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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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    sasquatch69

    Posted (edited)

    I am so, so, so utterly tired of this performative bullshit from our AG.  And now that whole Turning Point media ecosystem is dogpiling TCU (and their obsession on X with this week's in-person Pride events honestly makes me worried for their safety a bit).  https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2025-10-02/texas-ag-paxton-to-investigate-tcu-over-turning-point-event-school-says-was-not-booked

     

    Quote

    Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he intends to “look into” TCU after a conservative activist alleged the university discriminated against her for her talking points.

    Chloe Cole, 21, wrote on X that Texas Christian University canceled an event by the school’s Turning Point USA chapter where she was scheduled to speak. However, school officials said the Oct. 7 event was never canceled because it was not booked in the first place.

    Kathy Cavins-Tull, vice chancellor for student affairs, said in a statement that the university’s Turning Point chapter requested the university host the event after an unaffiliated party invited Cole to appear on the campus on that date. The requested space was already booked for another student event, she said.

    University officials explored options to accommodate the event and notified the group Sept. 25 that a secure space was not available given the short notice, Cavins-Tull said. School officials offered to find another date or space for the event, she added.

     

    Edited by sasquatch69
    • Rage+1 1
    Nice Guy Eddie

    Posted

    On 9/29/2025 at 10:57 AM, South Austin said:

    Your First Lady of Texas Cannabis Law.

    Headshot - Lisa L. Pttman - gray.jpg

    When reading the story, I immediately wondered what the mom looked like, and this would seem to be someone in Sid's wheelhouse.

    • Like 2
    bluto

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, sasquatch69 said:

    I am so, so, so utterly tired of this performative bullshit from our AG.  And now that whole Turning Point media ecosystem is dogpiling TCU (and their obsession on X with this week's in-person Pride events honestly makes me worried for their safety a bit).  https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2025-10-02/texas-ag-paxton-to-investigate-tcu-over-turning-point-event-school-says-was-not-booked

     

     

    If you want a wild ride, check out the background of Chloe Cole. 

    • Hook 'Em 1
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    Eskimohorn

    Posted

    If you want a wild ride, check out the background of Chloe Cole. 

    She’s a rare teenage detransitioner. She said, on her inability to properly schedule events, that “this is where free speech dies.”

    On this point we can agree. Having the AG threaten a private university and their ability to regulate their meeting space is a potential violation of free speech.

    It’s like I’m taking crazy pills over here.
    • Hook 'Em 1
    tx ind

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Eskimohorn said:


    She’s a rare teenage detransitioner. She said, on her inability to properly schedule events, that “this is where free speech dies.”

    On this point we can agree. Having the AG threaten a private university and their ability to regulate their meeting space is a potential violation of free speech.

    It’s like I’m taking crazy pills over here.

    Dumbasses never even booked the “event”.  Are private organizations supposed to bend over backwards for 3rd parties to schedule external speakers?

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
    Satchel

    Posted

    It’s happening:

    https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/texas-supreme-court-breaks-with-american-bar-association-over-law-school-credentials/#:~:text=Texas will become the first,law schools nationwide for decades.

    Texas will become the first state to no longer use American Bar Association (ABA) for oversight of its law schools.

    The Texas Supreme Court will take over that responsibility, according to an order its justices issued on Friday, Sept. 26. The ABA has set standards for law schools nationwide for decades.

    Karen Sloan, who covers the legal business for Reuters, spoke to Texas Standard about the decision. Listen to the interview above or read the transcript below.

    This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:

    Texas Standard: Well, first, briefly explain why this accreditation process is so critical for law schools and their graduates. 

    Karen Sloan: So law school accreditation is important because it kind of paves the way for graduates to go on and practice as lawyers.

    Most states require graduation from an ABA-approved law school in order to sit and take their bar exam. And of course you have to pass the bar exam in order go on to become a practicing lawyer.

    So it’s really kind of a key credential that you need in order pursue your legal career.

    Well, what has the American Bar Association done in the view of the Texas Supreme Court to drive its justices to this decision?

    That is a little bit unclear at this point.

    When the Texas Supreme Court back in April said that it was gonna be reviewing the ABA requirement, it never said why. And then last week when it said the court is going to assume the responsibility of approving law schools instead of the ABA, it also didn’t really provide a rationale for making the change – much to the chagrin of, I think, some legal educators in the state who wanted sort of an explanation of why the change was needed.

    So we’re left to read a little bit in between the lines as to what motivated the court to do this. But we do know that the Supreme Court of Florida, which a few weeks before Texas launched its review, said it was creating a work group to look at the ABA rule. Those justices came out and said, we’re doing this because the ABA has a diversity requirement for law schools. And they’re uncomfortable with some of the ABA’s quote, “political engagement.”

    So in that case, they were pretty clear that there are some sort of political reasons that led to their review. We didn’t get that from Texas. So we don’t have as clear of a picture as to their motivation.

    Well, you raise a good point. Texas is the first state to make this move, but could others follow?

    Absolutely. We already know that the Supreme Court of Florida is looking at a similar review. In recent months, Ohio has also said it’s looking at its ABA requirement. And just a couple of weeks ago, Tennessee said that it was as well.

    So it’s possible that Texas could be the first in a series of states that are backing away from their reliance on the ABA to accredit law schools.

    Well, could this isolate Texas law schools and alumni, making it harder for them to find jobs outside the state? 

    It’s possible, but we don’t know very much about that yet.

    When the court said it intended to sort of take over responsibility for approving law schools, it said, when it asked for further public comment on that, that it intends to retain the portability of Texas law school degrees into other states and the ability of lawyers who graduated from law schools elsewhere to come into Texas.

    Now, the Texas Supreme Court gets to control how licensing happens in Texas, but they don’t control how lawyer licensing happens outside of the state lines. A lot of states require graduation from an ABA law school. So it’s unclear how this change could potentially impact law graduates in Texas who want to go into other states, but have not graduated from an ABA-accredited law school.

    • Haha 3
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    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    Embarrassed Spongebob Squarepants GIF

     

    this fucking state 

    • Hook 'Em 1
    • Like 1
    Evil Bill Obrien

    Posted

    On 9/29/2025 at 10:57 AM, South Austin said:

    Your First Lady of Texas Cannabis Law.

    Headshot - Lisa L. Pttman - gray.jpg

    Who should be First Lady of Texas Cannabis Law:

    Texas Republican DA, Sarah Stogner, smokes Cannabis on TikTok to battle THC  ban: 'Free the plant Dan' | Cannabis Law Report

    West Texas wannabe railroad commissioner, 37, posts TikTok video of herself  TOPLESS | Daily Mail Online

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    dcbc

    Posted (edited)

    On 9/29/2025 at 10:57 AM, South Austin said:

    Your First Lady of Texas Cannabis Law.

    Headshot - Lisa L. Pttman - gray.jpg

     

    Oh, wow.  I went to high school with Lisa (and college too apparently).  She's a pretty smart person.  Probably should have bought her daughter a computer though or been a little more hands-on about college admissions.  The Sid Miller connection sure tracks with politics and strange bed-fellows axiom.

    Edited by dcbc
    • Hook 'Em 1
    dcbc

    Posted

    On 9/29/2025 at 10:45 AM, Brisketexan said:


    Her mom is a lawyer. But she “doesn’t have a computer” to check her email for acceptance letters.

    Yeah. That makes sense.

    Honestly, since the schools hand out Chromebooks to the kids now, I can see some parents not bothering.  Now, my kids were given computers long before college admissions acceptance time, but my wife and I are some of the world's best parents, so . . . 

    Pato del Muerto

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Evil Bill Obrien said:

    Who should be First Lady of Texas Cannabis Law:

    Texas Republican DA, Sarah Stogner, smokes Cannabis on TikTok to battle THC  ban: 'Free the plant Dan' | Cannabis Law Report

    West Texas wannabe railroad commissioner, 37, posts TikTok video of herself  TOPLESS | Daily Mail Online

    image.gif.5ee7c9ccacd76b18db717e376e63a546.gif

    • Haha 3
    TwiceHorn

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Bullneck said:

    SIAP and a disclaimer: this is a couple of months old but I liked the guy's speech.  

     

    That about sums it up.

    • Hook 'Em 2
    AnTiM

    Posted

    On 10/3/2025 at 9:27 AM, Pato del Muerto said:

    image.gif.5ee7c9ccacd76b18db717e376e63a546.gif

    Taking the "G" out of her name looks apt for me.

    BurntOrange&White

    Posted

    So does this mean lawyers in Texas can’t practice anywhere else?

    • Hook 'Em 2
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    BurntOrange&White

    Posted

    30 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

    So does this mean lawyers in Texas can’t practice anywhere else?

    To follow up on this does this mean @TwiceHorn will have to get a real job?

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    Macanudo

    Posted

    30 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

    So does this mean lawyers in Texas can’t practice anywhere else?

    We can hope?

    • Haha 1
    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    56 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

    So does this mean lawyers in Texas can’t practice anywhere else?

    Seth Meyers Please GIF by Late Night with Seth Meyers

    TwiceHorn

    Posted

    40 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

    To follow up on this does this mean @TwiceHorn will have to get a real job?

    I will have you know that I am licensed to practice before the USPTO, which I am entitled to do in all 50 states.

    • Hook 'Em 2
    Macanudo

    Posted

    21 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

    I will have you know that I am licensed to practice before the USPTO, which I am entitled to do in all 50 states.

    And you can defend sovereign citizens as well!

    • Hook 'Em 1
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    Satchel

    Posted

    What’s do bad about becoming Sul Ross?

    https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/02/university-texas-austin-trump-administration-compact/

    The Trump administration has asked the University of Texas at Austin to agree to a “set of operating principles” — which reportedly include adopting a stricter definition of gender, a five-year tuition freeze and a cap on international student enrollment — in exchange for preferential access to federal funding, the University of Texas System confirmed on Thursday.

    The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times reported that the Trump administration sent a letter to UT-Austin and eight other universities asking them to join a “compact” that would qualify them for the benefit. The schools would have to ban the use of race and sex considerations in admissions and hiring, cap enrollment of international undergraduate students at 15%, and require applicants to take the SAT or a similar test.

    An ABC News affiliate in Boston first published the memo, which The Texas Tribune has reviewed. The Trump administration would also require universities to stay politically neutral, restructure academic programs it says sideline conservative viewpoints, crack down on disruptive protests, refund tuition to students who drop out within the first year, and commit to grading standards that "only rigorously reflect the demonstrated mastery of a subject that the grade purports to represent."

    In a statement to the Tribune, UT System Board of Regents Chair Kevin Eltife said the system was honored UT-Austin was selected to be part of the Trump administration’s proposal.

    • Haha 1
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    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    abbott is all in on this 

     

    • Rage+1 2
    dcbc

    Posted

    On 10/4/2025 at 1:30 PM, BurntOrange&White said:

    So does this mean lawyers in Texas can’t practice anywhere else?

    I mean, I'm a lawyer in Texas, but . . .

     

    lionel-hutz-can-you-imagine-a-world-with

    • Hook 'Em 2
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    • Haha 3
    Nice Guy Eddie

    Posted

    On 10/4/2025 at 3:57 PM, Satchel said:

    What’s do bad about becoming Sul Ross?

    https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/02/university-texas-austin-trump-administration-compact/

     

    The Trump administration has asked the University of Texas at Austin to agree to a “set of operating principles” — which reportedly include adopting a stricter definition of gender, a five-year tuition freeze and a cap on international student enrollment — in exchange for preferential access to federal funding, the University of Texas System confirmed on Thursday.

    The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times reported that the Trump administration sent a letter to UT-Austin and eight other universities asking them to join a “compact” that would qualify them for the benefit. The schools would have to ban the use of race and sex considerations in admissions and hiring, cap enrollment of international undergraduate students at 15%, and require applicants to take the SAT or a similar test.

    An ABC News affiliate in Boston first published the memo, which The Texas Tribune has reviewed. The Trump administration would also require universities to stay politically neutral, restructure academic programs it says sideline conservative viewpoints, crack down on disruptive protests, refund tuition to students who drop out within the first year, and commit to grading standards that "only rigorously reflect the demonstrated mastery of a subject that the grade purports to represent."

    In a statement to the Tribune, UT System Board of Regents Chair Kevin Eltife said the system was honored UT-Austin was selected to be part of the Trump administration’s proposal.

    I can get behind an idea related to refunds for freshmen dropouts. They shouldn’t get credits and a refund but if UT didn’t convince them it was worth to return, why not offer a one time satisfaction guarantee.

    Gap03

    Posted

    Greg doesn't seem to recognize that there will be no place for the disabled in Stephen Miller's 4th Reich.  

    South Austin

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Gap03 said:

    Greg doesn't seem to recognize that there will be no place for the disabled in Stephen Miller's 4th Reich.  

    Oh, there will be a place . . . 

    spacer.png

    • Hook 'Em 1
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    Longhorn_Fan68

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, South Austin said:

    Oh, there will be a place . . . 

    spacer.png

    or that scene from the The Pianist that someone recently posted that I don't really care to track down. that's more likely

    hornmpa96

    Posted

    1 hour ago, South Austin said:

    Oh, there will be a place . . . 

    spacer.png

    Is this the new Ghost Rider movie?

    I can see Abbott making a deal with the devil.

    • Haha 1
    Brisketexan

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, hornmpa96 said:

    Is this the new Ghost Rider movie?

    I can see Abbott making a deal with the devil.

    I can't.

    There are some people the devil won't deal with.  Even old Scratch has his standards.

    • Hook 'Em 2
    Captain Ron

    Posted

    4 hours ago, hornmpa96 said:

    Is this the new Ghost Rider movie?

    I can see Abbott making a deal with the devil.

    He already has. He has his power. He has his title. It only cost him is his spine.

    oh and a broken back too. 

    Biff Tannen

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, mchookem said:

    Screenshot_20251006_205209_Reddit.thumb.jpg.8c64aa8f8a930a792e8b572e2ed4b46b.jpg

     

    in an interaction like this can Abbott actually see the response? do his followers? 

    anyways... nice punch. 

    They can, but they don’t care. 

    • Hook 'Em 5
    TwiceHorn

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

     

    Well, other than dumbass lawsuits and easily resisted "civil investigative demands," Kenny-boy ain't got no tools to investigate anyone.

    2fd866e430e8ecfad4c2ce860fe5d1d2.png&f=1

    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

    Well, other than dumbass lawsuits and easily resisted "civil investigative demands," Kenny-boy ain't got no tools to investigate anyone.

    2fd866e430e8ecfad4c2ce860fe5d1d2.png&f=1

     

    he's about to throw a wide fucking net. screw over some good people. paxton will be sure to find heavy R juries 

    Satchel

    Posted

    PragerU is coming to a UT. Watch.

    • Rage+1 1
    • Fuck Around and Find Out 1
    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    police state 

    • Rage+1 7
    • Fuck Around and Find Out 1
    tx 3 putt

    Posted (edited)

    On 10/6/2025 at 10:30 AM, hayden_horn said:

    Greg Abbott is a ghoul

     

    Greg Abbott is sending the Texas National Guard to blue states to help capture the migrants he illegally bussed to those states. He's a twisted piece of shit 

    Edited by tx 3 putt
    • Hook 'Em 5
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    Evil Bill Obrien

    Posted

    10 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

    police state 

    Handmaids Tale Cheers GIF by HULU

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    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Satchel said:

    PragerU is coming to a UT. Watch.

     

    not unless they're donating heavily to abbott and patrick 

    Bozo_Casanova

    Posted

    Clearly ABC news has made a mistake here and used a photo of the people in front of Enchiladas Y Mas on a Saturday Afternoon 

    • Like 2
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    Pato del Muerto

    Posted

    They took the ones that will best  blend in around Chicago.

    • Haha 2
    speed817

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

    Clearly ABC news has made a mistake here and used a photo of the people in front of Enchiladas Y Mas on a Saturday Afternoon 

    giphy.gif.59f9c214bee059c0dc9465e44745368c.gif

    • Haha 5
    • Drool 1
    TwiceHorn

    Posted (edited)

    12 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

    Clearly ABC news has made a mistake here and used a photo of the people in front of Enchiladas Y Mas on a Saturday Afternoon 

    Whiskey Pete gonna have some problems with them.

    Enchiladas y mas, mucho mas.

    Edited by TwiceHorn
    horngrad03

    Posted

    32 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

    Clearly ABC news has made a mistake here and used a photo of the people in front of Enchiladas Y Mas on a Saturday Afternoon 

    Special Sauce, Lettuce, Cheese Forces

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1



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