Texas GOP Leaders Want to Secede from Medicare, Social Security

[marmar]

Daily Kos, via AlterNet:



Texas GOP Leaders Want to Secede from Medicare, Social Security


Hmmmmm.

Texas Lawmakers Consider Medicaid Withdrawal

By EMILY RAMSHAW

Some Republican lawmakers — still reveling in Tuesday’s statewide election sweep — are proposing an unprecedented solution to the state’s estimated $25 billion budget shortfall: dropping out of the federal Medicaid program.

Far-right conservatives are offering that possibility in impassioned news conferences. Moderate Republicans are studying it behind closed doors. And the party’s advisers on health care policy say it is being discussed more seriously than ever, though they admit it may be as much a huge in-your-face to Washington as anything else.

This on top of Friday's declaration by the Lone Star state's pumped-up governor:

Freshly reelected Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) just isn't ready to give up on the secession talk that made him a topic of conversation last year. Taking a national victory lap after his election to an unprecedented third term this week, Perry is out talking up his new plan to break up the union, kind of: It's time, he says, to let states opt out of Social Security.

John Cole asks the right questions to show how stupid this line of thinking is:

Could someone explain how this would work? How does a state secede from a program? What would the practical implication be? Could I pay into SS my whole life while a WV resident, then when I hit 65, I have a stroke and lose control of my senses and decide to move to Texas, and then I would not be able to collect SS? I’m honestly confused. What the hell is he talking about? Could a state secede from the Post Office? Or the Selective Service? Or the VA?

Ah, the smell of Texas Tea Talk early in the morning. If at once you don't secede, try, try again. Only this time, it's one crazy-ass brand of very selective secession, it appears. Somehow I doubt the state really wants to rid itself of say, the Border Patrol, or the right to be protected by the Defense Department, or all the federal dollars going into the Houston Space Center.


http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/324636/texas_gop_leaders_want_to_secede_from_medicare%2C_social_security/#

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I am hoping for a TENTH amendment solution

and secession actually.

YES, they are that batshit crazy.

[iamtechus]

2. Go ahead. Make our day. n/t

[DonCoquixote]

3. They sure won't

get a lot of people to retire there.

[and-justice-for-all]

4. I say we sell Texas back to Mexico...

fuck, just give it to them.

[AnnieBW]

5. Go right ahead, assholes

I'm sure that the Senior Citizens will appreciate your decision.

[TBF]

6. That moron runs his mouth while his republican citizens

put signs in their lawn that say "Stop Obama Save NASA". Batshit stupid is a more apt descriptor.

[jaysunb]

7. GO RICK ! Go Texas Republicans !

Show your true colors for all to see. If you think that death panel ruse was effective against Obama, wait til the seniors hear about THIS plan. :evilgrin:

Go Baby Go ! :rofl:

[End Of The Road]

8. Fuck, I live in Texas.

Hubby has a good job, can't move.

How would opting out of SS benefit the State? I guess the hoped-for result would be getting more businesses to move to Texas, since they would save 6.2% on every worker-bee's salary. But then other states would follow suit, and soon none of us would have SS (except maybe Massachusetts).

But we do have water problems here, among others problems, so he better be damn careful about the industries he brings in.

The man is a loony.

[tech9413]

9. So long, bye bye now

We won't miss you, not even a little bit.

[Swamp Rat]

10. They should secede from oxygen.

America would be a much better, safer place to live and retire

[w8liftinglady]

11. Texas already leads the nation in uninsured adults and children.

they are a prize bunch of "Caring Christian Conservatives"...as my neighbors so fondly call themselves.
What the hell do we sane ones do?

[TexasObserver]

12. Perry wants to be on the ticket in 2012.

And YES, these guys really are crazy.

[Historic NY]

13. wow I wonder how them old people will feel.