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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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    5 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

    This is exactly what Abbott / Patrick / Paxton want ….

     

    Quote

    Additionally, Bonevac asserts that he has a right to refuse to employ a teaching assistant who has had an abortion, calling such women "criminals."

    It seems asking this dude under oath if he planned on voting for a felon to be hired for a government job would be germane. 

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    Michelle Obama Hope GIF by Obama
     

    TX Pres Election Outcomes
    2000 - 38.0% Dem v 59.3% Rep (George Bush)
    2004 - 38.2% D v 61.1% R (Bush)
    2008 - 43.7% D v 55.5% R (John McCain)
    2012 - 41.4% D v 57.2% R (Mitt Romney)
    2016 - 43.2% D v 52.2% R (Donald Trump)
    2020 - 46.5% D v 52.1% R (Trump)

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    15 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

    Michelle Obama Hope GIF by Obama
     

    TX Pres Election Outcomes
    2000 - 38.0% Dem v 59.3% Rep (George Bush)
    2004 - 38.2% D v 61.1% R (Bush)
    2008 - 43.7% D v 55.5% R (John McCain)
    2012 - 41.4% D v 57.2% R (Mitt Romney)
    2016 - 43.2% D v 52.2% R (Donald Trump)
    2020 - 46.5% D v 52.1% R (Trump)

    Watch out, you’ll get called a helpless dumbass for posting the D candidate needs to make up 5.6% percentage points across Houston, Dallas-Ft.Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso. Probably get called a slut too if you mention first election post-Dobbs.

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    6 minutes ago, StassneyHorn said:

    Watch out, you’ll get called a helpless dumbass for posting the D candidate needs to make up 5.6% percentage points across Houston, Dallas-Ft.Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso. Probably get called a slut too if you mention first election post-Dobbs.

     

    On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero, so one would think it would also go for GOP one-party rule. As for Dems ever winning statewide elections in Texas again:

    image.png.93a305d63ca83d6ba277d5d5ee455bf0.png

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    16 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

    Michelle Obama Hope GIF by Obama
     

    TX Pres Election Outcomes
    2000 - 38.0% Dem v 59.3% Rep (George Bush)
    2004 - 38.2% D v 61.1% R (Bush)
    2008 - 43.7% D v 55.5% R (John McCain)
    2012 - 41.4% D v 57.2% R (Mitt Romney)
    2016 - 43.2% D v 52.2% R (Donald Trump)
    2020 - 46.5% D v 52.1% R (Trump)

    If that trend continues, the D vote should be right around 48% this election. Add in the unlikability of Trump, 34 felonies, post-Dobbs enthusiasm, and a weird independent candidate that appeals to a lot of rightwing conspiracy theorists, and maybe there's a chance in 2024... 

    If nothing else, 2028 might put Texas in play if the trend continues in 4 years. (assuming we still have elections)

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    29 minutes ago, StassneyHorn said:

    Watch out, you’ll get called a helpless dumbass for posting the D candidate needs to make up 5.6% percentage points across Houston, Dallas-Ft.Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso. Probably get called a slut too if you mention first election post-Dobbs.


    I was  called a slut three before 9am, three diff women. they need to come up with something stronger 

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    Remember how all those librool states like New York and California are trafficking kids?

    https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/texas-dfps-reports-386-children-trafficked-while-in-conservatorship-last-year/

    Quote

    A report from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) in May details how many children in DFPS conservatorships went missing, and how many were victims of human trafficking, during fiscal year 2023.

    According to DFPS, 1,164 of the 31,475 minors (3.7%) in its care were reported missing last year. Of those missing, 83 were reported missing before the start of the year. Eighty-seven percent were found by September 2023 and 3% had exited conservatorship.

    Quote

    Human trafficking is another reason why kids go missing from care — reported by around 5% of recovered missing children.

    However, the majority of human trafficking that involves children under DFPS care does not happen during a missing event.

    Quote

    According to DFPS, 386 children (1% of kids in DFPS conservatorships) were trafficked last year, with the majority of them victims of sex trafficking (95.8%). Eight children were victims of labor trafficking, and nine children were trafficked for sex and labor.

    The gender disparity is severe: 90% of children trafficked from DFPS care were female. A racial breakdown of the data shows parity with total numbers.

    8sxc13.jpg

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    To unlawfully carry a weapon in Tx is something. 
     

    and ya that trend line on statewide voting looks good but I’m pretty confident we see a reversal this yr. Been an absolute shit ton of political self sorting with the in/out migration in Tx. 

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    13 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

     

    13 hours ago, bolverk said:

    Guess his profession.

     

     

    From his bio:

    Quote

    Benjamin Mostyn is an Army Veteran that spent nearly 5 years of his career deployed. He is a Certified Master Instructor and taught at the collegiate level for many years. He majored in Political Science, graduated at the top of his class in Undergraduate and Graduate School from the University of Arizona, and is a member of (4) international honors societies. Before the military, Ben grew up in Austin, TX, was the youngest employee/supervisor of the MCI Telecommunications Corporation, and was one of the first (4) students in the nation to graduate from a pilot program wherein students attended High School and College simultaneously. He has owned businesses and has served as an executive for various companies, leveraging decades of experience in management and consulting. Ben is also known for his time spent as a model, actor, and comedian in New York City, appearing in numerous publications, on stage, and on-screen. Settling his roots once again in Texas, Ben uses his skillsets in management, crisis resolution, and diplomacy to help Buyers and Sellers achieve their goals. Ben is actively engaged in his community, mentorship, and continues to assist in global affairs.

     

    I bet if you dig a little into all his claims and accolades, you find a couple that may not be completely on the up-and-up.....

    But that's just pure speculation based on his seemingly effusive vainglory.

    The whole paragraph sounds like he uploaded a ridiculously jeujed resume into ChatGPT and just kept prompting it with: I need it to sound douchier

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    3 minutes ago, safe sex said:

    Ken would never ban books

    Well he might ban the right side of the page.  ;)  

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    3 hours ago, Dnaguy said:

     

    From his bio:

     

    I bet if you dig a little into all his claims and accolades, you find a couple that may not be completely on the up-and-up.....

    But that's just pure speculation based on his seemingly effusive vainglory.

    The whole paragraph sounds like he uploaded a ridiculously jeujed resume into ChatGPT and just kept prompting it with: I need it to sound douchier

    • army vet (5 year deployment)
    • college professor
    • top of class with both undergrad AND grad school
    • attended high school and college simultaneously
    • youngest employee at MCI (is that a flex?)
    • started own companies and been executives in others
    • consultant
    • model
    • actor
    • comedian
    • crisis resolution
    • assists in global affairs

    that's quite the resume. Can he just jump right to running for the President. He's got my vote based on the impressive resume that I doubt has any lies or exaggerations.

    But seriously it wouldn't shock me if none of this true.

    Edited by Nice Guy Eddie
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    34 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:
    • army vet (5 year deployment)
    • college professor
    • top of class with both undergrad AND grad school
    • attended high school and college simultaneously
    • youngest employee at MCI (is that a flex?)
    • started own companies and been executives in others
    • consultant
    • model
    • actor
    • comedian
    • crisis resolution
    • assists in global affairs

    that's quite the resume. Can he just jump right to running for the President. He's got my vote based on the impressive resume that I doubt has any lies or exaggerations.

    But seriously it wouldn't shock me if none of this true.

    IMDB shows he was in one episode of Law & Order SVU in 2005 called “Pure”.

    https://m.imdb.com/name/nm1837575/

     

    Go Number One GIF by DEEPSYSTEM

    Edited by Dnaguy
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    23 hours ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:
    • army vet (5 year deployment)
    • college professor
    • top of class with both undergrad AND grad school
    • attended high school and college simultaneously
    • youngest employee at MCI (is that a flex?)
    • started own companies and been executives in others
    • consultant
    • model
    • actor
    • comedian
    • crisis resolution
    • assists in global affairs

    that's quite the resume. Can he just jump right to running for the President. He's got my vote based on the impressive resume that I doubt has any lies or exaggerations.

    But seriously it wouldn't shock me if none of this true.

    Only thing missing is disaster scientist.

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    6 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

    The pedophiles and groomers will be lined up to volunteer their time for this one

    The folks who wrote the legislation?

     

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    It actually goes all the way down to County, Muni, and even School Board levels.  

    Again, it's a nuanced position that the Framers simply did not anticipate.  On the one hand, they kept it so convicted people could still run for/hold office.  The idea being some British loyalists couldn't still swoop in, have some show trial, throw a candidate for Congress in jail, and make sure they could serve the newly found nation after they got out.  By the time Texas comes along and forms its Constitution, that wasn't a big concern anymore...so they just issued a blanket "you get convicted, you can't run for anything."  Many western states have similar language in their constitutions because it wasn't a huge deal after the mid-1800's.  I kinda see an in-between compromise.  But no states are changing shit about this right now given the right stakes.  Maybe in the 2032-33 cycles/sessions.  

    Texas could put a constitutional ballot measure to change this in the next two years.  But considering the language of them typically reads like it was written after Trump got an online law degree and then drank a lot of cough syrup...I doubt it would move the needle much.  

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    20 minutes ago, ChuckNorrisActionJeans said:

    Guessing that only applies to state offices

    Make them confirm it.

    Edited by Fudge Nuggets
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    6 minutes ago, DigglerontheHoof said:

    Dude legit looks like a serial killer. 

    and don't try to catch him on his right side - he'll hear you coming!

    Edited by Longhorn_Fan68
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    On 6/3/2024 at 10:30 PM, tx 3 putt said:

    Michelle Obama Hope GIF by Obama
     

    TX Pres Election Outcomes
    2000 - 38.0% Dem v 59.3% Rep (George Bush)
    2004 - 38.2% D v 61.1% R (Bush)
    2008 - 43.7% D v 55.5% R (John McCain)
    2012 - 41.4% D v 57.2% R (Mitt Romney)
    2016 - 43.2% D v 52.2% R (Donald Trump)
    2020 - 46.5% D v 52.1% R (Trump)

    Trump has been the best thing for the Texas Ds in decades

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    23 minutes ago, WBT said:

    Trump has been the best thing for the Texas Ds in decades

    when's the reaping? we've been sowing for at least the 45 years I've been on this planet

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    57 minutes ago, WBT said:

    Trump has been the best thing for the Texas Ds in decades

     

    33 minutes ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

    when's the reaping? we've been sowing for at least the 45 years I've been on this planet

    The more that the GOP hurts rural communities the more they vote GOP. There are some masochistic MFers living in small towns.

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    1 hour ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

     

    The more that the GOP hurts rural communities and blames democrats the more they vote GOP. There are some masochistic MFers living in small towns.

    fixed for accuracy. 

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