<p>I would make the argument that Houston and Texas are two very different things. There are some ‘Texan’ aspects of Houston culture, but the two have a very different appeal. For example, as a Bostonian, I enjoy living in Houston. The same cannot be said for Lubbock, Waco, Beaumont etc. etc. </p>
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<p>How does morality factor into any of this??</p>
<p>As for Texas, they cannot legally secede. There is no provision in the Texas constitution (or any non-legal documents) that makes a mention of this. Texas does, in theory, have the right to partition itself into 5 different states. This, of course, was countered by Article IV, Section 3 of the US Constitution that states</p>
<p>*New states may be admitted by the Congress into this union; but no new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of the Congress.</p>
<p>The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States;*</p>
<p>Texas leaving the union will be in direct violation of the United States constitution. So, as powerful and macho as Rick Perry thinks he is, he is grossly misinformed.</p>