Invoking sovereignty under the 10th is one thing. Secession is not invoking the 10th amendment. I know most of the history students here realize it's purpose is to keep in check a predatory federal gov't.
Some people say that the Constitution allows states to break away if they find the situation oppressive and intolerable. We fought the Civil War because Lincoln wanted to protect northern investments in the south. Loans to farmers, shippers, merchants and also investments in railroads and ports. Had the North not have anything to lose by the Southern states seceding then I am not sure the North would have fought the War. Just because the last attempt at secession resulted in a war doesn't mean that this one would end in that way. I know it won't happen though.
The Federal Government has become an abomination. Along with the Tax Code. The 10th Amendment clearly assigns all powers not specifically enumerated by the Constitution and its articles, to the States, or the People. That means 95% of all Federal Agencies are illegitimate bastard spawn of power mad bureaucrats - Department of Education, Agriculture, Welfare, Health care, Energy, Social Security, CPS on and on. This is not "anti-Government" hate speech. This is Pro-Small Government, Patriotic, and Constitutional. The Framers intended States to cater to the voters whims. Not the Federal Government. That way, people of different political orientation gravitate to those states that best embody their own political philosophy without saddling other, more prosperous States, with the cost of their "generosity". California is a great example of why the Federal Government should bear no role in the finances of other States. California wants the Nation to pay for its bankrupcty ala GM or Ford or Wallstreet - basically Nationalize their shitty brand of defunct Socialism. Make everyone else pay for their handouts. This type of beggar thy neighbor policy will be the death of the Country. Each blue state doles out endless programs to buy votes and stay elected, the State Treasury dries up, so the FED's step in and keep them afloat on everyone elses dime. With a castrated Federal Government, there is no lending of last resort. Each State becomes accountable to itself, and the books stay more or less balanced. Besides money, which is central to all freedoms, there's legislative authority. The FED's have no Right to outlaw drugs or enforce their prohibition. Its not in the Constitution, so that authority falls to the States. Same for Education, same for Federalized Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, Depart of Commerce, TSA. The more Control the Federal Government takes, the LESS FREEDOMS we all have!!
You'd think liberals would encourage the red states to secede. Then they'd be rid of us and wouldn't have to bother with stealing elections or using the courts to get things voters oppose. I think the red states would be willing to assume our proportionate share of the national debt. It'll be pretty easy to pay off with the revenues from offshore drilling and coal mining.
No, but they would generate tax revenues. Hopefully, import duties would constitute the bulk of taxation, but until we paid off the legacy debt, other sources might be necessary. Probably one important source of revenues in the early years would be a tax on immigration. I would think plenty of people would pay $100k for the right to live in a low tax country with strong protection of property rights.
This is no free lunch on anything. Texas has very high property, business, vehicle. land, farm, cow, Oil and Gas lease, road, school TAXES. No income taxes but you're butt-fuxxed on everything else. Everyone has a Sales Tax. I wish with my last hope that Texas would vanish from the union. They'd be begging to get right back in.