I think the first point is fair enough, but I take issue with: > we just so happen to have the majority of military manufacturing located in said states becaus

I think the first point is fair enough, but I take issue with: > we just so happen to have the majority of military manufacturing located in said states because defense contractors spent decades relocating for that sweet savings on taxes. Most of the financing for these companies is funded by the US military. I doubt Texas (or Texas and the few surrounding states that also left) would be able to maintain the nearly infinite military budget that the fed has, and the military manufacturers would move to a Union state as soon as possible. I guess the physical factories would still be there, but there's a lot more to manufacturing than just the factories.