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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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    CTC2

    Posted

    2 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

    everyone pay attention to abbott ruining public education, public universities are next and will be hit much harder 

     

    UT is already turning the corner on this. I’m super disappointed in Hartzell. The BOR fundamentally wants to change the university.  Civitas Institute just the beginning. 

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    InkaUtexas

    Posted

    11 minutes ago, South Austin said:

    SOCIALISM!!!

    Professors now paid in tips.

    LCHorn

    Posted

    59 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

    some good news, curious is abbott approved this …..

     

    Are there “non-academic” universities in the UT system?

     

    17 minutes ago, CTC2 said:

    The BOR fundamentally wants to change the university.

    What are they doing that you object to?

    MonkeyDoughnut

    Posted

    1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

    some good news, curious is abbott approved this …..

     

    Good program addition, but I'd rather they lower the ridiculous cost of higher education instead.  No family of any income level should be looking at six figure undergraduate degree expense.

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    Biff Tannen

    Posted

    45 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

    Are there “non-academic” universities in the UT system?

    Aggy. 
     

     

    Sorry, you teed it up. 

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    LCHorn

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Biff Tannen said:

    Aggy. 
     

     

    Sorry, you teed it up. 

    Not in the UT system…

    Biff Tannen

    Posted

    14 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

    Not in the UT system…

    Randolph Duke has told me otherwise 

    • Like 1
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    Zepol87

    Posted

    4 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

    some good news, curious is abbott approved this …..

     

    Ok so what’s the deal here? Many of my family members would enjoy this. 

    Macanudo

    Posted

    6 hours ago, Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand said:

    Gimme something to write on, man.

    I don't feel tardy.

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    miguelito

    Posted

    Is this deal going to make tuition go up for everyone else?

    Dnaguy

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Biff Tannen said:

    Randolph Duke has told me otherwise 

    Where’s that guy been?

    royiv

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Dnaguy said:

    Where’s that guy been?

    Works for looch these days.

    StassneyHorn

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Zepol87 said:

    Ok so what’s the deal here? Many of my family members would enjoy this. 

    Rent

    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    4 hours ago, MonkeyDoughnut said:

    Good program addition, but I'd rather they lower the ridiculous cost of higher education instead.  No family of any income level should be looking at six figure undergraduate degree expense.

     

    when pell grants disappear, pricing will suddenly drop 

    StassneyHorn

    Posted

    In 2019, the Regents established a $167 million endowment at UT Austin to completely cover tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students from families with an AGI of up to $65,000, and with support to alleviate much of tuition costs for families earning up to $125,000. In 2022, the Regents doubled down with a second endowment of almost $300 million – collectively called “Promise Plus” – to extend the program to all UT academic institutions

    Cairn Horn88

    Posted

    If Abbott proposes something, beware of his motives….there’s always an agenda with Abbott….there’s a “gotcha” here somewhere.

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    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    a&m has already started their woke crack down. won’t be long before other schools fall in line ….

     

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    Dutchrudder

    Posted

    Cyfair ISD 6-10th grade students were given a survey this week to ask if they wanted to take a Health class. The results, which will likely be a majority of "no", will likely be used to argue to eliminate the class. Yay democracy! 

    It's a shame we don't have some department that sets standards for this kind of thing at a national level to ensure basic understanding of important subjects for all high school graduates. Oh well, I'm sure the Internet will teach them.

    • Like 1
    LCHorn

    Posted

    23 minutes ago, Dutchrudder said:

    Cyfair ISD 6-10th grade students were given a survey this week to ask if they wanted to take a Health class. The results, which will likely be a majority of "no", will likely be used to argue to eliminate the class. Yay democracy! 

    It's a shame we don't have some department that sets standards for this kind of thing at a national level to ensure basic understanding of important subjects for all high school graduates. Oh well, I'm sure the Internet will teach them.

    Why do you presume it would be a “no”?  This was 30 years ago, but when I was in school everyone was pretty excited to take health because we had so little formal education on the subject matter otherwise.  

    kevwun

    Posted

    Because that was 30 years ago before smart phones and widespread internet access.

    • Hook 'Em 4
    safe sex

    Posted

    Why bother listening to nurses and doctors when Google can tell you what to tell them what you need?

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    Dutchrudder

    Posted

    16 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

    Why do you presume it would be a “no”?  This was 30 years ago, but when I was in school everyone was pretty excited to take health because we had so little formal education on the subject matter otherwise.  

    Because if you ask most kids, "do you want more classes" they will generally answer no. We also have a huge issue with teen pregnancy in Texas, and a lack of sex ed is a root cause of it. 

    Besides that it's idiotic to ask kids to pick their core curriculum. Heath class is a broad subject that should be taught. This isn't an art class where you can choose your favorite instrument or form of art. 

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    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    55 minutes ago, Dutchrudder said:

    Cyfair ISD 6-10th grade students were given a survey this week to ask if they wanted to take a Health class. The results, which will likely be a majority of "no", will likely be used to argue to eliminate the class. Yay democracy! 

    It's a shame we don't have some department that sets standards for this kind of thing at a national level to ensure basic understanding of important subjects for all high school graduates. Oh well, I'm sure the Internet will teach them.

     

     

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    NeverMarryAStripper

    Posted

    That will give them an excuse to replace health with a mandatory bible class

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    royiv

    Posted

    12 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

    That will give them an excuse to replace health with a mandatory bible class

    Straight from the Project 2025 playbook.

    InkaUtexas

    Posted

    26 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

    That will give them an excuse to replace health with a mandatory bible class

    Think of all the trump bibles about to be purchased

    Dnaguy

    Posted

    4 hours ago, safe sex said:

    Why bother listening to nurses and doctors when Google can tell you what to tell them what you need?

    Yeah…..

    i just wish I had that when I was in school.

    I thought I was a freak due to my girthy 12” dong, penchant for choking girls during sex, and throwing 7 or 8 long ropes all over my step sisters face.

    Had the internet been around I would have realized I was not a freak.

    #bodypositivity, #dontslutshame

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    safe sex

    Posted

    Ummm

    • Haha 3
    Updawg

    Posted

    Not surprised

    InkaUtexas

    Posted

    Probably aggies.

    • Rage+1 2
    Tonesky

    Posted (edited)

     

    On 11/20/2024 at 7:03 PM, Biff Tannen said:

    Randolph Duke has told me otherwise 

    TLDR

    Edited by Tonesky
    • Haha 2
    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    lulz 

     

    • Fuck You 1
    Shut up Lou Holtz

    Posted

    25 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

    lulz 

     

    Ain’t no chair bitch getting a job in dc. Still kisses ass

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    Jhawkmvp

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Dnaguy said:

    Yeah…..

    i just wish I had that when I was in school.

    I thought I was a freak due to my girthy 12” dong, penchant for choking girls during sex, and throwing 7 or 8 long ropes all over my step sisters face.

    Had the internet been around I would have realized I was not a freak.

    #bodypositivity, #dontslutshame

    User name checks out.

    Biff Tannen

    Posted

    40 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

    lulz 

     

    maxresdefault.jpg

    • Haha 2
    tx 3 putt

    Posted (edited)

     

    more douche bags in bound to the austin area 

    Edited by tx 3 putt
    • Rage+1 2
    Macanudo

    Posted

    On 11/21/2024 at 9:25 PM, tx 3 putt said:

    lulz 

     

    Respect for the rule of law?   Really?  

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    gmr548

    Posted

    On 11/21/2024 at 2:05 PM, NeverMarryAStripper said:

    That will give them an excuse to replace health with a mandatory bible class  aggy yell practice

    We talkin' 'bout CyFair.

    BrickHorn

    Posted

    1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

    more douche bags in bound to the austin area 

    Good. I’m going to list my house as “blockchain enabled” and sell it at a premium to one of these dickfaces. 

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    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    1 minute ago, BrickHorn said:

    Good. I’m going to list my house as “blockchain enabled” and sell it at a premium to one of these dickfaces. 

     

    ive heard of blockchain, but have no clue what it is ?

    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    4 minutes ago, BrickHorn said:

    That’s perfect! Are you in the market for a house?

     

    i feel like i should buy in asap !

    InkaUtexas

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

    i feel like i should buy in asap !

    Make sure it has multiple Tesla chargers and the CT fits in the garage in case it rains.

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    Evil Bill Obrien

    Posted (edited)

     

    So Governor Hot Wheels is threatening to defund Texas Children's and BCOM because 1 doctor had the gall to stand up and say his citizenship question executive order is dumb...

     

    Edited by Evil Bill Obrien
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