On Secession Pt Deux

Texas Governor Rick Perry unwittingly (or not) set in motion the secession of Texas from the United States during a 'Tea Party' rally yesterday by saying Texans are fed up with federal tax policies, and might get so fed up that they decide they want to secede from the union. Whether he realized it or not, a governor using that powerful word has consequences and could set in motion a series of events that could, in fact, lead to Texas leaving the Union. If that happened, we would see a domino effect of states 'declaring' independence. As I predicted last year this country would not have fifty states twenty years from now. Having a sitting governor of a state as large as Texas more or less advocating secession just sets that timetable to move a little faster. Gov. Perry backtracked to reporters after his rally, but the damage has been done.

While I have always supported secession, and I agree that the 10^th Amendment to the Constitution has lain fallow for some time, I find his reasoning to be ridiculous, to be honest. The chief complaint at this rally was monetary. The attendees were there because they were tired of the government taking their money to fund 'pork'. If they had stopped to think about where they were, they would have realized they were protesting in what will become the centerpiece of the new Downtown Trinity River Project, paid for with a chunk of Federal money secured by Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, who will be Perry's main rival for the governorship in 2010. If all the attendees agree to give that money back, I could take them a little more seriously.

While supporting secession myself, I am aware of the realities of what will happen. Most of these people have no clue. No federal money means no more therapy in the schools, no more FDA to protect your food, no more Federal money on the border, etc. If they think they're being taxed now, just wait. In order to sustain itself, Texas would have to tax its citizens at about an average of 50% of all income. That means Texas will start collecting an income tax and property taxes will skyrocket to replace money that school districts will lose. It won't be all wine and roses, folks. Just because the Federal Government isn't taxing you anymore doesn't mean that things are going to cost less. Food prices will jump dramatically because of tariffs and import costs, the same with almost all other goods and services. I think if most of those holding 'Secede!' signs (most of them misspelled, by the way) knew what it actually meant to leave the US, they would sit down and shut up.

And this brings me to another point. They are clamoring because they think the 10^th Amendment isn't being upheld. FOR FUCK SAKE, where the hell were they when the 1^st 4^th 5^th 6^th 8^th & 9^th amendments were torn to shreds?? They decry any whispered hint or accusation of communism but were just fine and dandy with despotism. But hey, they got to keep their money so what the hell, right?

I hope Texas secedes. It would be a nice wake-up call for these idiots.

I have no rational explanation for it, but lately I have found myself fascinated by Pastor Melissa Scott. Since returning to Texas, I have rediscovered the awesomeness of late-night religious programming. Most of these programs - infomercials basically - have angry old men standing at a pulpit shouting about judgment for the wicked or money for the righteous. Scott, however, just wanders all over stage, her long hair and long jacket flowing behind her lithe frame.
Now, let me be clear. I don't listen to anything she's saying, I just watch her. She could be speaking in tongues espousing the wisdom of cthulhu for all I know.
There was another Scott that aired late at night on an independent television station here in the late 70's,-early 80's named Dr. Gene Scott. The randomness to his shows had a decent amount of influence on me when I was younger. Dr. Gene would sit in a chair puffing on a pipe, reading and interpreting scripture whilst an array of odd and unconnected images would float on screen. It was a visual feast. So it was really no surprise to find out that these two were once married. It's fun to watch her run through her translations of Greek on the white-boards that fill the stage (although, according to several sources, her translations aren't particularly accurate) and try to figure out just what the hell her slight accent is.
I don't get to watch her much anymore because I'm usually asleep (or trying to go to sleep) at midnight when her program airs, but if I'm awake and flipping through the channels, I always stop for a little bit. Although, if she starts puffing on a pipe while unicorns float on the wall behind her, I may have to start recording it on my DVR.

Our game - America's Game

There are only three things America will be known for 2,000 years from now when they study this civilization: the Constitution, jazz music, and baseball

- Gerald Early

Ahh… once again baseball season is upon us, covering us like a blanket and, to paraphrase Walt Whitman, repairing our losses. There is newness to the start of a season that is so strong, no matter how many years one has played or followed the game, it still brings butterflies and goose bumps. In order to truly understand what someone means when they say an atmosphere is ‘electric’, one must attend a baseball game on Opening Day. Whether your league is major, minor or independent, that first game is full of pomp and excitement to rival no other day in professional sports.

As much as I love Opening Day in the Major Leagues, Opening Day at a minor league or independent league has a little something extra to it. The fans there are generally more knowledgeable about their players and the game in general than at an MLB ballpark, I’ve noticed. A greater percentage diligently fill out their score cards and keep records of each game. They love their team, to be sure, but fans of teams outside the major leagues are baseball fans first. The way they watch every pitch and feel their heart race even during the most routine plays; it’s something someone who only goes to games to see home-runs and superstars will never experience.

I have two baseball loves in my life. The Texas Rangers and the Fort Worth Cats. The Rangers are, of course, the Major League team, complete with a large stadium, (relatively) large payroll, merchandising out the wazoo, TV contracts, etc. The whole package. The Cats are an independent league team with a rich history. They have a beautiful stadium for a team of their stature, but it’s still small and humble. They sell T-shirts for $25 instead of jerseys for $200+. The players aren’t household names to anyone but the fans of the team. And you get a sense of this being a baseball team when you are at LaGrave Field and not a baseball business.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Rangers. We both came to DFW at about the same time (The Rangers from DC and me from the womb) and I have followed them all of my life, even when I was living 400mi away from Arlington. Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is a cathedral despite being old enough to drive. They are playing thus far this season with a zeal and excitement that is infectious. However, as much as I love cheering them on and devoting an inordinate amount of time following them, I get greater satisfaction by sitting in LaGrave field among perhaps 4,000 people (as opposed to 40,000), cheering for the Cats and watching baseball being played the way I imagine it was played in the 40’s and 50’s. No fancy scoreboards, no contract disputes, no blackouts, no distractions other than doing your best and loving the game.

Mike Penner, a columnist for the LA Times once said, “There's nothing wrong with the Little League World Series that locking out the adults couldn't cure.". The same could be said for locking out the business people from baseball. The premise here isn’t hard - “You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.”

Whip is a contributing editor to practically nobody. His work can be found in the comments section of various blogs. Whip invites you to join him at the Cats’ Opening Day game, May 14^th at LaGrave Field in downtown Ft. Worth, TX.