‘NewMexit’ — the case for New Mexico independence
Secession might have originally been a mental game and a threat against deportation, but with the cabinet picks by President-elect Trump, it is becoming an increasingly viable option. The following independence referendum is about the right to self-determination and the concept of voluntary association, both of which are supported by constitutional and international law. It is about New Mexico taking its place in the world, standing as an equal among nations. We believe that New Mexico would exert a positive influence on the rest of the world and it could do more good as an independent country than as a U.S. state.
Immigration and security: Deportation policies of the country in general and the new administration, in particular, will make New Mexico a prime target of harassment, unconstitutional search and seizure, racial profiling, and unlawful arrest. In addition, building a wall on our border will create a hostile environment with our neighbor who we consider our friends and relatives. New Mexico is a diverse state culturally and it is this diversity that is a central part of our culture and an indispensable part of our economy.
National debt: In the last 50 years the government has pursued a fiscal policy that has created a $19.5 trillion national debt, and it is beginning to spiral out of control permanently. The new administration has no qualms about increasing this debt dramatically; in fact, the new president has a long history of purposely incurring debt with no intention of repaying it. This is a reckless policy that will only bankrupt the country eventually and destroy the lives of all its citizens whether they be rich or poor. New Mexico could do better on its own.
Energy and natural resources: New Mexico is blessed with the most perfect and renewable energy resource that exists: solar energy. With new developments and further progress in the industry, New Mexico could very well become almost entirely self-sufficient with just solar energy, not to mention it could attract what will become one of the largest industries to ever exist to the state. A new administration promises to block such efforts, deny global warming, and instead promote and subsidize non-renewable polluting energy sources, especially coal and oil.
Health and medicine: All initiatives by the government and the health care industry have been ineffective in dealing with costs and the health of its citizens. Rather than fixating on the causes of our poor health (one-third of us are obese and one-third of us are overweight, about 85 percent of our health care costs), the government instead pursues policies that only exacerbate the problem. All Obamacare did was to give insurance to 20 million people that did not have it. Fine, but it is more important to focus on the causes of our bad health. Sin taxes (on added sugars, fructose syrup, saturated fats, etc.) have already proven to be successful, with revenues from them directed to educational health programs and treatment.
Education: New Mexico can only improve its education system and facilities with secession. It certainly could not get worse. With federal tax revenues now going to the new country of New Mexico and no need for a military budget (a prohibitive cost for any military powerful enough, and New Mexico would still have a National Guard), monies could be freed up to apply to an education system and other beneficial programs and needs.
Tax policy: The tax system is broken. It’s some 70,000 pages long. Everyone has deductions and loopholes so they can “beat the system,” and corporations are skipping the country along with jobs. About $400 billion is lost every year to legal, but questionable deductions. I believe New Mexico could prosper without causing hardship on its citizens with a graduated flat federal tax policy. One page long and a system anyone could understand with no deductions whatsoever.
Environment: Mother Nature always wins. She does not care if you destroy the planet; she will just take another billion years to resume where she left off. Mankind cannot afford that luxury. If mankind does not reverse course soon in regards to the environment, mankind is doomed for the most part. Trump has stated that he does not believe in global warming and the effect man has on the environment, and therefore plans to reverse most initiatives aimed at reducing emissions.
Schurman is the president of Aztec Spirits. Reach him at george@aztecspirits.com or newmexit.org.
