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  • 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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    bluto

    Posted

    The property tax stuff is insane, just like most things in this state. The system is absolutely broken but as mentioned, ‘we got no where else to go’ with income tax banned, sales tax would need to be juiced to ~20%. State money is tapped out on helping cut ptaxes too. I think my fav from the “abolish ptax” crowd is when they say it will help alleviate rental rates for renters…. Yep, those apartment owners most certainly will happily cut rents instead of keeping them level while pocketing the windfall, bc that’s exactly how capitalism works. 

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    CooterBrown

    Posted (edited)

    3 hours ago, Evil Bill Obrien said:

    If they were really serious about getting rid of property taxes they wouldn't have passed the constitutional amendment a few years back making it even harder to install an income tax. Since that tool is off the table get ready for our political heroes to crank up sales tax if they actually want to make a serious effort to get rid of property taxes.

    It'll be the greatest gift to businesses everywhere.  Businesses can buy up all the property and easily keep purchases out of state avoiding the inflated sales tax.  Building a subdivision in DFW? Buy all building materials in OKC and get it delivered in 5 hours instead of 1.  No big deal at all for the cost savings.

    Edited by CooterBrown
    Evil Bill Obrien

    Posted

    Though the huge piles of shit being shoveled upon us by the Texas Legislature, a small sliver of good news:
     

    aubrey plaza weed GIF by Gunpowder & Sky

    Weed GIF by South Park

    keep it positive pied piper GIF by Silicon Valley

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    TexasHooch

    Posted

    This is the craziest exchange I've seen in a very, very long time. Regarding TX Bathroom bill.

     

     

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    Pato del Muerto

    Posted (edited)

    12 hours ago, bluto said:

    The system is absolutely broken but as mentioned, ‘we got no where else to go’ with income tax banned, sales tax would need to be juiced to ~20%

    Somehow, Washington state manages with no income tax, with sales tax only a point or two higher than most places in Texas, and yet I pay around 0.9% in property taxes. 
     

    fuel tax is probably skewed higher in WA, but you can always buy an EV and eliminate that one if you so choose.  (I think EVs have a decent sized surcharge at the annual registration to account for that but not having one I don’t know how sizeable.)

    Edited by Pato del Muerto
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    Chuckie Finster

    Posted

    Democrats need to file official criminal complaints against all of these ghouls. Say that, in their opinion, they all look like males with grown out hair using the women’s restroom. Cite things like beer bellies, broad shoulders, visible facial hair, adam’s apples… tailor each complaint to be the most hurtful to each woman. Just embarrass the fuck out of each of them, this is war.

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    Nice Guy Eddie

    Posted

    Briscoe Cain has the body of an underdeveloped girl and his mustache looks fake. Shouldn’t he be checked for a penis before allowed in the men’s room? Maybe he can get a certified examination of his status and carry it around with him.

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    Ghost of NMAS

    Posted

    19 hours ago, Chuckie Finster said:

    Democrats need to file official criminal complaints against all of these ghouls. Say that, in their opinion, they all look like males with grown out hair using the women’s restroom. Cite things like beer bellies, broad shoulders, visible facial hair, adam’s apples… tailor each complaint to be the most hurtful to each woman. Just embarrass the fuck out of each of them, this is war.

    The GOP turds in the state house refused to add an amendment providing for penalties for false accusations, so this is what needs to happen.  Every time a GOP state representative enters a women’s bathroom they need to be challenged to prove that they are woman.  If they fail to do so, a complaint needs to be filed.

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    miguelito

    Posted

    Why make just the GOP women do that? Make all of them prove it.

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    Brisketexan

    Posted

    19 hours ago, miguelito said:

    Why make just the GOP women do that? Make all of them prove it.

    This is the correct move.  When you see a female GOP official, or the wife or daughter of one, go into a women's restroom, report them for violating the law, and make them prove that they're not.  You have a good-faith basis for your report: anyone associated with such shitbaggery is surely dishonest and hiding something.

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    Fudge Nuggets

    Posted

    We’re still doing this stupid bathroom shit after what, 10 years?  

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    Macanudo

    Posted

    53 minutes ago, troph said:

    I’m gearing up to go in the men’s room and shit all up in that bitch making it stink like liberal E. coli and watch the Republicans scream and yell. I want to start a fucking scene in there and see grown men freak out while I touch up my mascara. I think most men are pussies and I’ve got a long reach and I’ve been lifting so let’s fucking get it on mother fuckers!! TROPH is BACK!!! 

    Time for a solid Fair Park Shoulder Check!

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    troph

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

    Time for a solid Fair Park Shoulder Check!

    Im pretty much ready for it. 

    Bozo_Casanova

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

    This is the correct move.  When you see a female GOP official, or the wife or daughter of one, go into a women's restroom, report them for violating the law, and make them prove that they're not.  You have a good-faith basis for your report: anyone associated with such shitbaggery is surely dishonest and hiding something.

    Y'all are joking around but it’s only a matter of time before somebody calls the DPS because they saw an old lesbian in the Men’s room and it turns out to be Dan Patrick. 

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    tchookem

    Posted

    Stupid question alert.... what is the state going to do for revenue if property taxes get eliminated?

    Has any real plan been proposed?

    kevwun

    Posted

    A plan?  We don't need no stinkin' plan.

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    Chuckie Finster

    Posted

    Stupid question alert.... what is the state going to do for revenue if property taxes get eliminated?

    Has any real plan been proposed?

    Blame the libs.
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    Dnaguy

    Posted

    On 8/29/2025 at 4:19 PM, TexasHooch said:

    This is the craziest exchange I've seen in a very, very long time. Regarding TX Bathroom bill.

     

     


    Dems: What about women that kind of look like dudes? You know, like, butch lesbians….

    Republicans: You know, we haven’t thought about that. Good point.

    Dems: Really?

    Republicans: Absolutely. We’ll ban those as well. Only lipstick lesbians will be allowed in Texas.

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    pyrohornIII

    Posted

    Crossposting:

    1 minute ago, pyrohornIII said:

    Reminder:

    Tomorrow night, Wed, 9/3 at 8:30 PM we will hold our AMA of the new Texas Democratic State Chair, Kendall Scudder.  Here's a short clip of a speech he made during all the redistricting crap going on.  

    It's a Zoom and you folks can come in anonymous, but I would appreciate you label yourselves using your Surly usernames.  Kendall doesn't mind hard questions and enjoys a little debate, but I'll boot those who are there just to troll.  We don't have time for that shit.

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82116528456?pwd=DMoPaJIBxUC0YhJSSMRJiRtAfBOfPu.1

     

     

     

     

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    Pato del Muerto

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Dnaguy said:


    Dems: What about women that kind of look like dudes? You know, like, butch lesbians….

    Republicans: You know, we haven’t thought about that. Good point.

    Dems: Really?

    Republicans: Absolutely. We’ll ban those as well. Only lipstick lesbians will be allowed in Texas.

    Just like that Olympic boxer, they’ll just believe they are men. 

    GreenspointTexas

    Posted

    Paxton pushing for Lords Prayer in schools

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    wild_turkey

    Posted

    Stupid laws prompt stupid questions, but how exactly does the bathroom bill get enforced? If someone says they saw a woman in a wheelchair using the men’s room at the state capitol, does Greg Abbott have to unzip and prove that he actually has a dick? Is it the physical appearance of the genitalia or a blood draw to check chromosomes? What if Angela Paxton has a man clit that’s bigger than Ken Paxton’s micropenis? Can we demand that they both get measured just to be sure? Who gets to decide where that line is drawn? Just random narcs who want to make everyone around them more uncomfortable? Who do I narc to if I see Ted Cruz go in a bathroom at DKR this fall?

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    mchookem

    Posted

    does anything prevent an establishment from just saying 'fuck it' and having unisex bathrooms? or i mean i've stopped at some real shithole gas stations on Texas highways and they only have one...do there have to be separate facilities, what would happen if they just put up a sign like this? 🤔

    20250219_151502.thumb.jpg.a1b8a0062a7307d73c74e544acf1aa54.jpg

     

     

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    Eskimohorn

    Posted

    does anything prevent an establishment from just saying 'fuck it' and having unisex bathrooms? or i mean i've stopped at some real shithole gas stations on Texas highways and they only have one...do there have to be separate facilities, what would happen if they just put up a sign like this?
    20250219_151502.thumb.jpg.a1b8a0062a7307d73c74e544acf1aa54.jpg
     
     

    If they want to legislate bathrooms, how bout make sure they’re clean and not the most disgusting places in Texas?
    • Like 3
    Willfully Horn

    Posted

    4 hours ago, mchookem said:

    does anything prevent an establishment from just saying 'fuck it' and having unisex bathrooms? or i mean i've stopped at some real shithole gas stations on Texas highways and they only have one...do there have to be separate facilities, what would happen if they just put up a sign like this? 🤔

    20250219_151502.thumb.jpg.a1b8a0062a7307d73c74e544acf1aa54.jpg

     

     

    When the eldest was a hs senior, she led a push for at least one unisex bathroom at Hays, and was successful. That was eight years ago.

    CooterBrown

    Posted

    11 hours ago, mchookem said:

    does anything prevent an establishment from just saying 'fuck it' and having unisex bathrooms? or i mean i've stopped at some real shithole gas stations on Texas highways and they only have one...do there have to be separate facilities, what would happen if they just put up a sign like this? 🤔

    20250219_151502.thumb.jpg.a1b8a0062a7307d73c74e544acf1aa54.jpg

     

     

    The Mueller Alamo has the best solution.  Shitters on one side and urinals on the other.  Sinks in the middle.  Use whatever facility works for you.

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    HenryJames

    Posted

    Airplanes need separate bathrooms.

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    Foosters

    Posted

    1 hour ago, HenryJames said:

    Airplanes need separate bathrooms.

    This is actually pretty brilliant. Surely someone here can make sure this idea makes it to the Texas House.

    Valmy77

    Posted (edited)

    15 hours ago, GreenspointTexas said:

    Paxton pushing for Lords Prayer in schools

    That isn't going to save Paxton from hell for his adultery, that dirty sinner.

    Edited by Valmy77
    elfenix

    Posted

    So is Texas invading Illinois?

    Biff Tannen

    Posted

    4 hours ago, HenryJames said:

    Airplanes need separate bathrooms.

    Yep. One big one for me and the regular one for everyone else. 

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    mchookem

    Posted

    genX here... am i crazy or do i remember reciting the Lord's Prayer after the pledge of allegiance every morning in first and second grade in Houston? 🤔

    Brisketexan

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, F250 said:

    Interesting choice.

    Reminds me of my first freshman football game in high school. Coach tells us to pray before the game and points and says "Rios, lead the team in prayer."

    Rios starts reciting "Our Father" and then someone blurts out "That's Catholic shit!" Lots of Baptists on the team but the Catholics responded. Then others chime in with different opinions that included curse words and religious insults.One guy says "I don't even believe in God". Someone says "that's because you're a fag, Mike." 

    That was our first and last team prayer.

    That actually sounds like a solid, authentic, and genuine prayer session.  I approve.

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    South Austin

    Posted

    12 minutes ago, F250 said:

    Interesting choice.

    Reminds me of my first freshman football game in high school. Coach tells us to pray before the game and points and says "Rios, lead the team in prayer."

    Rios starts reciting "Our Father" and then someone blurts out "That's Catholic shit!" Lots of Baptists on the team but the Catholics responded. Then others chime in with different opinions that included curse words and religious insults.One guy says "I don't even believe in God". Someone says "that's because you're a fag, Mike." 

    That was our first and last team prayer.

    You all should’ve just sacrificed a whole chicken.

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    Macanudo

    Posted

    31 minutes ago, South Austin said:

    You all should’ve just sacrificed a whole chicken.

    Up yours, Jobu.

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    BrickHorn

    Posted

    56 minutes ago, mchookem said:

    genX here... am i crazy or do i remember reciting the Lord's Prayer after the pledge of allegiance every morning in first and second grade in Houston? 🤔

    Did you go to Catholic School?

    • Haha 2
    mchookem

    Posted

    no...Aldine isd, mid 70s... maybe i am misremembering...

    pyrohornIII

    Posted

    Probably going to be running a few minutes late.  Sorry.

     

    Pato del Muerto

    Posted

    4 hours ago, F250 said:

    Interesting choice.

    Reminds me of my first freshman football game in high school. Coach tells us to pray before the game and points and says "Rios, lead the team in prayer."

    Rios starts reciting "Our Father" and then someone blurts out "That's Catholic shit!" Lots of Baptists on the team but the Catholics responded. Then others chime in with different opinions that included curse words and religious insults.One guy says "I don't even believe in God". Someone says "that's because you're a fag, Mike." 

    That was our first and last team prayer.

    Cool story, Mike. 

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    tchookem

    Posted

     
    They should do guns next.
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    pyrohornIII

    Posted

    Sorry folks, we will have to reschedule...I'll let you know.  Thanks safesex for showing up!!

     

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