The Texpatriates Thread

[royiv 9324]

6 minutes ago, Goredho said:

The Springs is just heavily military with the AFA, Fort Carson, Cheyenne Mountain, Peterson AFB and Schriever AFB and that skews it conservative.  It is not full of evangelists and white nationalists.

Focus on the Family is based in the Springs. The place is chock full of fundies.

[Goredho 17408]

1 minute ago, royiv said:

Focus on the Family is based in the Springs. The place is chock full of fundies.

Fair point.  I guess I can only say that in the dealings I have had with people there, religion was not worn on everyone's sleeves as much as I have seen elsewhere.

[M12BH 545]

It's always been my dream to have some land in retirement where I can just peace out and just be left the fuck alone.  To that end I own 10 acres about 15 miles west of Kerrville near Mountain Home where I'll be two hours from Austin and an hour from San Antonio.  Now I'm vacillating between getting the hell out and leaving the state to the MAGATs, vs not letting them run me out of the state I've called home all my life.  Biggest pros of staying:  I can keep my own doctors (I've got a lot of them due to  numerous health issues), I will still be within reasonable distance of my family & friends, I can attend concerts and visit all my favorite restaurants whenever I want.  Cons of not moving:  Well, we all know what they are:  the heat, the fires, the traffic, the assholes running the state.  I do have some criteria for a new residence:  Has to be within an reasonable distance of a major metro area with good healthcare, good restaurants and good music, has to have access to outdoor activities - mainly hiking and biking, has to have trees (no prairie wasteland), can't be too high an elevation (migraines, although maybe they would pass), can't have frigid winters or blazing hot summers, at least for six months out of the year for either, has to be within two hours of a major airport, can't be smack dab in the middle of a bunch of fundie Republicans even if it's in a blue state.  I'm sure I'm missing plenty of pros, cons and criteria, but that's what I've come up with on short notice.

Like many of you, my Austin house is worth a ridiculous amount of money so replacement cost is not an issue. Find me a place, go.

Edited August 9, 2022 by M12BH

[Goredho 17408]

Here in Colorado, Woodland Park, CO checks a lot of your boxes if the elevation (8,465) is not too high.  You could also consider Conifer (8,277) or Bailey (7,740).  They are going to be more conservative than Austin.  There would be stuff west of Denver on I70, but I70 is a death lottery in the winter.  There is likely stuff west of Ft Collins north of Denver that I am unaware of.  I still think Salida is the best town in Colorado, but it is not convenient to the big metro areas.

 

1 minute ago, M12BH said:

It's always been my dream to have some land in retirement where I can just peace out and just be left the fuck alone.  To that end I own 10 acres about 15 miles west of Kerrville near Mountain Home where I'll be two hours from Austin and an hour from San Antonio.  Now I'm vacillating between getting the hell out and leaving the state to the MAGATs, vs not letting them run me out of the state I've called home all my life.  Biggest pros of staying:  I can keep my own doctors (I've got a lot of them due to  numerous health issues), I will still be within reasonable distance of my family & friends, I can attend concerts and visit all my favorite restaurants whenever I want.  Cons of not moving:  Well, we all know what they are:  the heat, the fires, the traffic, the assholes running the state.  I do have some criteria for a new residence:  Has to be within an reasonable distance of a major metro area with good healthcare, good restaurants and good music, has to have access to outdoor activities - mainly hiking and biking, has to have trees (no prairie wasteland), can't be too high an elevation (migraines, although maybe they would pass), can't have frigid winters or blazing hot summers, at least for six months out of the year for either, has to be within two hours of a major airport.  I'm sure I'm missing plenty of pros, cons and criteria, but that's what I've come up with on short notice.

Like many of you, my Austin house is worth a ridiculous amount of money so replacement cost is not an issue. Find me a place, go.

 

 

[closetohumping 17443]

On 7/3/2022 at 4:14 PM, F250 said:

I love Spain and I have wanted to live there since I was a kid. I used to spend summers in Spain with family. In college while backpacking Europe Spain was my base of operations. I never felt like a foreigner in Spain like I did in other countries. I've been to Spain many times throughout my career as well.

I really love the place and the people but I have to say it has it's ugly side too.

The racism in Spain is on a different level. They don't hide it. I've seen blacks denied entrance to restaurants, harassed in the streets, they definitely are not politically correct at all. Shit is nothing like here.

Like every other place life is easier for those that are not different. If you are a straight Iberian male nobody fucks with you.

I’ve heard this as well and it does give me some pause.  I don’t know shit about fucj so will defer to the experts here.  But I’ve heard antecdotes from fairly bright people that racism is more open across the pond

 

 

you know what’s funny is for every one thread like this there are ten in the metaverse that are saying “hey let’s move to Texas!”

Edited August 9, 2022 by closetohumping

[Beau Vine 54246]

1 hour ago, Goredho said:

The Springs is just heavily military with the AFA, Fort Carson, Cheyenne Mountain, Peterson AFB and Schriever AFB and that skews it conservative.  It is not full of evangelists and white nationalists.

Uh, yes it is.  

[lemonlime 5503]

1 hour ago, M12BH said:

It's always been my dream to have some land in retirement where I can just peace out and just be left the fuck alone.  To that end I own 10 acres about 15 miles west of Kerrville near Mountain Home where I'll be two hours from Austin and an hour from San Antonio.  Now I'm vacillating between getting the hell out and leaving the state to the MAGATs, vs not letting them run me out of the state I've called home all my life.  Biggest pros of staying:  I can keep my own doctors (I've got a lot of them due to  numerous health issues), I will still be within reasonable distance of my family & friends, I can attend concerts and visit all my favorite restaurants whenever I want.  Cons of not moving:  Well, we all know what they are:  the heat, the fires, the traffic, the assholes running the state.  I do have some criteria for a new residence:  Has to be within an reasonable distance of a major metro area with good healthcare, good restaurants and good music, has to have access to outdoor activities - mainly hiking and biking, has to have trees (no prairie wasteland), can't be too high an elevation (migraines, although maybe they would pass), can't have frigid winters or blazing hot summers, at least for six months out of the year for either, has to be within two hours of a major airport, can't be smack dab in the middle of a bunch of fundie Republicans even if it's in a blue state.  I'm sure I'm missing plenty of pros, cons and criteria, but that's what I've come up with on short notice.

Like many of you, my Austin house is worth a ridiculous amount of money so replacement cost is not an issue. Find me a place, go.

New Paltz, NY.  About an hour from NYC.  Blue, hippie, college town in the Shawagunk range with beautiful hiking and a rail trail for biking that runs through the town and into the mountains. Very near other hiking (Catskills, Harriman, Adirondacks) and bike paths and skiing.  No real elevation, despite being in some smaller mountains.  Four seasons, but even the winters aren't too extreme, though there's some snow/cold.

[Chewbacca 7780]

1 hour ago, Goredho said:

Here in Colorado, Woodland Park, CO checks a lot of your boxes if the elevation (8,465) is not too high.  You could also consider Conifer (8,277) or Bailey (7,740).  They are going to be more conservative than Austin.  There would be stuff west of Denver on I70, but I70 is a death lottery in the winter.  There is likely stuff west of Ft Collins north of Denver that I am unaware of.  I still think Salida is the best town in Colorado, but it is not convenient to the big metro areas.

 

 

 

When you live in the mountains, you can plan to avoid I-70 traffic, so I wouldn't let that stop the search.  I never sit in bad traffic on I-70 and I drive to/from the mountains probably 40-50 times per year.

Glenwood Springs would fit most of the criteria except proximity to Denver, and if you want fancy food, just drive up to Aspen.  I wouldn't call Eagle a major airport by any stretch, but it's an airport.  Same can be said for Durango.  

[TexPx 2323]

We usually visit every summer. In-laws are scattered from Colorado Springs to Denver to Boulder. The Patriarch even bought acreage in the Cheyenne Mountain area back in the 60s. Cabin is still there but needs work.

This is one of the Cousin’s places near Gold Hill. It’s only about 10 miles from downtown Boulder.

[sasquatch69 603]

In the past year, my high schooler has gone from "I don't think I want to live in Texas after I graduate HS" to "I really want to get out of the U.S. after college".  And he's not a dramatic kid prone to hyperbole.  I get it, but it also breaks my heart a bit.

We're stuck in Big D for at least six more years due to kids and family obligations.  After that, who knows.  We love the mountains and northeastern NM is a frequent destination for us, but it's tricky for a lot of reasons already elucidated in this thread.

[Bookman 4639]

There are parts of Wisconsin that I'd like to move to and are affordable.

[BehoId, The Underminer! 11669]

1 month into Costa Rica. Settled into life a bit.

 

Biggest thing is VRBOing the house in Austin.  It is totally full all the time.  We had some nice photos taken, spent a couple of bucks to outfit it with quality stuff, and it is full all the time for top dollar.  I'm wondering if I'll just get a different house when we move back and keep this one going rental full time.

[Fudge Nuggets 19196]

My company posted an internal job position right up my alley in a third world shithole.  I'm throwing my hat in the ring because I hate this fucking place so much and it wouldn't be the first third world shithole I've ever worked in.  It would also cut potential time to retirement in half if I don't get dead before the assignment finishes.

[midtown 3346]

My company posted an internal job position right up my alley in a third world shithole.  I'm throwing my hat in the ring because I hate this fucking place so much and it wouldn't be the first third world shithole I've ever worked in.  It would also cut potential time to retirement in half if I don't get dead before the assignment finishes.

You could become a white poet warlord

[Judge Roybeanbag 11819]

On 8/10/2022 at 11:58 AM, sasquatch69 said:

In the past year, my high schooler has gone from "I don't think I want to live in Texas after I graduate HS" to "I really want to get out of the U.S. after college".  And he's not a dramatic kid prone to hyperbole.  I get it, but it also breaks my heart a bit.

We're stuck in Big D for at least six more years due to kids and family obligations.  After that, who knows.  We love the mountains and northeastern NM is a frequent destination for us, but it's tricky for a lot of reasons already elucidated in this thread.

My son graduated in May with his computer science degree, promptly got a job in Colorado Springs and said adios to Texas.   My niece moved to Sweden, got her PhD there and is working for the UN.   Good times.  

Edited August 23, 2022 by Judge Roybeanbag

[fattyflattie 4639]

@Chewbacca  @MoJames  how is Parker?  For some reason I’ve been getting a shitload of real estate emails from that area (I may have been looking while drinking I guess?) lately. What they are sending me looks nice. Don’t think we are going anywhere anytime soon but curious as not familiar with Denver area. 

[Beau Vine 54246]

1 hour ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

My company posted an internal job position right up my alley in a third world shithole.  I'm throwing my hat in the ring because I hate this fucking place so much and it wouldn't be the first third world shithole I've ever worked in.  It would also cut potential time to retirement in half if I don't get dead before the assignment finishes.

If you stay here, we'll be a third world shithole by the time you retire, so get busy livin!

[mchookem 16336]

based on my research, you'll fit right in in Parker 😄😋

first night in our new Denver home tonight!! 😊🤩

what's the scoop on local Texas alumni groups...anybody plugged in? seen some UT gear around the city, might be interested in game-watching at a bar with a bunch of Texas-exes if that's a thing!🤘

[MoJames 8244]

49 minutes ago, fattyflattie said:

@Chewbacca  @MoJames  how is Parker?  For some reason I’ve been getting a shitload of real estate emails from that area (I may have been looking while drinking I guess?) lately. What they are sending me looks nice. Don’t think we are going anywhere anytime soon but curious as not familiar with Denver area. 

I'm on the wrong side of the Rockies but bought a dog from there once, seemed a nice suburb.

[fattyflattie 4639]

27 minutes ago, mchookem said:

based on my research, you'll fit right in in Parker 😄😋

I’m going to take that as a compliment, but potential passive surlyness noted  

[Gil Bang 25961]

On 8/9/2022 at 7:42 AM, closetohumping said:

I'm TTT this beyotch.

Recently I've had thoughts of moving back to Texas.  After all it's home and I've got great friends (both sides, yes, I'm one of dem yella bellied moderate libertarians).  Great food, family is there.  But my parents are still crazy busy.  And the weather, I gotta say it, I'm in DC at the moment and the heat is killing me.  Texas is likely worse.  I can't believe it's as big a factor.

 

I've lived across this country.  Denver, Seattle, Boston, DC, and now OC.  I'd move back to any of them though Denver is probably last on that list.  Looking at cashing in and leaving the OC and just live a calmer life.  Looking more north though.  Philly burbs, Chicago, and now possibly Portland.  

 

 

Some of you were talking about Bend.  That area is beautiful, but I think quite conservative.

I've got an Aunt and cousins there.  It's meth-y. 

[Biff Tannen 45691]

2 hours ago, fattyflattie said:

@Chewbacca  @MoJames  how is Parker?  For some reason I’ve been getting a shitload of real estate emails from that area (I may have been looking while drinking I guess?) lately. What they are sending me looks nice. Don’t think we are going anywhere anytime soon but curious as not familiar with Denver area. 

 

Whoa!  You don't get to sit here and fuck all of us over with your votes and then try to move away!  Stay in Texas motherfucker.  You are here for life.  You wanted your psychotic bullshit gun utopia?  YOU GOT IT!  ENJOY MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!

[fattyflattie 4639]

58 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

Whoa!  You don't get to sit here and fuck all of us over with your votes and then try to move away!  Stay in Texas motherfucker.  You are here for life.  You wanted your psychotic bullshit gun utopia?  YOU GOT IT!  ENJOY MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!

Lulz. I’ll be here in some capacity forever. Summers are getting hot, though.  

[Chewbacca 7780]

15 hours ago, fattyflattie said:

@Chewbacca  @MoJames  how is Parker?  For some reason I’ve been getting a shitload of real estate emails from that area (I may have been looking while drinking I guess?) lately. What they are sending me looks nice. Don’t think we are going anywhere anytime soon but curious as not familiar with Denver area. 

Parker is close to where I am.  It's a little Trumpy, but that's relative in CO vs. Texas.  It's a newer part of town and has good access to the Tech Center if you need to go there.  It's a haul to downtown.  Most restaurants are chain restaurants.  Gotta go to DTC or downtown for good food.

[Michael Knight 12985]

We need wider roads!

Quote

Some opponents were shocked by the quick approval after dozens of people spoke for and against highway expansion.

“Before the last speaker in opposition had even reached their seat, the three present commissioners voted unanimously to approve the 2023 UTP as-is,” officials with Stop TxDOT I-45, an advocacy group opposed to the I-45 widening project, said in a social media post.

 

The budget also dedicates less than 2% to rail or transit.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/85-billion-10-year-highway-plan-approved-as-17408289.php

[Beau Vine 54246]

Wife finally submitted her application for a job at LANL in New Mexico last night.  If she gets this, we are so fucking gone...

[safe sex 11735]

Rejected by one of the two schools I'm applying to in an attempt to escape. 🙃

[SydneyCarton 48108]

42 minutes ago, trauma babe said:

Rejected by one of the two schools I'm applying to in an attempt to escape. 🙃

Listen, there are way more than just two schools you can apply to...

[Goredho 17408]

More librul Colorado pr0n.  A law just went into effect this month requiring hospitals to provide uninsured patients with payment plans where the payments cannot exceed 4% of their monthly income.

Of course, this wanton socialism has already virtually bankrupted Colorado and we will require conservative intervention to save us any day now!

Today, Governor Hickenlooper signed the Hospital Payment Assistance Program (SB12-134) into law. This law will enable Coloradans to pay their hospital bills in a reasonable and responsible way and provide Coloradans information about hospital financial assistance programs. That is why we are celebrating today. But, we did not get this bill signed into law alone! Thanks to your support and the leadership of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Irene Aguilar and Representative Cindy Acree, this law will offer relief to many Coloradans.

Colorado’s uninsured are often charged much more than people with insurance because they don’t have the bargaining power. Many of these bills get sent to collections. As a result, many Coloradans face bad credit and bankruptcies. All of us should be able to get the care we need when we need it without unpredictable costs. The Hospital Payment Assistance Program Act will help alleviate these problems by:

• Requiring that hospitals make information about hospital financial assistance programs available to all consumers where they will see them – online, in hospitals and in hospital bills;
• Requiring that low-income, uninsured Coloradans pay no more than the lowest negotiated health plan pay for that service; and
• Requiring hospitals to work with low-income uninsured Coloradans to set up reasonable payment plans before sending them to collections.

This law will help Coloradans by providing us the information we need to make informed health care decisions.

https://cohealthinitiative.org/articles/hospital-payment-assistance-program-becomes-law/

Edited September 29, 2022 by Goredho

[mchookem 16336]

...and every CO taxpayer got a $750 rebate check this summer.

what a hellhole! 😄

 

[CooterBrown 18014]

...and every CO taxpayer got a $750 rebate check this summer.
what a hellhole!
 

Well, I had the freedom to pay more property taxes than last year for the same house and I also had the freedom to pay a third party to knock 10% off that increase.

[safe sex 11735]

55 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

Listen, there are way more than just two schools you can apply to...

There are, but it costs money and time, and anesthesia school is intensely competitive. I had the resources for two solid shots

[MC Fresh Breath 4074]

55 minutes ago, mchookem said:

...and every CO taxpayer got a $750 rebate check this summer.

what a hellhole! 😄

 

OR something similar, but it was quite a bit bigger for our tax return:

https://www.thenewsguard.com/news/oregon-taxpayers-to-share-3b-kicker/article_3ab9aae2-d6d7-11ec-b9a3-17b6fc3dd609.html

Not competing, just noting similarities.

 

[MC Fresh Breath 4074]

11 minutes ago, trauma babe said:

There are, but it costs money and time, and anesthesia school is intensely competitive. I had the resources for two solid shots

Nothing to offer other than I am sorry to read this, and I root for you.  I hope somehow, some  way, it winds up working out for you.

 

[Goredho 17408]

I think it’s time for a telethon.

[Chewbacca 7780]

More librul Colorado pr0n.  A law just went into effect this month requiring hospitals to provide uninsured patients with payment plans where the payments cannot exceed 4% of their monthly income.
Of course, this wanton socialism has already virtually bankrupted Colorado and we will require conservative intervention to save us any day now!

Today, Governor Hickenlooper signed the Hospital Payment Assistance Program (SB12-134) into law. This law will enable Coloradans to pay their hospital bills in a reasonable and responsible way and provide Coloradans information about hospital financial assistance programs. That is why we are celebrating today. But, we did not get this bill signed into law alone! Thanks to your support and the leadership of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Irene Aguilar and Representative Cindy Acree, this law will offer relief to many Coloradans.
Colorado’s uninsured are often charged much more than people with insurance because they don’t have the bargaining power. Many of these bills get sent to collections. As a result, many Coloradans face bad credit and bankruptcies. All of us should be able to get the care we need when we need it without unpredictable costs. The Hospital Payment Assistance Program Act will help alleviate these problems by:

• Requiring that hospitals make information about hospital financial assistance programs available to all consumers where they will see them – online, in hospitals and in hospital bills;
• Requiring that low-income, uninsured Coloradans pay no more than the lowest negotiated health plan pay for that service; and
• Requiring hospitals to work with low-income uninsured Coloradans to set up reasonable payment plans before sending them to collections.

This law will help Coloradans by providing us the information we need to make informed health care decisions.

https://cohealthinitiative.org/articles/hospital-payment-assistance-program-becomes-law/

Uh, Hick hasn't been Governor for 4 years.

[Neonmoon 38129]

4 hours ago, trauma babe said:

Rejected by one of the two schools I'm applying to in an attempt to escape. 🙃

I just looked up program costs for this. Holy crap. Most are these programs are 100K+ 

wtf?

[safe sex 11735]

7 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

I just looked up program costs for this. Holy crap. Most are these programs are 100K+ 

wtf?

Gotta feed the beast.

[Goredho 17408]

26 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:

3 hours ago, Goredho said:

More librul Colorado pr0n.  A law just went into effect this month requiring hospitals to provide uninsured patients with payment plans where the payments cannot exceed 4% of their monthly income.
Of course, this wanton socialism has already virtually bankrupted Colorado and we will require conservative intervention to save us any day now!

Today, Governor Hickenlooper signed the Hospital Payment Assistance Program (SB12-134) into law. This law will enable Coloradans to pay their hospital bills in a reasonable and responsible way and provide Coloradans information about hospital financial assistance programs. That is why we are celebrating today. But, we did not get this bill signed into law alone! Thanks to your support and the leadership of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Irene Aguilar and Representative Cindy Acree, this law will offer relief to many Coloradans.
Colorado’s uninsured are often charged much more than people with insurance because they don’t have the bargaining power. Many of these bills get sent to collections. As a result, many Coloradans face bad credit and bankruptcies. All of us should be able to get the care we need when we need it without unpredictable costs. The Hospital Payment Assistance Program Act will help alleviate these problems by:

• Requiring that hospitals make information about hospital financial assistance programs available to all consumers where they will see them – online, in hospitals and in hospital bills;
• Requiring that low-income, uninsured Coloradans pay no more than the lowest negotiated health plan pay for that service; and
• Requiring hospitals to work with low-income uninsured Coloradans to set up reasonable payment plans before sending them to collections.

This law will help Coloradans by providing us the information we need to make informed health care decisions.

https://cohealthinitiative.org/articles/hospital-payment-assistance-program-becomes-law/

Uh, Hick hasn't been Governor for 4 years.

This one then...

Colorado’s Hospital Discounted Care law will take effect on Thursday, September 1, 2022, forcing all hospitals to adopt specific actions to reduce hospital fees for low- to moderate-income Coloradans. Patients now have additional rights and safeguards according to House Bill 21-1198, but in order to fully benefit from its advantages, patients need to be made aware of their rights.

All hospitals in Colorado are expected to comply with the following under the Hospital Discounted Care law:

• Screen patients to see if they qualify for help paying their bills
• Inform patients of their rights
• Offer discounts and affordable payment plans on hospital care to patients who qualify based on their income
• Take certain steps before sending an unpaid hospital bill to collections.

 

https://www.westernslopenow.com/colorado-news/new-hospital-billing-law-for-coloradans/amp/

[BehoId, The Underminer! 11669]

All school are anesthesia schools if you have any imagination. 

[mchookem 16336]

so y'all know we're new Colorado residents. the voter registration discussion in the Abbott thread prompted me to share here...

you know how sometimes you don't realize how bad a situation is until you get out of it and can look back objectively, and you realize things do not have to be the way you just assumed they always were...?

first, two weeks after we went to the DMV and got our CO DLs we got letters saying 'congratulations! you were registered to vote during your recent DMV visit and you'll receive your ballots in the mail!' no special forms or anything, it just happened.

then...last week we got this nifty info book from the CO Legislative Council explaining every ballot measure in detail, providing analysis, cost breakdown, explaining what a yes or no vote means, presented with both for and against arguments. no purposely confusing wording trying to trick the electorate. it even provides a basic objective performance standard evaluation for all those judges on the ballot that you never heard of before. 

 

finally...some of what's on the ballot... 😮

 

i mean wtf... it's like this state wants informed, educated voters to be able to vote with ease with a minimum of roadblocks. 

 

i legit feel like i've escaped an abusive relationship lol

and it was EASY for me to vote in Texas!

 

[Chewbacca 7780]

4 minutes ago, mchookem said:

so y'all know we're new Colorado residents. the voter registration discussion in the Abbott thread prompted me to share here...

you know how sometimes you don't realize how bad a situation is until you get out of it and can look back objectively, and you realize things do not have to be the way you just assumed they always were...?

first, two weeks after we went to the DMV and got our CO DLs we got letters saying 'congratulations! you were registered to vote during your recent DMV visit and you'll receive your ballots in the mail!' no special forms or anything, it just happened.

then...last week we got this nifty info book from the CO Legislative Council explaining every ballot measure in detail, providing analysis, cost breakdown, explaining what a yes or no vote means, presented with both for and against arguments. no purposely confusing wording trying to trick the electorate. it even provides a basic objective performance standard evaluation for all those judges on the ballot that you never heard of before. 

 

finally...some of what's on the ballot... 😮

 

i mean wtf... it's like this state wants informed, educated voters to be able to vote with ease with a minimum of roadblocks. 

 

i legit feel like i've escaped an abusive relationship lol

and it was EASY for me to vote in Texas!

 

It's nice, isn't it?  And when you complete your ballot, you can drop it off in any one of hundreds of drop boxes in your county (there is one at the library about a half mile from my house).  You will get one text when your ballot is received and another when it is certified and counted.

All voting should be done the way we do it here.

[Goredho 17408]

1 hour ago, mchookem said:

so y'all know we're new Colorado residents. the voter registration discussion in the Abbott thread prompted me to share here...

you know how sometimes you don't realize how bad a situation is until you get out of it and can look back objectively, and you realize things do not have to be the way you just assumed they always were...?

first, two weeks after we went to the DMV and got our CO DLs we got letters saying 'congratulations! you were registered to vote during your recent DMV visit and you'll receive your ballots in the mail!' no special forms or anything, it just happened.

then...last week we got this nifty info book from the CO Legislative Council explaining every ballot measure in detail, providing analysis, cost breakdown, explaining what a yes or no vote means, presented with both for and against arguments. no purposely confusing wording trying to trick the electorate. it even provides a basic objective performance standard evaluation for all those judges on the ballot that you never heard of before. 

 

finally...some of what's on the ballot... 😮

 

i mean wtf... it's like this state wants informed, educated voters to be able to vote with ease with a minimum of roadblocks. 

 

i legit feel like i've escaped an abusive relationship lol

and it was EASY for me to vote in Texas!

 

Yep, I became a much more informed voter in Colorado.  Just being able to look at your ballot while sitting down at the computer at a time when its convenient for you to do whatever research you deem necessary on either candidates or ballot measures.  That's huge.  In Texas, I would run to a polling station on the way to/from work, not know shit about a lot of the down ballot candidates, and wind up skipping half of the things I could vote for/against.

[Brisketexan 105154]

Informed voters?  Who are registered automatically upon participating in a basic citizen process?  And an easy way to get those ballots submitted and counted?

Y'all sound like.......COMMIES!

[tokamak 6431]

I'm pretty surprised that voter guide program didn't immediately devolve into nasty partisan fights over the wording, etc.

[Gil Bang 25961]

We do it too

[Goredho 17408]

42 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Informed voters?  Who are registered automatically upon participating in a basic citizen process?  And an easy way to get those ballots submitted and counted?

Y'all sound like.......COMMIES!

You can’t touch us, we’ve got DEMOCRATIC IMMUNITY!

[Biff Tannen 45691]

9 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

We do it too

Vast majority of people if they did this in Texas:

[27-25 2047]

5 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

We do it too

One of the great things about the booklet with candidates and propositions here in CA is that we completely tune out any and all political ads.  Prop 27, 29, 30?  How will I vote?  No idea yet.  We'll pore over the details later at our leisure and decide then.  Then we just mail in our ballots and wait for the email confirmations.

TV ads are such a piss poor way to get properly informed about any issue that they should be banned.  But of course that will never happen.

[Foosters 17858]

3 minutes ago, 27-25 said:

One of the great things about the booklet with candidates and propositions here in CA is that we completely tune out any and all political ads.  Prop 27, 29, 30?  How will I vote?  No idea yet.  We'll pore over the details later at our leisure and decide then.  Then we just mail in our ballots and wait for the email confirmations.

TV ads are such a piss poor way to get properly informed about any issue that they should be banned.  But of course that will never happen.

Yes same. I've voted from my coffee table in every election since 2008, with a voter guide and a laptop to look up issues, endorsements, etc.