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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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    2 hours ago, 'stache said:

    I have a long term commitment locally until summer of 2025. I'm going to look in earnest this fall about moving to D.C. or Minneapolis, maybe central coast California. This shit is too far and there's no signs of sanity returning to Texoma anytime soon.

    Denzel Washington GIF
     

    When I hear central California.

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    3 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

    What tax district did you say your rapidly appreciating home with a shrinking tax bill was in?

     

    He's not going to give any more info on the tax bill thing.  He knows he's either full of shit, or withholding pertinent information.

    Edited by Chewbacca
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    4 hours ago, Make em eat Taco Bell said:

    natives get good corporate jobs too -- see UT Austin grads. 

    Unless they teach public education.  Then they get shit pay and have to buy their own school supplies.  But, hey, at least Abbott wants to support them, right?

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    1 hour ago, Chewbacca said:

    He's not going to give any more info on the tax bill thing.  He knows he's either full of shit, or withholding pertinent information.

    well at least he's not paying 60%!

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    5 hours ago, 'stache said:

    I have a long term commitment locally until summer of 2025. I'm going to look in earnest this fall about moving to D.C. or Minneapolis, maybe central coast California. This shit is too far and there's no signs of sanity returning to Texoma anytime soon.

    You gotta go with Minneapolis, when the End Times come you can slip right into Canada. Unless the End Times includes a Canadian Invasion. But either the Canadians will be polite, or they'll slaughter their prisoners like they did in WW1. Either way, you're set. 

    You could go to either of the coasts and conceivably sail away, sure, but you know those barges are gonna turn out to be Soylent Green scows.

    Edited by RDCanecutter
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    5 hours ago, 'stache said:

    I have a long term commitment locally until summer of 2025. I'm going to look in earnest this fall about moving to D.C. or Minneapolis, maybe central coast California. This shit is too far and there's no signs of sanity returning to Texoma anytime soon.

    Central Cal coast:  the Stache retirement plan.  I assume your savings are mountainous.  Second level humble brag.  

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    5 hours ago, slorch said:

    Homestead Exemption change would be what I assume they are alluding to.

    With Texas voters' approval of Proposition 4 on the Nov. 7 ballot, taxpayers' 2023 property tax bills, as outlined in Senate Bill (SB) 2, will be based on the value adjusted for: An increase in the residence homestead exemption for school districts from $40,000 to $100,000.

    I would have thought that too, but he specifically said that wasnt the case:

    HS exemptions are relatively minor given the appraisal…”

    Edited by Bozo_Casanova
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    We are literally a year away from giving Texas teachers a $500 gift card that can only be used for art supplies or a handgun.  

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    10 minutes ago, YGIFS said:

    We are literally a year away from giving Texas teachers a $500 gift card that can only be used for art supplies or a handgun.  

    Because dude, handguns ARE art supplies.   There's no art greater than a blood spatter pattern.

    Blessed be the firearms, for they are first among men.  First Rugerians, ch 5, verse 56.

    Edited by Brisketexan
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    You’re confusing your readings. It was a letter from Walther to the Lugarians, “Don’t make me come up there and shoot a bitch!”

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    Quote

    Nevertheless, some residents in rural Hood County lost power. That included Hunter Sims, who lives a mile and a half from the plant and lost power for 9 hours, relying on a backup generator for his well. Sims was angered that he was without power while the mining operation continued unabated. Overall, he says his quality of life has worsened due to the facility’s noise pollution. “When I’m sitting in my living room, I can hear a loud humming,” he says. “You can’t really relax.” 

    https://time.com/6590155/bitcoin-mining-noise-texas/

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    18 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

    I'm pretty sure someone so cucked by Trump that they go dress up as Hitler and storm the Capitol doesn't have the first clue about anything sexual.

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    Man, how the fuck are you supposed to live here when the Lt. Governor says completely off the wall shit like "Democrat deep state run by Barack Obama."

    This isn't some fringe rep running in a primary in rural Texas. It's the damn Lieutenant Governor. Seriously? We're supposed to be an economic powerhouse and we're led by people talking about the Democrat deep state? Just seven years ago he would have been tar and feathered as being a batshit conspiracy theorist. Now it barely registers. 

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    2 hours ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

    Man, how the fuck are you supposed to live here when the Lt. Governor says completely off the wall shit like "Democrat deep state run by Barack Obama."

    starship-troopers-paul-verhoeven.gif
     

    If Patrick is very publicly going all in on Qanon Deep State bullshit, then something has him scared and current Texas Republican talking points either aren’t working well, or even working against the Republicans.

    Yeah, Bathroom Dan has always been weird, but he’s scared of something to push batshit Obama stuff.

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    On 2/10/2024 at 9:32 PM, tx 3 putt said:

    Party of small govt 

     

     

    "In Georgia, Lowell received Paxtons demand for her patient’s medical information the day it was due. The physician’s mail had been stopped for weeks after an arsonist set fire to QueerMed, her gender-affirming care clinic.

    Her lawyers had to negotiate with Paxton’s office to get a one-week extension to review the letter. Lowell ultimately declined to turn over patient information."
     
    Surprised she even answered the droop-eyed lunatic.
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    41 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

    "In Georgia, Lowell received Paxtons demand for her patient’s medical information the day it was due. The physician’s mail had been stopped for weeks after an arsonist set fire to QueerMed, her gender-affirming care clinic.

    Her lawyers had to negotiate with Paxton’s office to get a one-week extension to review the letter. Lowell ultimately declined to turn over patient information."
     
    Surprised she even answered the droop-eyed lunatic.

    The only proper response would have been to send two brief letters, a couple of days apart.

    "Fuck."

    .......

    "Off."

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    1 minute ago, Brisketexan said:

    The only proper response would have been to send two brief letters, a couple of days apart.

    "Fuck."

    .......

    "Off."

    She had just dealt with an arsonist. I reckon she figured that, being in Georgia, Droop-Eye would have called in a favor from Clan Sporkfoot to come rolling down from Marge's district.

    But yeah, this is Aggy-er than Aggy.

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    On 2/9/2024 at 2:53 PM, FirstTimeCaller said:

    Man, how the fuck are you supposed to live here when the Lt. Governor says completely off the wall shit like "Democrat deep state run by Barack Obama."

    This isn't some fringe rep running in a primary in rural Texas. It's the damn Lieutenant Governor. Seriously? We're supposed to be an economic powerhouse and we're led by people talking about the Democrat deep state? Just seven years ago he would have been tar and feathered as being a batshit conspiracy theorist. Now it barely registers. 

    Your governor, on multiple occasions, has tweeted links the stories from the Gateway fucking Pundit. Not that you need me to tell you, but it's over. 

    Dan probably thinks that he should get credit for claiming the batshit thought as his own, rather than just lazily posting conspiracy links. 

    Forget the ideological differences...it's astounding how truly stupid these people are.

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    23 hours ago, Neonmoon said:

    Weird…didn’t think Abbot wanted Federal money?

    Well, he’s wasted millions of our tax dollars on razor wire, bus and plane tickets for migrants.

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    Well, he’s wasted millions of our tax dollars on razor wire, bus and plane tickets for migrants.

    hundreds of millions. With him as governor, we’re in a perpetual state of emergency
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    On 3/2/2024 at 3:46 PM, Horn Under a Bad Sign said:

    While Abbot and the National Guard are down on the Rio Grande ....

     

     

     

     

    On 3/2/2024 at 5:42 PM, Neonmoon said:

    Weird…didn’t think Abbot wanted Federal money?

    It's burned well over 1MM acres and has crossed state lines. I don't think he has a choice. And of course, as with everything he does, the political optics are the driver and the optics of refusing Federal aid would be pretty bad. Of course the Panhandle would still vote for him but still.

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    Well, he’s wasted millions of our tax dollars on razor wire, bus and plane tickets for migrants.

    But we got that surplus, ya stupid sip
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    6 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

    This sums up everything.

    dcr49pmadfmc1.png?auto=webp&s=5a21ff8382

    If we've decided that our "Texas spirit" is "borderline mentally retarded pathological lying racist misogynist"......yeah......count me the fuck out.

    This was the "Texas spirit" I was raised with.  Amazing how we have turned it completely on its head:

    Quote

    Growing up in Texas, especially in small town Texas you hear and more importantly learn very early on in life that “A Man is Only as Good as His Word”.  

    Truly fucking amazing that this is where we are.

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    On 3/4/2024 at 10:08 AM, gmr548 said:

     

    It's burned well over 1MM acres and has crossed state lines. I don't think he has a choice. And of course, as with everything he does, the political optics are the driver and the optics of refusing Federal aid would be pretty bad. Of course the Panhandle would still vote for him but still.

    I was being facetious. Abbot only accepts federal money when it helps rich people (landowners)

    He has yet to accept Federal money to expand Medicaid because poor don’t donate to his campaign 

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    9 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

    I was being facetious. Abbot only accepts federal money when it helps rich people (landowners)

    He has yet to accept Federal money to expand Medicaid because poor don’t donate to his campaign 

    Part of the 1M+ acres that have burned were on the Mesa Vista Ranch (Boone Pickens' old place) so he'll definitely accept federal money for that

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    2 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

     

    You have to chuckle.  It's almost like Fox News is a bit....except satire and irony are fucking DEAD.

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    9 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

     

    Think back to high school. Now think of all those dumb motherfuckers (stoners, dumb fucking jocks, dipshit bitches, etc) who struggled to make Cs and lower grades. They make up half of population. The majority of those dipshits are Republican voters. 

    2016 - 2024 United States is what happens when education fails, and those stupid people spread their idiocy via social media.

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    3 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

    Think back to high school. Now think of all those dumb motherfuckers (stoners, dumb fucking jocks, dipshit bitches, etc) who struggled to make Cs and lower grades. They make up half of population. The majority of those dipshits are Republican voters. 

    2016 - 2024 United States is what happens when education fails, and those stupid people spread their idiocy via social media.

    I hate to break it to you but things are not going to look any better next year even if Biden wins. The status quo is essentially the best possible outcome.

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    2 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

     

    Even Fox News has to worry about what that woman was going to say next. 

    I don't have an estimate but I bet a decent percent of the GOP would vote to take the right to vote from women. And other minorities as well.

    Edited by Nice Guy Eddie
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    39 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

    Even Fox News has to worry about what that woman was going to say next. 

    I don't have an estimate but I bet a decent percent of the GOP would vote to take the right to vote from women. And other minorities as well.


    if it has a vagina, it’s crazy !

    Edited by tx 3 putt
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