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  • Texas -- a failed state


    Brisketexan

    I think that it’s now safe to say that we Texans now live in a failed state.  30 years of GOP rule, setting our own standard, living the “Texas Dream,” which they’ve bragged about relentlessly…and let’s see where we are:

    A majority of the state in complete failure, unable to deliver the most BASIC of services (things that are called “utilities,” not “luxuries,” for a reason).  No power.  No water.  No means of clearing roads (that one, I can’t fault the state so much….but it wouldn’t be as big a crisis if people weren’t stuck in their homes with no power and water).  So citizens are stuck in their homes, some of them dying there. 

    Water resource planning?  After pretending for decades that a drought would never happen again, and not doing ANYTHING to develop resources in the state water plan (a document actually developed using science and mathematical projections), we had several locations, including actual cities, down to a few days of water supply.  We’ve finally gotten on our horse a bit, but it may be too late if the next drought comes anytime soon.  

    State rank in key categories:

    Education – 34

    Health Care - 37

    Infrastructure - 33

    Opportunity - 39

    Environment - 44

    Infrastructure - 33 

    In overall quality of life ranking by US News, we are now #38, down from #36 just two years ago.  At that rate, we’ll be in the bottom 3 within ten years.

    We are SUPER independent, and FUCK the feds….but we have requested federal disaster assistance more than any other state in the past decade or so.

    But hey, our economy is ranked #15!

    That’s right, we have a “roaring economy” and the “Texas Miracle!”  But we can’t deliver the basics for our citizens.  The economy is VERY efficient at funneling bazillions to the very few…..with little of it “trickling down” to most Texans.  Yeah, the people on this board generally do fine, but face the facts – we’re the top 10% or so.  We are educated, older, and fortunate.

    Our federal system allows for state-by-state experiments.  Texas is the poster child for near anarcho-capitalism and zero regulation or oversight.  We have tested that approach, for over a generation now (30 years of Republican rule).  That approach is a failure.  The evidence is undeniable, and overwhelming.  It doesn’t matter how many River Oaks millionaires you produce if the rest of your people are dying in their homes.  Shit, some of those River Oaks millionaires might be freezing to death today, too.

    The kids of a middle class family can hardly afford to go to a good state school.  Their prospects for employment are mediocre.  Their prospects of suffering crippling medical debt at some point are significant.  Their chances of not having basic utilities needed for life safety at some point – all but certain.  Their chances of becoming ill or dying from a pollution-caused illness are material.

    What’s the result?  Our leaders have sold Texas as a paradise – move here!  Bring your business here!  And some businesses have done so, adding opportunity…..but providing little to no tax support for the infrastructure we all depend on.  To the contrary, over the past few years, I know more and more people – educated people, people who can do their jobs elsewhere, who are looking to bail on this state.  It’s people with young kids, who want them to grow up in a better place.  It’s people in their working years, who simply want a better path.  It’s retirees, who want a safe and secure place to live.

    We have consumed our seed stock.  We have burned through our reserves.  We are now consuming ourselves.  The ability to pitch Texas as the land of opportunity is done.  Seeing what we have become, the tentative thought/plan my wife and I had of wrapping up our careers here and then getting the hell out of Dodge is becoming much more concrete.  My children are already unlikely to make their future in this state.  Now we are, too.

    But the response from the Republican leadership and their sycophants – “how are you gonna pay for it?  Taxes?  That’s socialism!  You want that stuff, you have to pay for it!”

    Fuck yes I do, and I’m okay with that.  I want groceries…so I have to pay HEB.  I want a car…so I have to pay Ford.  I want clothes…..so I have to pay Dillards.  I want my population educated….so I have to pay the school district.  I want electricity, with enough capacity to keep us running when we need it…..so I have to pay my bill, maybe with a capacity surcharge.  I want water to come out of the taps….so I have to pay for development of resources and maintenance of infrastructure.  I want roads….so I pay taxes to build and maintain them.  YES, I have to pay for all of those things, and “nothing is free” – no fucking shit.  So, let’s pay for it.  We have the #15 economy….we HAVE the funds in this state.  An economy with the flow of funds that ours has can produce and maintain all of those results.  But we have chosen a different path; funnel all the dollars to the top, and spend next to nothing for the public good.  We have privatized profit….we have socialized the costs.  And we are dying because of it.

    My fellow Texans are dying in their homes….and there’s nothing I can do about it today.  And I am enraged.

    I love Texas.  I am 6th generation here.  My ancestors have Texas historical markers on their graves.  We helped make this state, and this state helped make us.  It educated us (back when college was affordable).  But it’s time to face the fact – this state is a failure, and on its current path, with its current leadership and philosophy, it will only get worse.  This state has a terrible future, unless we dramatically change our path.   Chances of that happening?  0.0% -- because we’ll continue to vote for the guys who make our leadership priorities bathroom bills, and transgender sports, and requiring the national anthem be played at certain events.  Any bill that has been proposed to improve emergency preparedness of gov’t entities has been crushed by the Republicans controlling the lege….but we will definitely stick with those guys.  No taxes.  No government functionality.

    What we are seeing happening right now is our system working EXACTLY AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND INTENDED TO WORK.  And we will, I guarantee it, collectively decide to stick with that.  This state is in free-fall, and anyone with eyes can see it.  And anyone with a brain is starting to think of ways to make their life elsewhere.  It breaks my goddamned heart to see us commit collective suicide, but here we are.

     

     


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    12 hours ago, Brisketexan said:


    None of it is a bit funny.

    Know this: Texas’ leadership will kill Texans for money. We know this is true, because they already have.

    They would rather dozens of Texans freeze to death in their own homes than see the take home millions of a generation co executive go down a single penny. Profits matter. They’re the only thing that matter. Human lives have zero value...unless they can generate profits, too. That’s the only real “Texas Value” that there is.

    Start calling them what they are.  Oligarchs.  The Oligarchy serves one purpose to enrich itself.  Even the ancient Athenian Oligarchic members (the rich) donated money to the state to build ships and buy mercenaries, and continue the fight after the disaster at Syracuse.  Of course they demanded control of the state affairs, but they actually paid.  Our oligarchs just take take take.  

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    4 minutes ago, InkaUtexas said:

    Damn good stuff.. Man, when I was in Bosnia I would snag all the rations I could. 

    The closest I got to that in my NG Larping was sliding down to the Carabinieri canteen at Camp Darby and eating real food.

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    I'm both ragey and embarrassed. All the bluster of the 'we don't need the other 49 states,' and 'fuck California and those democrats' while the state is a humanitarian crisis because 'profits over people' is the motto.

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    30 minutes ago, Hawndoh said:

    You colorado transplants did elect GunTits. So it ain't perfect.

    Not my district. So don't blame me! 

    That's like blaming people who live in Austin for electing Gohmert. 

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    I wonder how many of these He-Man Texit Self-reliant Anti-Socialist badasses will be getting their beaks wet in the FEMA funds that are apparently going to be made available to deal with busted pipes and other property damage that insurance winds up not covering. 

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    1 hour ago, Mrs Whiggins said:

    I'm both ragey and embarrassed. All the bluster of the 'we don't need the other 49 states,' and 'fuck California and those democrats' while the state is a humanitarian crisis because 'profits over people' is the motto.

    Me too, and, hell, I'd be overjoyed if these GOP Texans actually felt humiliated over this. That might actually lead to self reflection and change.

    Instead, the cretins in charge as well as the cretins who vote them into office will react like they have for all the major crises of the last decade. The political force behind this dysfunction will only going to grow more convinced that they need more power, in order to finally put a stop to the decline that's clearly (to them) caused by the libtard socialists. They're never going to suddenly realize they're causing all this mess. The more bad things happen to the (R) voters, the more they're going to turn to the one thing that even complete idiots know how to do to improve their situation: sequester other people's shit in order to sustain what they have.

    Edited by ndawg
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    1 hour ago, RDCanecutter said:

    The closest I got to that in my NG Larping was sliding down to the Carabinieri canteen at Camp Darby and eating real food.

    Best I ever saw was NATO HQ in Kabul. The pizza at the Italian station was awesome. Getting drunk with Macedonians in Kabul was surreal. 

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    1 hour ago, Hawndoh said:

    You colorado transplants did elect GunTits. So it ain't perfect.

    Point of order. It would be really nice if we could come up with disparaging nicknames for female politicians we don’t like that steer clear of casual misogyny.   

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    Texas would be awesome if it wasn't filled with Texans. So many of these idiots want to be their own country? They take more Federal disaster assistance than anyone. They can't even be a functioning state. 

    If the rest of the states were as cruel as Texans they'd allow Texas to secede then immediately set up an embargo and blockade. Then as the shit really hits the fan start negotiating terms for readmittance that include having to be good neighbors and a part of the team. 

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    The Texas grid is not subject to federal regulation. Intentionally. Why should FEMA cover the damages?  Seems like Texas power generating entities and the state of Texas should start a fund to cover the damages they caused. We were told by Republicans that northeastern cities don't deserve bailouts for covid related budget shortfalls. Fine. I dont see why Texas deserves one here. Texas wanted their grid separate. It's Texas' problem. If the state doesn't have the budget for it, raise taxes. 
    I do feel for the people affected, but collectively yall voted for this. There is plenty of money in Texas, especially in the energy sector. It should be their problem, not mine. Just like they wanted. 

    It all goes back to that good ole GOP standby -

    Capitalism for profits; Socialism for losses.
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    1 hour ago, Wanker Bob said:

    Texas would be awesome if it wasn't filled with Texans.

    This may or may not be why I, a 7th generation Texan and 5th generation Austinite, no longer live there. 
     

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    The Texas grid is not subject to federal regulation. Intentionally. Why should FEMA cover the damages?  Seems like Texas power generating entities and the state of Texas should start a fund to cover the damages they caused. We were told by Republicans that northeastern cities don't deserve bailouts for covid related budget shortfalls. Fine. I dont see why Texas deserves one here. Texas wanted their grid separate. It's Texas' problem. If the state doesn't have the budget for it, raise taxes. 
    I do feel for the people affected, but collectively yall voted for this. There is plenty of money in Texas, especially in the energy sector. It should be their problem, not mine. Just like they wanted. 

    Buht ma taxes!!!!
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    1 hour ago, FondrenRoad said:

    The Texas grid is not subject to federal regulation. Intentionally. Why should FEMA cover the damages?  Seems like Texas power generating entities and the state of Texas should start a fund to cover the damages they caused. We were told by Republicans that northeastern cities don't deserve bailouts for covid related budget shortfalls. Fine. I dont see why Texas deserves one here. Texas wanted their grid separate. It's Texas' problem. If the state doesn't have the budget for it, raise taxes. 

    I do feel for the people affected, but collectively yall voted for this. There is plenty of money in Texas, especially in the energy sector. It should be their problem, not mine. Just like they wanted. 

    Don't ask me.  It wasn't my idea.  It was just something I read.  It does seem weird to me to have a president that doesn't shittalk a state that he didn't win on Twitter during a natural disaster though.

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    9 hours ago, Dr. Teeth said:

    When this thread started, I wasn't sure if we would get immediate validation like sitting Senator of Texas leaves constituents frozen for trip to Cancun to add to the list. But here we are.

    He's playing SimBeach Resort.

    We're playing Oregon Trail.

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    I’m a 6th generation Texan but left in 2005 for a job and I wanted to experience a new place. Moved to Pennsylvania. Haven’t looked back since. 

    I miss Texas hospitality, I miss my family, I miss Texas games, I miss most of all the food. 

    I don’t miss the weather, the politics, the fake cowboy culture, the good ol’ boys, the property tax (even here with a state income tax we are better off, which surprises most people). We’ll move back when we retire - well, we’ll have a 2nd home there - but we are never leaving an area that we can drive 2 or so hours and be in NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC and environs. 

    Plus there are enough brainless MAGA fucks here who wave confederate flags and don’t see the irony that I don’t get homesick. 

    Edited by The Ace of Aces
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    12 minutes ago, The Ace of Aces said:

    I’m a 6th generation Texan but left in 2005 for a job and I wanted to experience a new place. Moved to Pennsylvania. Haven’t looked back since. 

    I miss Texas hospitality, I miss my family, I miss Texas games, I miss most of all the food. 

    I don’t miss the weather, the politics, the fake cowboy culture, the good ol’ boys, the property tax (even here with a state income tax we are better off, which surprises most people). We’ll move back when we retire - well, we’ll have a 2nd home there - but we are never leaving an area that we can drive 2 or so hours and be in NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC and environs. 

    Plus there are enough brainless MAGA fucks here who wave confederate flags and don’t see the irony that I don’t get homesick. 

    Wherebouts in PA?  If you don't mind saying.

    PA is a hugely interesting state.  Very southern in some parts, flat hillbilly in others, very cosmopolitan yankee in others.

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    1 minute ago, TwiceHorn said:

    Wherebouts in PA?  If you don't mind saying.

    PA is a hugely interesting state.  Very southern in some parts, flat hillbilly in others, very cosmopolitan yankee in others.

    Philly, Pittsburgh and Alabama in between them 

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    5 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

    Wherebouts in PA?  If you don't mind saying.

    I'm guessing from the description that he's in Langhorne Manor in a craftsman house about 200 yards up the hill from the Irish Rover Tavern, where you have a beer until it's time for SEPTA to pull into the Langhorne Station.

    Give or take 50 miles.

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    As I sit in the cold and dark for the fourth night in a row without power and second night without water, I feel like I live in a failed state. As I plan with my roomie to hunt down gas tomorrow and get to a grocery store early for water and MAYBE even find a hot meal somewhere, I wonder, if this isn’t a failed state, what is?

    I am a Physical Therapist and my husband is a soon to be nurse anesthesiologist. We have options, and we are seriously thinking about leaving. This is a joke of a response by the state and COA. I’m so embarrassed 

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    17 minutes ago, Js1 said:

    Philly, Pittsburgh and Alabama in between them 

    More precisely, PA is Philadelphia, Original Birmingham, and Walker County Alabama in between them. 9/10s of PA and AL could sub for each other, except there's no real Plantation Belt in PA*, and there is no AL equivalent to the Goth Girl Goblins who populate Harrisburg.

    The overlap may have something to do with the first English-speaking Alabamians being largely Pennsylvanians who took a left in Lancaster, and kept skipping rent in the Carolinas and Tennessee.

    Hell, Bucks County PA is like the outskirts of Birmingham AL except with actual commuter trains, 100% more Revolutionary War era stuff, and maybe 5% more Mafia. Weird-ass Quaker beer-buying rules. We own half a house there, cool area.

     

     

    *Whoa-- there is. They split it off and made it Delaware.

    Edited by RDCanecutter
    history n shit
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    On 2/18/2021 at 4:47 AM, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

    I moved for work, not for the political situation, but I am determined to stay in the NE because of the situation in Texas.  That has meant changing industries, but I am ok with that anyway.  

    As for living in another country, seriously looking at Portugal or France.  If it is true and I can work remotely, I seriously would do it.  

    Also, I am a multi generational Texan as well.  At least 4rd gen across the board, and further back on at least one side of my mom and my dad both.

    sorry for these hard times friends. I would do Portugal IMO. But bigtime language issues likely. While we did Oz and are happy to do so, its fucking far obviously. If you can work remote I would look at the PIGS for sure. Actually, i'd toss Spain to the top of the list because of the language - both english and spanish. anyway

    As the lone Texan in my family, I have wanted to leave for some time. I think Brisket's initial post is a bit overboard, yes I know. I mean the GOP is a big driver here and they are just deep rooted in Texas, and that is really smoking the joint up. More so than otherwise. 

    Its fucking sad. Texas has so much going for it. Many countries struggle with the burden of natural resources and cultural mindfuck that can have over time. Texas is there too, but less so. I mean the GOP would snort oil if they could, but still some hope in Texas for renewables and eventually speculation leaving fossil fuels more and more

    Always wondered how living in NYC would be. Honestly, never liked it there much, or the NE must, but of course more relate to the politics there as to your point.

    anyway, sorry homies in Texas. hang in there with this mess. the more black eyes the better, sorry you have to take the body blows

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    12 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

    Wherebouts in PA?  If you don't mind saying.

    PA is a hugely interesting state.  Very southern in some parts, flat hillbilly in others, very cosmopolitan yankee in others.

     

    Was about to ask the same question. I have family in Pittsburgh and love that city, but I also ran into some shit whenever I said PedoState. 

    I like this thread as a more general discussion. I've always planned on leaving California and heading to Texas, Georgia, the Carolinas etc... Like many have said in this thread, it was never about politics, but every year that passes I am less and less likely to leave California and it's absolutely about politics at this point. It's fucking weird to have a degree from a university that I wouldn't even apply to today. I blame conservatives completely for this bullshit. It's 100% about flexing and reveling in the other team's  misery for conservatives at this point. I'll wait for Newsom to dunk on Cruz, which won't happen because most people don't take pleasure in other's suffering 

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    45 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

    Wherebouts in PA?  If you don't mind saying.

    PA is a hugely interesting state.  Very southern in some parts, flat hillbilly in others, very cosmopolitan yankee in others.

    Not to get too specific - I work in the capitol but live on the main line. 

    Edited by The Ace of Aces
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    local Houston news was interviewing a Nigerian immigrant at an apt complex going on 4 days without power :

    reporter : did you ever go 4 days without power in Nigeria ?

    Nigerian : NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I'm surprised this is happening here !!!!

    Edited by tx 3 putt
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    5 hours ago, Wanker Bob said:

    Texas would be awesome if it wasn't filled with Texans. So many of these idiots want to be their own country? They take more Federal disaster assistance than anyone. They can't even be a functioning state. 

    If the rest of the states were as cruel as Texans they'd allow Texas to secede then immediately set up an embargo and blockade. Then as the shit really hits the fan start negotiating terms for readmittance that include having to be good neighbors and a part of the team. 

    I wonder if the Texags crowd still wants to secede, since we’re now seeking federal disaster relief?

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    The Texas grid is not subject to federal regulation. Intentionally. Why should FEMA cover the damages?  Seems like Texas power generating entities and the state of Texas should start a fund to cover the damages they caused. We were told by Republicans that northeastern cities don't deserve bailouts for covid related budget shortfalls. Fine. I dont see why Texas deserves one here. Texas wanted their grid separate. It's Texas' problem. If the state doesn't have the budget for it, raise taxes. 
    I do feel for the people affected, but collectively yall voted for this. There is plenty of money in Texas, especially in the energy sector. It should be their problem, not mine. Just like they wanted. 

    I get the sentiment but thats not how it works. FEMA probably does more to assist with manmade disasters, many not the Feds fault, than anything else. Look at Houston.
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    31 minutes ago, Eskimohorn said:


    I get the sentiment but thats not how it works. FEMA probably does more to assist with manmade disasters, many not the Feds fault, than anything else. Look at Houston.

    Oh I know. Can't expect a red state to be proactive or even pay for reactive remedies. I expect the same old rodeo. We will clean up your mess again. Less than a year after yall told us to go fuck ourselves. 

    And when I say yall, I mean the royal yall for Texas. I know that you and the board at large dont support most of the Texas GOP policies. 

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    14 minutes ago, mchookem said:

    yeah...

    i've never lived anywhere else. i graduated from UT. i worked for the state my entire career. i have lived and breathed TEXAS my entire life.

    this state is led, at all levels, by people who are corrupt, morons, or corrupt morons. and that goes for Adler and fucking Fitlump as well. i mean our fucking ATTORNEY GENERAL is a gotdamn indicted criminal.

    and NOBODY CARES. 

    I'M JUST FUCKING TIRED OF NOT BEING REPRESENTED. and i can donate and phone bank and do whatever...it doesn't make a shit in this state.

    Beto's defeat was kind of a gutpunch...and then the numbers went backwards in 2020. it's hopeless here - my voice will never count as anything in this state.  

    so...i also hate mosquitoes, humidity, and flying tree roaches. and i like getting high. we're moving to Colorado as fast as we can. 🤘

     

    8-CD5-D397-6-DA0-40-FD-99-E8-D12-F83878-

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    3 hours ago, RDCanecutter said:

    More precisely, PA is Philadelphia, Original Birmingham, and Walker County Alabama in between them. 9/10s of PA and AL could sub for each other, except there's no real Plantation Belt in PA*, and there is no AL equivalent to the Goth Girl Goblins who populate Harrisburg.

    The overlap may have something to do with the first English-speaking Alabamians being largely Pennsylvanians who took a left in Lancaster, and kept skipping rent in the Carolinas and Tennessee.

    Hell, Bucks County PA is like the outskirts of Birmingham AL except with actual commuter trains, 100% more Revolutionary War era stuff, and maybe 5% more Mafia. Weird-ass Quaker beer-buying rules. We own half a house there, cool area.

     

     

    *Whoa-- there is. They split it off and made it Delaware.

    I lived in Bucks Co., Doylestown for a few years and loved it.  Didn’t work in Philly so only went down there once in a while.  Doylestown is actually a cool place to live especially when you can go over to the Delaware River towns like New Hope and Lambertsville and just wander around and grab a beer and some good food.  Downtown Doylestown was also pretty cool in a quaint way especially when there was snow on the ground.  Not sure I would want to live there again but you definitely felt like you were surrounded by educated people as a whole and you don’t always feel that way here in Texas.

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    58 minutes ago, FondrenRoad said:

    Oh I know. Can't expect a red state to be proactive or even pay for reactive remedies. I expect the same old rodeo. We will clean up your mess again. Less than a year after yall told us to go fuck ourselves. 

    And when I say yall, I mean the royal yall for Texas. I know that you and the board at large dont support most of the Texas GOP policies. 

    acb16a1a28111400980006edb64419c5.gif

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    37 minutes ago, mchookem said:

    we're moving to Colorado as fast as we can. 🤘

    I was supposed to fly there tomorrow to look at real estate.  But it was cancelled.  Still going to do it though.

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    5 minutes ago, Beantown Express 2.0 said:

    I lived in Bucks Co., Doylestown for a few years and loved it.  Didn’t work in Philly so only went down there once in a while.  Doylestown is actually a cool place to live especially when you can go over to the Delaware River towns like New Hope and Lambertsville and just wander around and grab a beer and some good food.  Downtown Doylestown was also pretty cool in a quaint way especially when there was snow on the ground.  Not sure I would want to live there again but you definitely felt like you were surrounded by educated people as a whole and you don’t always feel that way here in Texas.

    Don't think I've been to Doylestown but have ended up many a time in New Hope and Lambertsville. Also have a soft spot for Bristol farther south.

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    4 hours ago, The Ace of Aces said:

    I’m a 6th generation Texan but left in 2005 for a job and I wanted to experience a new place. Moved to Pennsylvania. Haven’t looked back since. 

    I miss Texas hospitality, I miss my family, I miss Texas games, I miss most of all the food. 

    I don’t miss the weather, the politics, the fake cowboy culture, the good ol’ boys, the property tax (even here with a state income tax we are better off, which surprises most people). We’ll move back when we retire - well, we’ll have a 2nd home there - but we are never leaving an area that we can drive 2 or so hours and be in NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC and environs. 

    Plus there are enough brainless MAGA fucks here who wave confederate flags and don’t see the irony that I don’t get homesick. 

    Plus you have WaWa.

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    1 hour ago, mchookem said:

    yeah...

    i've never lived anywhere else. i graduated from UT. i worked for the state my entire career. i have lived and breathed TEXAS my entire life.

    this state is led, at all levels, by people who are corrupt, morons, or corrupt morons. and that goes for Adler and fucking Fitlump as well. i mean our fucking ATTORNEY GENERAL is a gotdamn indicted criminal.

    and NOBODY CARES. 

    I'M JUST FUCKING TIRED OF NOT BEING REPRESENTED. and i can donate and phone bank and do whatever...it doesn't make a shit in this state.

    Beto's defeat was kind of a gutpunch...and then the numbers went backwards in 2020. it's hopeless here - my voice will never count as anything in this state.  

    so...i also hate mosquitoes, humidity, and flying tree roaches. and i like getting high. we're moving to Colorado as fast as we can. 🤘

    Other than working for the state, this could be me.

    I also think summers here are getting unbearable.

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    I lived in Bucks Co., Doylestown for a few years and loved it.  Didn’t work in Philly so only went down there once in a while.  Doylestown is actually a cool place to live especially when you can go over to the Delaware River towns like New Hope and Lambertsville and just wander around and grab a beer and some good food.  Downtown Doylestown was also pretty cool in a quaint way especially when there was snow on the ground.  Not sure I would want to live there again but you definitely felt like you were surrounded by educated people as a whole and you don’t always feel that way here in Texas.

    Had the best cheesesteak from some place in downtown Doylestown. Blows Geno’s and Pat’s away. I digress.
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    12 hours ago, Hawndoh said:

    You colorado transplants did elect GunTits. So it ain't perfect.

    Gerrymandered safe Republican seat in Colorado?

    They picked, not Colorado. It was in their loins to vote for this person - for entertainment, not civic responsibility to the District or the nation.

    It's an embarrassment to Colorado - the State - she is a one-termer.  [/reply]

    Back to Texas - Western orientation is the only thing missing in Texas. This Dixie Orientation is not good for Texas. Look West not to the south for examples of effective leaders

    (no offense intended to any Southerners out there - directed at political style only - seriously, cross my heart). 

    ___________________________________________________________

    Spoiler

     

    Western orientation is the only thing missing in Texas. You follow the lead of some Southern politicians. I hope Texas politicians realize there is only so much copper there to strip from infrastructure until it falls apart. I hope this winter storm will convince Texas they had better modernize well, or they will not be trusted with investments that require energy to function, as well safe, secure and freshly  rested team members not worrying about the water flooding in their well-loved homes.

    Following the remnants of a vile confederacy of traitors is not forward looking.

    Texas is reluctantly moving back to modernity - thanks to tremendous private investment in infrastructure, but there is stickiness in the body politic. 

    TLDR: Texas has too many flim-flam-flops.  The Mr. Haney from Green Acres (and Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo from South Park) are their spirit animals. Unfortunately, they are in charge. 

    Stay safe Texas. I will always love the State, no matter what. Hell of a place to be from . . . and I would still live there. 

     

     

    Edited by washparkhorn
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    10 minutes ago, Bookman said:

    Other than working for the state, this could be me.

    I also think summers here are getting unbearable.

    I'd say head out to the west coast, but our summers are just 5 month long natural disasters, so....

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    1 minute ago, Foosters said:

    I'd say head out to the west coast, but our summers are just 5 month long natural disasters, so....

    I'd love to. I moved to Texas in 1980 when I was four years old. Seeing what's happened to this state since I graduated from college is depressing. I can't remember the last time we had a Texas Legislative session that I thought was successful, and I've never considered myself to be anywhere but slightly, slightly left of center.

    • Hook 'Em 1
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    6 hours ago, Doc Sam Beckett said:

    Why 45? What's the spread on that number? 

    They have a qualified retirement person program for expats starting at 45 years old. Show you can pull 2K a month or 24k a year, active or passively, and you pay no taxes on it moving it to Belize. Can import your car or other personal items without taxes as well the first year.

    https://www.belizetourismboard.org/programs-events/retirement-program/#1490201888210-0357f09a-6e91

    https://internationalliving.com/countries/belize/retire/

    • Drool 2
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    2 minutes ago, gmr548 said:


    lol no need to wonder

    Gotta be some dumbass version of "I pay all those socialist taxes and it's about time my tax dollars are sent back to me to help me with disaster relief!" 

    • Like 1
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    22 hours ago, Guadaloopy said:

    Point of order. It would be really nice if we could come up with disparaging nicknames for female politicians we don’t like that steer clear of casual misogyny.   

    GunShelves

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