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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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Recommended Comments

pyrohornIII

Certifiably Surly

Crossposting:

1 minute ago, pyrohornIII said:

Reminder:

Tomorrow night, Wed, 9/3 at 8:30 PM we will hold our AMA of the new Texas Democratic State Chair, Kendall Scudder.  Here's a short clip of a speech he made during all the redistricting crap going on.  

It's a Zoom and you folks can come in anonymous, but I would appreciate you label yourselves using your Surly usernames.  Kendall doesn't mind hard questions and enjoys a little debate, but I'll boot those who are there just to troll.  We don't have time for that shit.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82116528456?pwd=DMoPaJIBxUC0YhJSSMRJiRtAfBOfPu.1

 

 

 

 

Pato del Muerto

Certifiably Surly
3 hours ago, Dnaguy said:


Dems: What about women that kind of look like dudes? You know, like, butch lesbians….

Republicans: You know, we haven’t thought about that. Good point.

Dems: Really?

Republicans: Absolutely. We’ll ban those as well. Only lipstick lesbians will be allowed in Texas.

Just like that Olympic boxer, they’ll just believe they are men. 

GreenspointTexas

Certifiably Surly

Paxton pushing for Lords Prayer in schools

wild_turkey

Legacy Members

Stupid laws prompt stupid questions, but how exactly does the bathroom bill get enforced? If someone says they saw a woman in a wheelchair using the men’s room at the state capitol, does Greg Abbott have to unzip and prove that he actually has a dick? Is it the physical appearance of the genitalia or a blood draw to check chromosomes? What if Angela Paxton has a man clit that’s bigger than Ken Paxton’s micropenis? Can we demand that they both get measured just to be sure? Who gets to decide where that line is drawn? Just random narcs who want to make everyone around them more uncomfortable? Who do I narc to if I see Ted Cruz go in a bathroom at DKR this fall?

mchookem

Certifiably Surly

does anything prevent an establishment from just saying 'fuck it' and having unisex bathrooms? or i mean i've stopped at some real shithole gas stations on Texas highways and they only have one...do there have to be separate facilities, what would happen if they just put up a sign like this? 🤔

20250219_151502.thumb.jpg.a1b8a0062a7307d73c74e544acf1aa54.jpg

 

 

Eskimohorn

Legacy Members
does anything prevent an establishment from just saying 'fuck it' and having unisex bathrooms? or i mean i've stopped at some real shithole gas stations on Texas highways and they only have one...do there have to be separate facilities, what would happen if they just put up a sign like this? [emoji848]
20250219_151502.thumb.jpg.a1b8a0062a7307d73c74e544acf1aa54.jpg
 
 

If they want to legislate bathrooms, how bout make sure they’re clean and not the most disgusting places in Texas?

Willfully Horn

Certifiably Surly
4 hours ago, mchookem said:

does anything prevent an establishment from just saying 'fuck it' and having unisex bathrooms? or i mean i've stopped at some real shithole gas stations on Texas highways and they only have one...do there have to be separate facilities, what would happen if they just put up a sign like this? 🤔

20250219_151502.thumb.jpg.a1b8a0062a7307d73c74e544acf1aa54.jpg

 

 

When the eldest was a hs senior, she led a push for at least one unisex bathroom at Hays, and was successful. That was eight years ago.

CooterBrown

Full Members
11 hours ago, mchookem said:

does anything prevent an establishment from just saying 'fuck it' and having unisex bathrooms? or i mean i've stopped at some real shithole gas stations on Texas highways and they only have one...do there have to be separate facilities, what would happen if they just put up a sign like this? 🤔

20250219_151502.thumb.jpg.a1b8a0062a7307d73c74e544acf1aa54.jpg

 

 

The Mueller Alamo has the best solution.  Shitters on one side and urinals on the other.  Sinks in the middle.  Use whatever facility works for you.

HenryJames

Certifiably Surly

Airplanes need separate bathrooms.

Foosters

Certifiably Surly
1 hour ago, HenryJames said:

Airplanes need separate bathrooms.

This is actually pretty brilliant. Surely someone here can make sure this idea makes it to the Texas House.

Valmy77

Full Members
(edited)
15 hours ago, GreenspointTexas said:

Paxton pushing for Lords Prayer in schools

That isn't going to save Paxton from hell for his adultery, that dirty sinner.

Edited by Valmy77

elfenix

Certifiably Surly

So is Texas invading Illinois?

Biff Tannen

Burnt Ends
4 hours ago, HenryJames said:

Airplanes need separate bathrooms.

Yep. One big one for me and the regular one for everyone else. 

mchookem

Certifiably Surly

genX here... am i crazy or do i remember reciting the Lord's Prayer after the pledge of allegiance every morning in first and second grade in Houston? 🤔

Brisketexan

Legacy Members
7 minutes ago, F250 said:

Interesting choice.

Reminds me of my first freshman football game in high school. Coach tells us to pray before the game and points and says "Rios, lead the team in prayer."

Rios starts reciting "Our Father" and then someone blurts out "That's Catholic shit!" Lots of Baptists on the team but the Catholics responded. Then others chime in with different opinions that included curse words and religious insults.One guy says "I don't even believe in God". Someone says "that's because you're a fag, Mike." 

That was our first and last team prayer.

That actually sounds like a solid, authentic, and genuine prayer session.  I approve.

South Austin

Certifiably Surly
12 minutes ago, F250 said:

Interesting choice.

Reminds me of my first freshman football game in high school. Coach tells us to pray before the game and points and says "Rios, lead the team in prayer."

Rios starts reciting "Our Father" and then someone blurts out "That's Catholic shit!" Lots of Baptists on the team but the Catholics responded. Then others chime in with different opinions that included curse words and religious insults.One guy says "I don't even believe in God". Someone says "that's because you're a fag, Mike." 

That was our first and last team prayer.

You all should’ve just sacrificed a whole chicken.

Macanudo

Legacy Members
31 minutes ago, South Austin said:

You all should’ve just sacrificed a whole chicken.

Up yours, Jobu.

BrickHorn

Legacy Members
56 minutes ago, mchookem said:

genX here... am i crazy or do i remember reciting the Lord's Prayer after the pledge of allegiance every morning in first and second grade in Houston? 🤔

Did you go to Catholic School?

mchookem

Certifiably Surly

no...Aldine isd, mid 70s... maybe i am misremembering...

pyrohornIII

Certifiably Surly

Probably going to be running a few minutes late.  Sorry.

 

Pato del Muerto

Certifiably Surly
4 hours ago, F250 said:

Interesting choice.

Reminds me of my first freshman football game in high school. Coach tells us to pray before the game and points and says "Rios, lead the team in prayer."

Rios starts reciting "Our Father" and then someone blurts out "That's Catholic shit!" Lots of Baptists on the team but the Catholics responded. Then others chime in with different opinions that included curse words and religious insults.One guy says "I don't even believe in God". Someone says "that's because you're a fag, Mike." 

That was our first and last team prayer.

Cool story, Mike. 

tchookem

Legacy Members
 
They should do guns next.

pyrohornIII

Certifiably Surly

Sorry folks, we will have to reschedule...I'll let you know.  Thanks safesex for showing up!!

 

texasdago

Legacy Members
6 hours ago, mchookem said:

no...Aldine isd, mid 70s... maybe i am misremembering...

Was it Saint Cecilia, Aldine annex?

scottsins

Certifiably Surly

Have we just totally glossed over the ban of all sales of THC vape products that went into effect? Delta-8, THC-A, hemp derived Delta-9, etc?

I knew nothing about it until yesterday.

Fudge Nuggets

Legacy Members

Tough luck, dopeheads. 

dcbc

Burnt Ends
2 hours ago, scottsins said:

Have we just totally glossed over the ban of all sales of THC vape products that went into effect? Delta-8, THC-A, hemp derived Delta-9, etc?

I knew nothing about it until yesterday.

Yeah, I saw that.  But it doesn't ban possession.  So looks like some other states will reap the tax revenue on shipping those products to Texans.

gernblansten

Full Members
37 minutes ago, dcbc said:

Yeah, I saw that.  But it doesn't ban possession.  So looks like some other states will reap the tax revenue on shipping those products to Texans.

"We're going to tariff those out of state companies that ship to the Great State of Texas and generate billions of dollars." - probably someone in the Gov. mansion

HenryJames

Certifiably Surly
2 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

Tough luck, dopeheads. 

YARN | Condolences. The bums lost! | The Big Lebowski ...

dcbc

Burnt Ends
(edited)
27 minutes ago, gernblansten said:

"We're going to tariff those out of state companies that ship to the Great State of Texas and generate billions of dollars." - probably someone in the Gov. mansion

Somewhere, there is a sane, legislative strategy.  It begins with, "No matter what you do or how hard you try, you're never going to keep people who want weed from getting weed."

 

Also, thankfully, Texas can't impose tariffs against other states or these buffoons would have tried it already.

 

Baffoons: Hold my cup of decaf tea!

Edited by dcbc

Valmy77

Full Members
2 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

Tough luck, dopeheads. 

I don't use any THC products, just no interest.

But I fail to see why we need to ban them. If THC actually did kill people, Austin would be a ghost town by now.

Captainant

Burnt Ends
1 minute ago, Valmy77 said:

I don't use any THC products, just no interest.

But I fail to see why we need to ban them. If THC actually did kill people, Austin would be a ghost town by now.

It makes Jesus cry when people consume cannabis, DUH!

Pato del Muerto

Certifiably Surly

Weed laws juxtaposed with alcohol laws cannot possibly make sense to anyone. 
 

and the religious right, long ago, managed to get prohibition approved to the point of constitutional amendment.  That worked out well.

Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand

Legacy Members

If you wanna smoke pot, smoke pot. If you don't wanna smoke pot, smoke pot.

Longhorn_Fan68

Certifiably Surly
4 hours ago, scottsins said:

Have we just totally glossed over the ban of all sales of THC vape products that went into effect? Delta-8, THC-A, hemp derived Delta-9, etc?

I knew nothing about it until yesterday.

wtf? when did they pass that and how did we all miss it?

Pescado_Rojo

Certifiably Surly

I think it's just vapes, right? Hotwheels vetoed the total ban and it never made it to a vote in the special session. 

HalfSack Horn

Certifiably Surly

It’s all cbd/thc vapes + the nicotine vapes(Geek bar, Tyson, etc) that have any parts from China.  I quit cigarettes by using a vape.  I won’t claim it’s healthy by any means, but it’s better than cigs.   I just figured out the ban on vapes when the prices started going through the roof.

This state bows down to the alcohol and tobacco lobby.  

Brisketexan

Legacy Members
31 minutes ago, Captainant said:

It makes Jesus cry when people consume cannabis, DUH!

It's because marihuana (yes, that's how our Attorney General spells it in OFFICIAL filings) makes our pure white women fall prey to negroes and their jazz music.

And no, I'm really not kidding.  That sort of retrograde prejudice is what underlies the whole anti-weed movement.

Homercles

Certifiably Surly

Yeah that’ll show China!  Surely their lost revenue from Texas will keep them from funding the armada assigned to taking Taiwan…

HenryJames

Certifiably Surly
1 hour ago, Valmy77 said:

I don't use any THC products, just no interest.

But I fail to see why we need to ban them. If THC actually did kill people, Austin would be a ghost town by now.

THC killed all those people on Rainey St. 

 

gernblansten

Full Members
29 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

THC killed all those people on Rainey St. 

 

Nicole's real name is Theresa Hilaria Cockburn?

CooterBrown

Full Members

Hometown Hero Wellness is having a sale on all the jazz cabbage edibles Dan Patrick had in his box for his press conference. Discount code is DANSDELIGHT.

5fd0bde6d09031ed759ddcac45771f57.jpg

NorthLoop

Legacy Members
2 hours ago, Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand said:

If you wanna smoke pot, smoke pot. If you don't wanna smoke pot, smoke pot.

d20871ac-d68d-4e37-9cea-86a04de5425b_tex

Guest
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