Oil surged to over $100 per barrel as a result, but had dropped back down to eighty-five dollars per barrel.
Gasoline reached record levels with some Northeastern and West coast states paying over six dollars per gallon. Although the markets improved slightly, gas prices across the country remained high.
“Texas’ treasonous acts dented the economy. It may take several more years to recover,” said a Harvard economic professor on a CNN talk show.
“Should Texas be punished?” asked the female CNN host.
“Well, definitely. At a minimum, state leaders should be held accountable,” retorted the economist.
“How do you punish an entire state? And, if so, you can’t blame everyone in Texas for what happened, can you?” exclaimed the host.
“Well, Martha, the people of Texas elected their leaders. We should treat the State of Texas just like any other rogue state in the world. We punish other countries with economic sanctions. Why not Texas?” asked the economist.
“I’m not an expert on history, but have we ever imposed sanctions on a state? Wouldn’t that be counterproductive to an economic recovery?” asked the host.
“I think there is precedent. The federal government put sanctions on many states in the South during reconstruction,” the economist noted.
“And it took years and years for them to recover as a result of Reconstruction. It also can be argued that the feelings harbored in the South were more the result of Reconstruction than the war itself―and many of those feelings of ill-will still exist today, generations later.”
“Rightly so. This is the same old South, the Confederacy that fought for slavery and was treasonous to the federal government,” the man stated.
“I’m sure you are aware, Professor, that many people, especially in the South, do not believe slavery was the only issue.”
“Yes, many illiterate and ignorant rednecks believe that to be the case, but that doesn’t make them right,” the professor said in a sanctimonious tone.
The host changed subjects and turned to a different guest.
“Congressman Phillips, you’re a Democrat from California. Do you believe Texas is to blame for the current economic mess?”
“Well, the Texas Crisis certainly seemed to be the catalyst for the economic downturn we are saddled with currently. The fact they are still talking about a referendum to secede doesn’t provide the markets any sense of stability, and we all know markets do not like instability.”
“It’s simply illegal,” jumped in the professor.
“I would have to agree with the professor that this nonsense about an independence referendum is ludicrous. Essentially, Texas held the entire country hostage, demanding a president be impeached or they would secede. Who does that?” smirked the congressman.
Trying to appear fair to all sides of the issue, the host asked them both, “Gentlemen, Texas definitely had some grievances, but wouldn’t you agree that dispatching federal agents into Texas that ultimately led to the death of their governor and his wife did nothing to help the crisis, indeed escalated its intensity?”
“We don’t typically negotiate with terrorists,” exclaimed the congressman.
“Let’s be clear here. Are you saying that state leaders in Texas were, or are currently, terrorists?” she asked, looking perplexed.
“Dispatching thugs to arrest federal agents probably qualifies,” added the professor sarcastically, referring to an order by the Texas governor for Texas lawman Pops Younger to arrest several FBI, ATF and Homeland Security agents.
“Professor, are you stating that the Texas Rangers are thugs?”
“Listen, Iran, North Korea and other rogue nations have official-sounding law enforcement outfits, too. Hitler had the SS. Stalin had the KGB. The fact is that these state officials took it upon themselves to arrest federal agents. How dare they?” questioned the congressman in a self-righteous voice.
“My goodness, gentlemen. Are we reduced to calling a very historic and respected law enforcement unit thugs and terrorists? The Texas Rangers have a very proud tradition. This is obviously going way off track here,” she said. “I brought you both on the show to discuss the current economy, and instead you are both pointing fingers at Texas as the cause of the current economic troubles. Do you both really believe the Texas Rangers are thugs, which means Texas has thugs for state law enforcement?”
“They killed federal agents. They tried to secede, and are still trying,” answered the congressman.
“But…” started the host.
Raising his voice significantly, the red-faced and visibly agitated professor interrupted, “If not for Texas’ treasonous actions against the federal government, our economy would be humming along. The economy has gotten a bump typically after every election since the 1940s. The entire country knows Texas has put us all in this quagmire. It’s not fair to the rest of the states and fellow Americans!”
“So what would you have Texas specifically do to help right the ship, Congressman?” the host asked as she turned from the professor to the congressman.
“For starters, drop any talk of an independence referendum, then issue a formal apology to the rest of the country, especially to the families of the federal agents who lost their lives during the crisis,” answered the congressman.
“Congressman, there were also Texans who lost their lives.”
The congressman continued, barely allowing the host to finish her statement, “What, would you have the rest of the country or the current administration apologize to them? They broke the law.”
“Let’s not forget the racist nature of secession!” added the professor.
“Professor, are you making the claim Texas would go back to a slave state?” she said half-jokingly.
“Texas has a history when it comes to reasons for secession. Texas was dragged kicking and screaming into the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Don’t think they wouldn’t turn back the clock to the Jim Crow days immediately if they were successful,” claimed the professor.
“Gentlemen, we’ve run out of time. I appreciate you coming on the program today.”
The camera now focused squarely on the CNN host, dropping the video feeds of the congressman and professor.
“Well, there you have it. We brought these two guests on to specifically address aspects of the economy and you saw what happened. Both our guests, an economics professor from Harvard and a sitting congressman, put the fault of the current economic downturn squarely on Texas and the recent crisis,” she commented.
“Now, I’m sure some will vehemently argue that Texas’ flirtation with secession has nothing to do with a return to slavery,” she stated emphatically, ridiculing the professor. “But it is clear that many in the U.S. feel the country’s current economic condition was directly impacted by Texas’ decisions during the Texas Crisis. The crisis, thankfully eased somewhat by the new Bartlett administration, created a cloud that, unfortunately, still hangs over the economy. It is apparent that Texas’ governor and legislature will still consider this secession legislation in a special session.”
She paused for effect to make the following commentary.
“Maybe it’s time for Texas leaders to rejoin their fellow Americans in their own hearts and minds in the union of states. For the state leadership to continue to foster the notion that secession is either plausible or possible does nothing but continue to hurt the economy and the rest of America.”