[happy5214]

This isn't an apples-to-apples comparison, but there have been off-and-on proposals for Texas to secede from the U.S. and regain independence as the Republic of Texas, which existed from 1836 to 1845. Texans (myself not included; I'm a transplant) tend to have a sort of nostalgia of independence, with a do-it-yourself, often anti-Washington perspective. But the idea of Texas independence is arguably more absurd than Brexit.

Here's a bit of history for you non-Americans. Texas was basically forced to be an independent nation after splitting from Mexico, as the U.S. wouldn't take them in due in part to the issue of slavery. But, by 1845, the Republic was in massive debt, its currency was worthless, and Mexico was still a threat (the Mexican–American War started a year later over the assumed boundary dispute), so Texas approved the annexation offer from the U.S., with a few unique conditions (Texas kept its public lands, gained authority to split itself into new states, and asserted an increased offshore rights distance compared to other states).

Now, a seceding Texas would have many of the same issues as the UK does now (actually more), including new trade agreements and related business issues, establishing foreign relations, replacing a huge corpus of federal legislation and jurisprudence, a loss of U.S. military spending (huge in San Antonio) and highway funding (already an issue here), and much, much more.

Enjoy your remaining time in the EU, Brits. But ask yourselves this. In 10, 20, 30 years down the road, will you regret this decision?