Bert from our community asked a sharp question during our recent livestream: “How do we stop the same people who hijack the US government from hijacking an independent Texas government?”
This gets to the heart of why many Texans worry about independence. They see corruption in Washington and wonder if the same problems would just follow us to Austin. It’s a fair concern that deserves a direct answer.
The Bottom Line Up Front: Independence doesn’t eliminate human nature, but it creates structural safeguards that make corruption much harder and riskier for politicians. The key is cutting off the corruption source while bringing government closer to the people.
TNM President Daniel Miller addressed this exact concern during the livestream, acknowledging that independence is not a cure-all. “Independence does not change human nature,” he said. “The ultimate responsibility lies with the people to maintain good governance through eternal vigilance.”
But here’s what independence does change: the system that enables corruption to flourish.
Cutting Off the Corruption Source
Right now, 40% of bills filed in the Texas Legislature exist because federal bureaucrats tell Texas what to do. Politicians chase federal money, which creates a corruption cycle where they serve Washington instead of Texans.
Independence eliminates this entirely. No more federal mandates. No more politicians selling out Texas to recapture our own tax dollars. International anti-corruption frameworks recognize that removing external influence is the first step in preventing government hijacking.
When Texas keeps its own revenue instead of sending it to Washington, politicians can’t use “bringing home federal money” as cover for corrupt deals. They’ll have to justify every decision based on what’s actually good for Texas.
Accountability Through Proximity
The second major safeguard is bringing government closer to the people. Miller pointed out a telling fact: most Americans can name the Speaker of the U.S. House, but very few Texans can name the Speaker of the Texas House.
This distance enables corruption because politicians operate without scrutiny. In an independent Texas, government becomes the primary focus of citizen attention. Local newspapers cover Austin instead of Washington. Town halls focus on Texas issues, not federal politics.
Texas already has strong transparency laws through the Public Information Act and Open Meetings Act. Independence makes these tools more effective because citizens actually pay attention to how they’re used.
Constitutional Safeguards in Practice
An independent Texas would need robust constitutional anti-corruption provisions. International experience shows that newly independent countries succeed when they establish:
• Independent ethics commissions with enforcement power
• Whistleblower protections for government employees
• Mandatory financial disclosure for all officials
• Audit and oversight agencies with independent funding
• Criminal enforcement mechanisms for corruption
Texas already operates many of these through the Texas Ethics Commission and State Auditor’s Office. Independence would strengthen these institutions by removing federal interference and increasing public focus.
The Vigilance Factor
Miller stressed that no system prevents corruption automatically. “Independence provides the opportunity for better governance,” he explained, “but the people must actively maintain honest institutions.”
This means Texans must stay engaged after independence. Anti-corruption experts worldwide agree that citizen vigilance is the ultimate safeguard against government hijacking.
The difference is that in an independent Texas, that vigilance becomes much more effective. When your vote directly affects the people making decisions about your community, politicians can’t hide behind federal bureaucracy or distant Washington politics.
Learning from History
International precedent shows that countries transitioning to independence face corruption risks, but also opportunities. Nations that establish strong constitutional protections and maintain citizen engagement typically see improvements in governance quality.
The key is preparation. Texas independence gives us the chance to design anti-corruption systems from the ground up, learning from both successes and failures worldwide.
The Real Answer
Bert’s question assumes that corrupt actors are inevitable, which is probably true. But it misses the bigger point: independence changes the game entirely.
Right now, corruption flows from Washington to Austin through federal mandates and money. Politicians serve two masters and often choose the one that’s farther away and harder for Texans to watch.
Independence eliminates the distant master. It forces politicians to answer directly to Texans, with nowhere to hide. Combined with strong constitutional safeguards and active citizen oversight, this creates the best possible environment for honest governance.
Will it be perfect? No. Will it be better than the current system where Texas politicians answer to Washington bureaucrats? Absolutely.
The fight against government hijacking starts with taking back control of our own government. That’s what independence gives us—not a guarantee against corruption, but the tools to fight it effectively.
