Illustration by Edwin Fotheringham

C_ivics 1.0: Why We Have Texas_

Did you ever stop to think about all the advantages we receive as a result of Texas? Without Texas, our government would not be able to function. To give just one example, Texas made it possible for us to have a full complement of Presidents during the past fifty years. If not for Texas, we would have had to forgo the terms of Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush. It was our Texas that made the existence of those Presidents possible.

Or consider the space program, one of our country’s proudest accomplishments. It achieved such outstanding success mainly because we, as a country, committed a sizable amount of Texas to it. Another important benefit that Texas provides is national defense. Thanks to a robust and sensible allocation of Texas, we have a military that is the envy of the entire world. It has grown to its present size and strength because of clear-sighted citizens who understood that to build a first-rate military you must have Texas. Our lives are enriched, and we live in a better and more civilized society, because of Texas.

1.1: The Cultural Rainbow Includes Dissenting Views of Texas

Despite the obvious benefits, many Americans do not like Texas. Some even say they despise Texas, and make no secret of their feelings. They show their concern by calling for reform, while drawing attention to the fact that our Texas is very big already. Some cite studies showing that Texas in our country is already the second biggest, a finding borne out by investigation. Interestingly, they note that almost every country in the world makes do without any Texas. Did you know that?

1.2: A Historical Perspective

More than a hundred and seventy years ago, the corrupt, undemocratic government of Mexico, unlike us, had enormous Texas. In the years that followed, the situation became reversed, and now our Texas is as big as Mexico’s used to be.

1.3: Sidebar

A national pollster writes, “My firm recently selected a random sampling of passersby in Times Square and asked them how they felt about Texas. Most respondents expressed a somewhat grudging acceptance. ‘Nothing you can do about Texas! Let’s move on to a happier topic!’ was one individual’s comment, which can stand for many. Strangely, however, a few vocal outliers said they loved Texas and became irate when we could not conceal our surprise. They offered loud policy opinions, such as ‘Don’t mess with Texas!,’ or even cried, ‘God bless Texas!’ Such strongly held, irrational feelings would suggest little room for compromise. One interview subject went so far as to claim that he was from Texas—a logical impossibility, if he was not speaking metaphorically—but he was also wearing an outsized hat and sharply pointed boots, and appeared to be deliberately eccentric or perhaps insane.”

1.4: A Healthy Democracy Works Toward Consensus

With careful planning, more moderate voices say, we can find an acceptable middle ground. America can enjoy a vital, fully functioning government, with all the benefits provided by Texas, while reducing Texas at the same time. Leading economists have shown that by shrinking Texas we can actually create more income for Texas in the long run. Although the notion goes against our intuition and even our common sense, we are told that smaller Texas will lead to more freedom for the average person, and thus to greater private outlays, resulting, finally, in enhanced infusions into the coffers for Texas (mostly in the form of the usual energy expenditures). The prospect is an exciting one.

1.5: Sidebar

“Now, the craziest thing we could ever do is increase Texas!” an influential politician says. “But, believe it or not, that’s what some of the real lunatics out there want to do. For myself, and for my country, I have signed a sacred pledge that, if I ever vote to make our Texas even one tiny bit bigger than the Texas of today, I hope—I demand—that my aroused and angry constituents throw me out. The thought of Texas growing and growing and ultimately consuming all of our gross national product is a cold fear that keeps me up at night. I believe Texas is the main issue confronting our country. If we don’t deal with the threat of rising Texas, our children and grandchildren will find themselves in a land that is free only in name.”

1.6: Conclusion and Topics for Further Study

In the changing America of today, we must allow ourselves to look at fresh ideas—in this case, to imagine Texas in new and perhaps unfamiliar ways. Try to think of what it would be like to live in an America with very, very small Texas. In this revitalized place, almost all Texas will have been eliminated. Services provided by today’s bloated Texas will be taken care of more efficiently by private contractors working with volunteers, robotics, or—you fill in the details! Then, with our Texas dramatically reduced, perhaps we can phase out some of the unnecessary government officials now supported by Texas.

Imagine all that we Americans could accomplish if we never had to worry about Texas! The urge to get rid of Texas entirely is tempting, to be sure. On the other hand, if we did, might we actually start to miss Texas? Remember the benefits of Texas that we talked about before. Would we be the same country if we had no Texas? There are difficult trade-offs and serious arguments on both sides. What to do about Texas is a question that each new generation must answer for itself. ♦