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  • I think that it’s now safe to say that we Texans now live in a failed state.Ā  30 years of GOP rule, setting our own standard, living the ā€œTexas Dream,ā€ 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 ā€œutilities,ā€ not ā€œluxuries,ā€ for a reason).Ā  No power.Ā  No water.Ā  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).Ā  So citizens are stuck in their homes, some of them dying there.Ā 

    Water resource planning?Ā  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.Ā  We’ve finally gotten on our horse a bit, but it may be too late if the next drought comes anytime soon. Ā 

    State rank in key categories:

    Education – 34

    Health Care - 37

    Infrastructure - 33

    Opportunity - 39

    Environment - 44

    Infrastructure - 33Ā 

    In overall quality of life ranking by US News, we are now #38, down from #36 just two years ago.Ā  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 ā€œroaring economyā€ and the ā€œTexas Miracle!ā€Ā  But we can’t deliver the basics for our citizens.Ā  The economy is VERY efficient at funneling bazillions to the very few…..with little of it ā€œtrickling downā€ to most Texans.Ā  Yeah, the people on this board generally do fine, but face the facts – we’re the top 10% or so.Ā  We are educated, older, and fortunate.

    Our federal system allows for state-by-state experiments.Ā  Texas is the poster child for near anarcho-capitalism and zero regulation or oversight.Ā  We have tested that approach, for over a generation now (30 years of Republican rule).Ā  That approach is a failure.Ā  The evidence is undeniable, and overwhelming.Ā  It doesn’t matter how many River Oaks millionaires you produce if the rest of your people are dying in their homes.Ā  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.Ā  Their prospects for employment are mediocre.Ā  Their prospects of suffering crippling medical debt at some point are significant.Ā  Their chances of not having basic utilities needed for life safety at some point – all but certain.Ā  Their chances of becoming ill or dying from a pollution-caused illness are material.

    What’s the result?Ā  Our leaders have sold Texas as a paradise – move here!Ā  Bring your business here!Ā  And some businesses have done so, adding opportunity…..but providing little to no tax support for the infrastructure we all depend on.Ā  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.Ā  It’s people with young kids, who want them to grow up in a better place.Ā  It’s people in their working years, who simply want a better path.Ā  It’s retirees, who want a safe and secure place to live.

    We have consumed our seed stock.Ā  We have burned through our reserves.Ā  We are now consuming ourselves.Ā  The ability to pitch Texas as the land of opportunity is done.Ā  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.Ā  MyĀ children are already unlikely to make their future in this state.Ā  Now we are, too.

    But the response from the Republican leadership and their sycophants – ā€œhow are you gonna pay for it?Ā  Taxes?Ā  That’s socialism!Ā  You want that stuff, you have to pay for it!ā€

    Fuck yes I do, and I’m okay with that.Ā  I want groceries…so I have to pay HEB.Ā  I want a car…so I have to pay Ford.Ā  I want clothes…..so I have to pay Dillards.Ā  I want my population educated….so I have to pay the school district.Ā  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.Ā  I want water to come out of the taps….so I have to pay for development of resources and maintenance of infrastructure.Ā  I want roads….so I pay taxes to build and maintain them.Ā  YES, I have to pay for all of those things, and ā€œnothing is freeā€ – no fucking shit.Ā  So, let’s pay for it.Ā  We have the #15 economy….we HAVE the funds in this state.Ā  An economy with the flow of funds that ours has can produce and maintain all of those results.Ā  But we have chosen a different path; funnel all the dollars to the top, and spend next to nothing for the public good.Ā  We have privatized profit….we have socialized the costs.Ā  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.Ā  And I am enraged.

    I love Texas.Ā  I am 6th generation here.Ā  My ancestors have Texas historical markers on their graves.Ā  We helped make this state, and this state helped make us.Ā  It educated us (back when college was affordable).Ā  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. Ā This state has a terrible future, unless we dramatically change our path.Ā Ā  Chances of that happening?Ā  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.Ā  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.Ā  No taxes.Ā  No government functionality.

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

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    Saint Tacky

    Posted

    Ā 

    On 9/16/2025 at 8:37 PM, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

    Is vidor, Texas a racist city? Yes, I've known that my whole life. I'm lily white and even i don't stop in that town.Ā 

    I went to take an OGML lease from a woman in Vidor around 1998. I had to sit there with a straight face while she explained that Vidor gets a bad rap — that Black folks justĀ chooseĀ to live in Beaumont or Port Arthur because, according to her, there were liquor stores and fried-chicken shacks on every corner over there.

    Brisketexan

    Posted

    11 minutes ago, Saint Tacky said:

    Ā 

    I went to take an OGML lease from a woman in Vidor around 1998. I had to sit there with a straight face while she explained that Vidor gets a bad rap — that Black folks justĀ chooseĀ to live in Beaumont or Port Arthur because, according to her, there were liquor stores and fried-chicken shacks on every corner over there.

    I mean, "pick the town with good-time stores and fried chicken joints" woulda been persuasive to 1998 Brisket.Ā  And 2025 Brisket.

    • Like 1
    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    1 hour ago, MC Fresh Breath said:

    Also, can anyone closer to this speak about it?
    Ā 

    Ā 

    Ā 

    aggie president stepping down tomorrow. texags is celebrating. someone their suggested funding a bounty for students, identify any dei / lgbqt on campus and get $1000 scholarship.Ā 

    abbott would be proudĀ 

    Ā 

    Ā 

    Ā 

    tx 3 putt

    Posted (edited)

    20 minutes ago, Saint Tacky said:

    Ā 

    I went to take an OGML lease from a woman in Vidor around 1998. I had to sit there with a straight face while she explained that Vidor gets a bad rap — that Black folks justĀ chooseĀ to live in Beaumont or Port Arthur because, according to her, there were liquor stores and fried-chicken shacks on every corner over there.

    Ā 

    beaumont used to have a fancy fried chicken place but they moved to a big spot and failedĀ 

    beaumont friend chicken scene is nothing special !

    Edited by tx 3 putt
    TwiceHorn

    Posted

    1 hour ago, MC Fresh Breath said:

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/texas-a-m-president-mark-a-welsh-iii-to-step-down-after-a-week-of-turmoil-over-viral-classroom-video/ar-AA1MQI6w

    Ā 

    Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III will step down on Friday after more than a week of turmoil sparked by a viral video of a student confronting a professor over gender content in a children’s literature course, the Texas A&M University System announced Thursday.

    Ā 

    Ā 

    Ā 

    He didn't follow the orders of the regime swiftly enough and resisted.

    • Rage+1 1
    Shut up Lou Holtz

    Posted

    Reading up on hays county ISD putting up the 10 commandments in classes. As an educator this pisses me off to no end. As a science and social studies teacher, it pisses me off even more. I will fight this shit if my district tells me to hang it up. MAGA inbreds literally shitting on our constitution while calling themselves patriots. Fuck each and every supporter.Ā 

    • Hook 'Em 3
    • Like 3
    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    1 hour ago, MC Fresh Breath said:

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/texas-a-m-president-mark-a-welsh-iii-to-step-down-after-a-week-of-turmoil-over-viral-classroom-video/ar-AA1MQI6w

    Ā 

    Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III will step down on Friday after more than a week of turmoil sparked by a viral video of a student confronting a professor over gender content in a children’s literature course, the Texas A&M University System announced Thursday.

    Ā 

    Ā 

    Ā 

    Ā 

    wasn't the students argument that per president trump, there is only male and female. everything else is illegal Ā ?

    Ā 

    Ghost of NMAS

    Posted

    1 hour ago, MC Fresh Breath said:

    Also, can anyone closer to this speak about it?
    Ā 

    Ā 

    One can only assume that the ideological purge has begun. Ā 

    • Rage+1 1
    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Ghost of NMAS said:

    One can only assume that the ideological purge has begun. Ā 

    Ā 

    works much easier if the unwanted just leaveĀ 

    MC Fresh Breath

    Posted

    1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

    Ā 

    aggie president stepping down tomorrow. texags is celebrating. someone their suggested funding a bounty for students, identify any dei / lgbqt on campus and get $1000 scholarship.Ā 

    abbott would be proudĀ 

    Ā 

    Ā 

    Ā 

    Sorry was referring to the UT story. Ā Figure many on this board know more than I do which is nothingĀ 

    scottsins

    Posted

    Reading up on hays county ISD putting up the 10 commandments in classes. As an educator this pisses me off to no end. As a science and social studies teacher, it pisses me off even more. I will fight this shit if my district tells me to hang it up. MAGA inbreds literally shitting on our constitution while calling themselves patriots. Fuck each and every supporter.Ā 

    Just hang up some Quran pages/passages.
    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
    Satchel

    Posted

    There are some very dark days ahead for higher ed in Texas. The latest aggy purge is brought to you by the Charlie Kirk inspired Professor Watchlist:

    After mounting political accusations of "liberal indoctrination" in Texas A&M University courses, President Mark Welsh is stepping down as the university's leader, Chancellor Glenn Hegar announced Thursday evening.

    The news comes after Welsh fired a professor atĀ Gov. Greg Abbott's direction when a video of a student confronting theĀ professor forĀ teaching about gender identity in a children's literature course went viral. Critics have called the termination a politically motivated violation of academic freedom, while other critics have continued to push the call for Welsh to resign.

    TwiceHorn

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Ghost of NMAS said:

    One can only assume that the ideological purge has begun. Ā 

    A lot of it is self-executing.Ā  We're going to lose a lot of good academics over this shit.

    Satchel

    Posted

    1 minute ago, TwiceHorn said:

    A lot of it is self-executing.Ā  We're going to lose a lot of good academics over this shit.

    And just this week Forbes named UT as a top public Ivy and a viable alternative to the Ivy League schools which have lost some luster in the current political climate. They obviously don’t know what’s afoot here in Texas.

    • Hook 'Em 1
    tchookem

    Posted

    Reading up on hays county ISD putting up the 10 commandments in classes. As an educator this pisses me off to no end. As a science and social studies teacher, it pisses me off even more. I will fight this shit if my district tells me to hang it up. MAGA inbreds literally shitting on our constitution while calling themselves patriots. Fuck each and every supporter.Ā 
    If that gimpy-eyed sack of shit can hang it straight, he can climb on my counter and hang it himself.
    Biff Tannen

    Posted

    35 minutes ago, Satchel said:

    There are some very dark days ahead for higher ed in Texas. The latest aggy purge is brought to you by the Charlie Kirk inspired Professor Watchlist:

    Ā 

    After mounting political accusations of "liberal indoctrination" in Texas A&M University courses, President Mark Welsh is stepping down as the university's leader, Chancellor Glenn Hegar announced Thursday evening.

    The news comes after Welsh fired a professor atĀ Gov. Greg Abbott's direction when a video of a student confronting theĀ professor forĀ teaching about gender identity in a children's literature course went viral. Critics have called the termination a politically motivated violation of academic freedom, while other critics have continued to push the call for Welsh to resign.

    I just watched the John Oliver about the administration assault on higher education. Led by JD Vance and Stephen Miller, these dipshits have no idea the long term damage they are doing to our country and the world.Ā 
    Ā 

    Again, we are allowing the US to sink to second world status and most Americans dont have any idea it is happening.Ā 

    Satchel

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, tchookem said:
    2 hours ago, Shut up Lou Holtz said:
    Reading up on hays county ISD putting up the 10 commandments in classes. As an educator this pisses me off to no end. As a science and social studies teacher, it pisses me off even more. I will fight this shit if my district tells me to hang it up. MAGA inbreds literally shitting on our constitution while calling themselves patriots. Fuck each and every supporter.Ā 

    If that gimpy-eyed sack of shit can hang it straight, he can climb on my counter and hang it himself.

    A federal judge a temporarily blocked SB10. We’ll see…

    Larry T. Spider

    Posted

    1 hour ago, TwiceHorn said:

    A lot of it is self-executing.Ā  We're going to lose a lot of good academics over this shit.

    No such thing as a good academic to many conservatives.

    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    50 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

    I just watched the John Oliver about the administration assault on higher education. Led by JD Vance and Stephen Miller, these dipshits have no idea the long term damage they are doing to our country and the world.Ā 
    Ā 

    Again, we are allowing the US to sink to second world status and most Americans dont have any idea it is happening.Ā 

    Ā 

    the plan is for them to stay in officeĀ 




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