Texas tops list of worst places to live and work in America

[babysdaddy 2719]

23 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

I mean, these follow pretty well:

 

Number 1 in corporate relocations?  Yes, big businesses look to go someplace with low taxes and limited regulations (regulations often being those things that provide "quality of life," like regulations against serving spoiled meat, or regulations against contaminating the water supply, or regulation of electric utilities to set up a system that has reliable supply, etc.)  Oh, and just to punch through that, that's often just corporate HQ relocations, for tax purposes.  They often don't bring that many jobs with them.

We have the most Fortune 500 companies?  No, we have the most Fortune 500 HEADQUARTERS....see my comment above.

We are the #1 wind energy producing state.  That's a good factor in our favor, I give us points for that.  We're also up there in solar production, also a good thing.

9th largest GDP.  Yes...but deceptive.  Being a resource economy or a resource-heavy economy is not a path to a strong future.  We have sold and continue to sell a shitload of O&G (nevermind what that's doing to the climate, let's just look at the economics), yielding a lot of money in total.  But being a resource-centered economy is a shitty long-term plan.

At this point in time, Texas's other major resource is a cheap, poorly educated workforce.  Which can be exploited for profit.  When our economic model looks a fair bit like African diamond mines, that's not exactly a point in our favor.

Dude, I know you think it sucks.  We all do. 

[Brisketexan 105043]

3 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

I'd ignore that as drama from most people, but you literally deal with shit.

Interestingly, along those lines, you ought to look into the articles being written on how hard a time Texas municipalities and utilities are having hiring people to work at and manage their facilities.  A lot of those jobs are great middle-class jobs; many require an engineering or similar background.  But they can't find people to fill them.  Hire someone from out-of-state?  Good luck with that.

[closetohumping 17432]

8 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

Thank God. I was so tired of Californians robotically squawking "Bigger than France!"

What do Texans squawk?   Bigger than Canada?

[Brisketexan 105043]

8 minutes ago, closetohumping said:

What do Texans squawk?   Bigger than Canada?

Well, we're slightly above Russia in the 2+trillion club.  And we're endeavoring to become pretty Russian: resource-driven GDP, run by oligarchs, non-functioning democracy, and precipitously declining quality of life.  I mean, I guess it's good to have a role model, even if they do drink vodka instead of whiskey.

[utee94 15797]

This thread delivers the lulz.

Never change surly assholes.

 

[Aqua Buddha 14581]

41 minutes ago, babysdaddy said:

I love California and hope to move back there in the future.  But when I lived there it was impossible to figure out where/how to raise kids.  So for everyone saying Texas is only good if you're rich....I'd say the same about Cali.

And it’s a million percent better to be rich in CA.

[Scheiss Meister 8407]

47 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

I'd ignore that as drama from most people, but you literally deal with shit.

You have no idea.  Wait, you worked at a wwtp before.  You do have an idea what's involved.  Never mind.

[Scheiss Meister 8407]

51 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Interestingly, along those lines, you ought to look into the articles being written on how hard a time Texas municipalities and utilities are having hiring people to work at and manage their facilities.  A lot of those jobs are great middle-class jobs; many require an engineering or similar background.  But they can't find people to fill them.  Hire someone from out-of-state?  Good luck with that.

Over the past several years I have hired at least five operators with the industry, intelligence, and education to train to replace me.  They have all moved on to more lucrative endeavors.  I get pressured to train others with less on the ball to replace me, but if the potential isn't there, I can't manufacture it.  This not just my department, it's all of the municipality at which I work.

ETA - Pertinent to this thread, one of those five moved to North Carolina, another to Oregon, and another to Colorado.

Edited July 18, 2023 by Scheiss Meister

[TexasMan 10891]

2 hours ago, gmr548 said:

I’ll take my CR negs for that. 

[Shaggy3.0 1695]

horray.  texas sucks.  so leave.

 

[mchookem 16318]

seems the vast majority of posters in this thread either have left, are planning to leave in the near future, or are lamenting the fact they can't (yet) due to some external circumstances they haven't yet figured out.

so way to read the room lol

 

[fattyflattie 4639]

8 hours ago, Chuckie Finster said:

There's like 17 people in Fulshear.  Cool, I guess.

This was true 10 years ago.  They are building houses 10k at a time right now.  The schools are starting to bus them west, even after building their massive school a few years ago 

[closetohumping 17432]

Fulshear is growing.  Got a buddy that lives out there.

[closetohumping 17432]

2 hours ago, mchookem said:

seems the vast majority of posters in this thread either have left, are planning to leave in the near future, or are lamenting the fact they can't (yet) due to some external circumstances they haven't yet figured out.

so way to read the room lol

 

You forgot "have college aged kids that have vowed not to return to Texas after spending two years away."

[Armybrat 40815]

5 hours ago, closetohumping said:

Depends on person.  I've lived in Seattle, Denver and DC.  Loved them all.

Well, I lived in St. Louis…and it sucked donkey balls.

[fattyflattie 4639]

59 minutes ago, closetohumping said:

Fulshear is growing.  Got a buddy that lives out there.

It was a cool place a few years ago. Now it’s being surrounded with suburban houses, and the demand for the 2 nice hoods have driven prices up crazy high.  So, on to Wallis I guess. 

[Wilcox Cummingtonite 2935]

4 hours ago, fattyflattie said:

It was a cool place a few years ago. 

[Newdoc 3439]

6 hours ago, closetohumping said:

You forgot "have college aged kids that have vowed not to return to Texas after spending two years away."

Parents who think Texas sucks have kids who think Texas sucks amplified by the fact that they’re spending, for many, the best days of their lives to date (college) no matter where it is. Lulz at the objectivity.

[closetohumping 17432]

2 hours ago, Newdoc said:

Parents who think Texas sucks have kids who think Texas sucks amplified by the fact that they’re spending, for many, the best days of their lives to date (college) no matter where it is. Lulz at the objectivity.

There’s a world outside of Texas

[Guest]

[YChang 3441]

Personally I’ll reevaluate leaving again in the next 3-5 years. 
 

On the upside lots of opportunities for improvement! 😂 And I think as one generation of Texas residents leave… I believe the immigrants and their kids are who gonna help with the transition to what this State can be. 

[Schulz2.0 28951]

Well it's not like construction workers are dying of heat stroke while the governor does away with worker protections.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/20/texas-construction-worker-death-lawsuit-greg-abbott

[closetohumping 17432]

9 minutes ago, Schulz2.0 said:

Well it's not like construction workers are dying of heat stroke while the governor does away with worker protections.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/20/texas-construction-worker-death-lawsuit-greg-abbott

Those guys must not be fans of Jason aldean

[crash_davis 23096]

10 minutes ago, Schulz2.0 said:

Well it's not like construction workers are dying of heat stroke while the governor does away with worker protections.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/20/texas-construction-worker-death-lawsuit-greg-abbott

Can't be pro-business if you don't screw over workers!

[Biff Tannen 45661]

On 7/18/2023 at 3:20 PM, babysdaddy said:

In my opinion, being good for business begets opportunity for our citizens which translates into improved quality of life......which brings more people here which brings more business.  You know, exactly what has happened.

So you think it...trickles down?

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

On 7/18/2023 at 9:23 PM, fattyflattie said:

It was a cool place a few years ago.

define 'cool'

[ChiTownDoc 21139]

On 7/18/2023 at 12:42 PM, Longhornsnus said:

For every one of these OP about the worst, there is one for the best. Case in point:https://www.visualcapitalist.com/safest-cities-in-the-us/

 

Sweet, I can move to Mundelein!  Lulz

Fuck all that shit.  I would not live in a single one of those shitholes.  Massholes in there too, sweet.  Also seems most nobody else would either as property is cheap af in vast majority of those dumps.  Supply and demand, how does it work?

[fattyflattie 4639]

24 minutes ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

define 'cool'

Well, in 30 mins you can be what feels like a million miles from Houston.  And in 40 the other way, be in downtown Houston.   It also had only two real neighborhoods (aside from a few houses in town proper), both very, very nice acreage properties.    They've since fucked that up and are becoming Katy West.   The shittiest thing about that town, and still is today, is the cops.  

[Gene Parmesan 4002]

44 minutes ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

define 'cool'

During the ice age temps were cooler.

[Texzilla58 4731]

But all these “bad” places are being overrun with folks coming from the “good” places. Here’s my advice: if you’re from California or Oregon or Chicago or New York and you’re now living in Texas or Florida or Oklahoma. Go the fuck home. Leave now. We dont want your whining about how great Portland was or how hot to is or that you don’t like our Mexican food. Fucking go back where you came from.

[Js1 85258]

Then tell your Texas state government to stop incentivizing them and their employers 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Js1

[ChiTownDoc 21139]

1 hour ago, Texzilla58 said:

But all these “bad” places are being overrun with folks coming from the “good” places. Here’s my advice: if you’re from California or Oregon or Chicago or New York and you’re now living in Texas or Florida or Oklahoma. Go the fuck home. Leave now. We dont want your whining about how great Portland was or how hot to is or that you don’t like our Mexican food. Fucking go back where you came from.

LOL, who the fuck from Chicago or NYC goes to Texas?  FL and AZ are a different story.  Now, people who 'come to Texas' to do business sure...but the vast majority of those CEO's aren't gonna live there.  Hell, I've got over 100 doctors down there, but you'd kill me and drag my dead body there if you are gonna see me 'living' there. 

Oklahoma sucks...and lol if you think Texas is SO much better.  

56 minutes ago, Js1 said:

Then tell your Texas state government to stop incentivizing them and their employers 

Damn, didn't see this.  But it hits on what I was trying to say...

[closetohumping 17432]

1 hour ago, Texzilla58 said:

But all these “bad” places are being overrun with folks coming from the “good” places. Here’s my advice: if you’re from California or Oregon or Chicago or New York and you’re now living in Texas or Florida or Oklahoma. Go the fuck home. Leave now. We dont want your whining about how great Portland was or how hot to is or that you don’t like our Mexican food. Fucking go back where you came from.

Most of the Californians I know go to Texas because they can't afford California or are MAGA red.  

[Chewbacca 7765]

On 7/18/2023 at 2:06 PM, mchookem said:

i mean i bring home $200 worth of HEB products every time we visit because Denver grocery stores suck ass, and CO drivers are giant aggressive assholes, and i left a lifetime's worth of friends... but it would take a family tragedy with no other options to get me back to Texas. 

and i fucking loved Texas. i practically minored in Texas history at UT. 

 

 

You need to drive more in Houston and Dallas if you think CO drivers are bad...

[Chewbacca 7765]

On 7/18/2023 at 3:19 PM, Zepol87 said:

Yea I couldn't get into King Soopers when I lived in CO

HEB>>>>>>>>>>>>King Soopers.  And Kings is the best of the bunch out here.

[Upgrayedd 5810]

2 hours ago, Texzilla58 said:

But all these “bad” places are being overrun with folks coming from the “good” places. Here’s my advice: if you’re from California or Oregon or Chicago or New York and you’re now living in Texas or Florida or Oklahoma. Go the fuck home. Leave now. We dont want your whining about how great Portland was or how hot to is or that you don’t like our Mexican food. Fucking go back where you came from.

No take backs.

[Anastasis 23454]

I grew up in Austin and would like to die on some acreage in the hill country. I don’t plan on going anywhere, but will have options in Colorado (Texas northwest in reality) to dodge the heat. Our state politics are far from perfect. Dig into any of the others and you will find the same, just different personal weightings. So do as you see fit for yours but these types of ratings are fucking stupid and loaded.  

[bolverk 29644]

46 minutes ago, ChiTownDoc said:

LOL, who the fuck from Chicago or NYC goes to Texas?

You'd be very surprised by the number of NY and IL plates you'd see in Austin. Lots of Massachusetts too.

And Jersey.

Edited July 21, 2023 by bolverk

[Hefeweizen 5308]

43 minutes ago, closetohumping said:

Most of the Californians I know go to Texas because they can't afford California or are MAGA red.  

This is the truth.  The third is following a job.  But there are plenty of Unfilled jobs here.  The problem is wealth and lack of new housing has squeezed any kind of middle class into limited options.  None of my group of friends here would move to Texas but a bunch have employees there.  

[ChiTownDoc 21139]

11 minutes ago, bolverk said:

You'd be very surprised by the number of NY and IL plates you'd see in Austin. Lots of Massachusetts too.

And Jersey.

Oh there's plenty of burbs people but were they ever in Chicago anyway?  That once a year visiting the big city person from National Lampoon's...  I know a lot of people that left both cities.  They are FL/AZ 90%.  I won't say zero but people in the actual city?  Few and far between.  We had to bonus people ourselves to move from here to TX and they were nice docs from downstate and WI area (which we consider Chicagoland region).  Nobody will argue the economic opportunities for businesses aren't greater in TX - the issue is unless you own the actual business the vast majority of the time,  you don't see much of that upside.  We pay docs a % of what they bring in so medicaid actually paying in TX means more money in their pocket vs this broke ass state.  That's a lot of patients we just have to say flat out no to here...$10 visits, if you get paid.  Anyways, this will veer into CR fast so I'll chill, I just wish the average person there saw the benefits of that amazing economy. 

Edited July 21, 2023 by ChiTownDoc

[Smax 3800]

1 hour ago, closetohumping said:

Most of the Californians I know go to Texas because they can't afford California or are MAGA red.  

When California sends its people, they’re not sending their best... They’re sending people that have lots of problems, financial, mental health. And some, I assume, are good people

[Anastasis 23454]

1 minute ago, Smax said:

When California sends its people, they’re not sending their best... They’re sending people that have lots of problems, financial, mental health. And some, I assume, are good people

Probably distributionally representative. 

[Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand 13570]

46 minutes ago, bolverk said:

You'd be very surprised by the number of NY and IL plates you'd see in Austin. Lots of Massachusetts too.

And Jersey.

I wouldn't in Austin. That's been a thing since the mid to late 90s. When I lived over by the the old Trudy's and Spider House you couldn't help but take note of plates from "blue states". What I see more and more, especially recently in the "exurbs" of Austin and SA, is an explosion of Florida plates which I speculate is due in part to their home insurance crisis. 

[RDCanecutter 26377]

2 minutes ago, Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand said:

When I lived over by the the old Trudy's and Spider House

And in the blink of an eye, the decades fall away, I can see their lights a block away, as I shuffle there down the street, to meet whoever shows up, without a care.

[Anastasis 23454]

12 minutes ago, Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand said:

That's been a thing since the mid to late 90s. When I lived over by the the old Trudy's and Spider House you couldn't help but take note of plates from "blue states".

I grew up near that hood and my observations don't align, but as 90s teenages we mostly "passed time" watching the world go by from the picnic tables near the church and the park before finding other things to get into. Were not tracking the license plates. 

Edited July 21, 2023 by Anastasis

[bolverk 29644]

21 minutes ago, Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand said:

I wouldn't in Austin. That's been a thing since the mid to late 90s. When I lived over by the the old Trudy's and Spider House you couldn't help but take note of plates from "blue states". What I see more and more, especially recently in the "exurbs" of Austin and SA, is an explosion of Florida plates which I speculate is due in part to their home insurance crisis. 

Oh, yeah, there are definitely tons of Florida plates around town, but he had already mentioned them and was expressing doubt about IL and NY people moving to Texas.

[Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand 13570]

6 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

I grew up near that hood and my observations don't align, but as 90s teenages we mostly "passed time" watching the world go by from the picnic tables near the church and the park before finding other things to get into. Were not tracking the license plates. 

It was probably my routine. Our house was directly across 30th from Trudy's front door and I'd walk south down Fruth pass the cars parked on the street to the Chevron for coffee. Easy to notice. Spider House was The Reivers' bandhouse when I first moved in. 

[Zepol87 9185]

2 hours ago, closetohumping said:

Most of the Californians I know go to Texas because they can't afford California or are MAGA red.  

Yep I meet those people daily. Why would you come here instead of living in Texas where it’s amazing!! I just ask them if they have ever been and of course they only went for a weekend or something over the last 10 years and live in Fontana or even further inland empire which yea that shit sucks I get it but it’s usually followed by taxes are lower kind of maga talking points 

[EastHorn 281]

2 hours ago, Chewbacca said:

HEB>>>>>>>>>>>>King Soopers.  And Kings is the best of the bunch out here.

Vitamin Cottage not cutting it?

[Anastasis 23454]

8 minutes ago, Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand said:

Spider House was The Reivers' bandhouse when I first moved in. 

Spent a lot of time in early 2000s over there courting the current wife while pretending to study. We lived in that area after getting married for a long time, and I am sad that it has shuttered. But I understand. 

Edited July 21, 2023 by Anastasis