WACO — Standing in front of a massive state flag on Saturday, Claver Kamau-Imani outlined his utopian vision of a Nation of Texas that he believes is just on the horizon.

No taxes or Faucis, no speed zones or toll roads. No liberals, no gun laws. No windmills, no poor people. A separate currency, stock market and gold depository. “Complete control of our own immigration policy.” World-class college football, a farewell to regulators. And unthinkable, unimaginable wealth.

“We are going to be so rich,” he chanted. “We’re gonna be rich. We are gonna be rich. We. Are. Going. To Be. Rich! … As soon as we declare independence, we’re going to be wealthy. I personally believe that our personal GDP will double in five to seven years.”

“The independence of Texas is good for humanity as a whole,” he added to cheers.

Kamau-Imani, a Houston-based preacher, was among 100 or so people who spent the weekend at the Waco Convention Center for the first conference of the Texas Nationalist Movement, which since 2005 has advocated for the Lone Star State to break away from the United States — a “TEXIT,” as they call it.

Supporters of the movement said they are more energized and optimistic than ever about the prospect of an independent Texas, and pointed to appearances or support from current and former lawmakers — including state Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, who spoke at the event — as evidence that their movement is far from fringe. The get-together also came as TEXIT supporters celebrated what they believe is crucial momentum: Days before the meeting, the Texas Nationalist Movement announced that it was more than halfway to the roughly 100,000 signatures needed to put a non-binding secession referendum on the Texas Republican primary ballot.

  • sleet01
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    7 months ago

    A blatant lie. In 2020, 66% of the voting population actually voted - and this was a record high! Of those, 46.48% voted for Biden/Harris. So that’s just under 1/3rd, or 30.68% of the voting population of Texas.

    Now, do I feel for these folks? Yes. Is it terrible that they’re being disenfranchised by their state and local governments at every turn? Also yes. Is this going to make me feel at all bad if the state whose main claim to fame is keeping slavery going an extra 2 years splits off, only to get gobbled up by Mexico?

    Not in the slightest.

    • capital@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      What part of the phrase “voting population” was confusing to you?

      Is a person a member of the “voting population” if they didn’t vote? No. BY VIRTUE OF NOT VOTING.

      I didn’t say “eligible voters”.