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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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DDD Dad

Certifiably Surly
17 minutes ago, 4th&Five said:

he should sue HEB.  they probably sell more acetaminophen in texas than anyone.  FAFO pussy.

Yeah, he should sue them for never being open.

Pato del Muerto

Certifiably Surly
(edited)
14 minutes ago, DDD Dad said:

Yeah, he should sue them for never being open.

He will sue them for selling so much Tylenol, and also sue them for never being open.  And some Amarillo judge will rule that always being closed would not preclude you from selling lots of Tylenol. 

Edited by Pato del Muerto

Nice Guy Eddie

Certifiably Surly
3 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

He will sue them for selling so much Tylenol, and also sue them for never being open.  And some Amarillo judge will rule that always being closed would preclude you from selling lots of Tylenol. 

seems odd that he's suing them but the Governor/Legislature hasn't outlawed Tylenol yet. 

tx ind

Legacy Members
On 10/28/2025 at 9:47 AM, usmc0331horn said:

Hey super cool that UIL has passed that foreign exchange students can no longer play varsity sports in Texas starting next year. Priorities and shit.

Wemby, Sengun, and half the Astros and Rangers next?

CooterBrown

Full Members

If they want to go all in, they should ban public state universities from giving athletic scholarships to foreign athletes.  Hell, ban non-Texans from athletic scholarships also if you really want to take the stance that public funds should only support Texans.

 

Ghost of NMAS

Certifiably Surly

No more DEI athletic scholarships

Horn Dog

Burnt Ends

If they really want to go where they want to ultimately end up…. only master race athletes… shit lets just make that students…allowed! Make America Great Again!

Satchel

Legacy Members

Effective immediately. Texas Supreme Court orders judges can refuse to conduct same sex weddings on religious grounds without sanction. A step closer to nullifying Obergefell.

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
Just now, Satchel said:

Effective immediately. Texas Supreme Court orders judges can refuse to conduct same sex weddings on religious grounds without sanction. A step closer to nullifying Obergefell.

 

mixed marriages won't be far behind 

Satchel

Legacy Members
1 minute ago, tx 3 putt said:

 

mixed marriages won't be far behind 

Yep. No need to mess with Texas. It will mess with you.

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members

who got the contract to run the school vouchers program ?

Chewbacca

Legacy Members
 
mixed marriages won't be far behind 
Clarence won't let that happen

pacman

Burnt Ends
1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

who got the contract to run the school vouchers program ?

A young company from a Yass connection, Odyssey 

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
10 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:
3 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:
 
mixed marriages won't be far behind 

Clarence won't let that happen

John Candy Reaction GIF

mchookem

Certifiably Surly

0085af427af497c65de0e86e8de6756f.jpg

South Austin

Certifiably Surly
8 hours ago, miguelito said:

Yeah, I've been calling that for a while about ol' Clarence.

"Sorry babe, the supreme court says we can't be married. "

"You're on the supreme court!"

"Yeah, it's messed up."

“And you’re not entitled to 50% of the marital estate. That’s reverse discrimination in violation of the 14th Amendment. As the Founders intended.”

CooterBrown

Full Members

The Comptroller’s Office runs the Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) program for the state. The HUB team was on the way to Houston this week to run a procurement workshop. They got a call to turn around. HUB has been eliminated and its existence has been scrubbed from the website.

Fuck y’all’s small businesses!

CTC2

Legacy Members
On 10/30/2025 at 8:07 PM, Chewbacca said:
On 10/30/2025 at 5:14 PM, tx 3 putt said:
 
mixed marriages won't be far behind 

Clarence won't let that happen

You seen that bitch he’s married to?

wild_turkey

Legacy Members
Don't want foreigners taking American jobs. Or something.

giphy.gif

mchookem

Certifiably Surly

HUB was a major part/consideration of every procurement at every agency i worked at. i remember how important it was for us during the W governor years, his administration was very serious about following protocol and ensuring HUB vendors were represented and given fair consideration. lol at that memory now.

gotdamn, Texas 💔😟

Updawg

Legacy Members

Yeah it was always a big part of procurement where I worked. There will be some businesses going under and a lot are probably local to Austin

Bozo_Casanova

Legacy Members
7 hours ago, mchookem said:

HUB was a major part/consideration of every procurement at every agency i worked at. i remember how important it was for us during the W governor years, his administration was very serious about following protocol and ensuring HUB vendors were represented and given fair consideration. lol at that memory now.

gotdamn, Texas 💔😟

Huh. I’ve met quite a few HUB contractors. What percentage do you figure were Trump/Abbott/Patrick/Paxton voters? 65-70%, I bet.

Updawg

Legacy Members

Well fuck them if so.

Dnaguy

Certifiably Surly
(edited)
37 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Huh. I’ve met quite a few HUB contractors. What percentage do you figure were Trump/Abbott/Patrick/Paxton voters? 65-70%, I bet.

I worked for a true HUB business. The only reason we could get started in the field was because of it. It worked for us ….

But the amount of other ‘Hub’ I came to find that was due to financial fuckery (accounting tricks to keep it below the $ cap), wives that ‘ran’ the business, and straight up shell / pass through entities was troubling. 
 

Killing it and eventually starting anew whenever the fever breaks is probably not the worst.

That is compared to all the other horrific shitty things they’re  doing on the reg.

Edited by Dnaguy

InkaUtexas

Burnt Ends
7 minutes ago, Dnaguy said:

I worked for a true HUB business. The only reason we could get started in the field was because of it. It worked for us ….

But the amount of other ‘Hub’ I came to find that was due to financial fuckery (accounting tricks to keep it below the $ cap), wives that ‘ran’ the business, and straight up shell / pass through entities was troubling. 
 

Killing it and eventually starting anew whenever the fever breaks is probably not the worst.

That is compared to all the other horrific shitty things they’re  doing on the reg.

Yep, between it and the 8s's a lot of BS goes on. My son works for a true Hub. This is going to sting. 

Disco Strangler

Legacy Members

But my HUB was one of the good ones . . . The other ones were total scams.   
 

Please stop with the discounting of how much uncertainty and pain this causes across the board. I’m sure this will further hurt small business.  Newsome was right - anti-DEI is anti-black.  This is an extension of it.  This is another showing of Republican Party showing who and what they hate:

-Education, Non-Whites, Poor People, Gays, Women, Jesus, Free Will, the Free Market, Themselves (a good portion of them)

mchookem

Certifiably Surly
3 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Huh. I’ve met quite a few HUB contractors. What percentage do you figure were Trump/Abbott/Patrick/Paxton voters? 65-70%, I bet.

 

5lZd.gif

Im_smarter_then_you

Burnt Ends
On 10/31/2025 at 7:43 PM, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

So glad I left Texas.

I miss the bbq, my family and the gre as my Mexican food.   Pretty much in that order

Redneck Mutha

Certifiably Surly

Not sure it matters right now because the current process is:

  1. Download list of companies (and related ownership) submitting proposals
  2. Download list of Abbott/Paxton/Patrick donors
  3. Vlookup list A to list B
  4. Sort by donation amount
  5. Award bid
  6. Profit!!!

Omkoping Rod GIF – Omkoping Rod Roda jc – discover and share GIFs

Fudge Nuggets

Legacy Members
On 10/28/2025 at 9:47 AM, usmc0331horn said:

Hey super cool that UIL has passed that foreign exchange students can no longer play varsity sports in Texas starting next year. Priorities and shit.

My junior year of HS, we lost in the state semi-finals after our kicker shanked a chip shot field goal as time expired.

The next year was the first year we ever had foreign exchange students, one of whom happened to be a 6'4" Norwegian soccer star.  We didn't have a soccer team, but homeboy pretty much nailed every FG he attempted the next season with several beyond 45 yards (back when that was pretty rare for HS kickers).  Pure coincidence I'm sure.

Longhorn_Fan68

Certifiably Surly
On 10/31/2025 at 9:43 PM, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

So glad I left Texas.

The Office Reaction GIF

crash_davis

Legacy Members
(edited)

What a fucking joke! I don't know what's sadder, the dipshit "threatening" this bullshit or that he thinks his base is SO GODDAMNED STUPID that this performative bullshit would resonate in some way? What exactly is he going to "tariff" on the incoming New Yorkers? Pay higher sales tax? Pay higher property taxes? 

https://www.newsweek.com/greg-abbott-threatens-100-tariff-new-york-election-moving-texas-10986837

Greg Abbott Threatens ‘100% Tariff’ On New Yorkers Moving to Texas

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he would "impose a 100 percent tariff" on New Yorkers moving to Texas.

“After the polls close tomorrow night, I will impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC,” the Republican wrote on X on Monday night.

Abbott’s post came on the eve of New York City’s mayoral election, in which democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is the frontrunner.

Edited by crash_davis

South Austin

Certifiably Surly

It was mentioned in the Abbott thread.  It's another example of how Republicans have never been funny, no matter how hard they try.

Hawndoh

Legacy Members

He thinks his base is that stupid because they are.

Fudge Nuggets

Legacy Members
5 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

he thinks his base is SO GODDAMNED STUPID that this performative bullshit would resonate in some way?

You new here?

Blotto

Certifiably Surly

he is such a fucking imbecile. Fuck everyone that votes for this goddamn clown

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/texas-gov-abbott-says-ll-190757763.html

Quote

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) wrote on the eve of Election Day that he would impose tariffs on any New Yorker who moves to Texas after voting ended.

“After the polls close tomorrow night, I will impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC,” Abbott posted on social platform X.

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for more information from NewsNation, The Hill’s sister network, on how those tariffs would work.

The power to impose tariffs falls within the federal government’s authority in the Constitution, not the states.

 

Nice Guy Eddie

Certifiably Surly
13 hours ago, Blotto said:

he is such a fucking imbecile. Fuck everyone that votes for this goddamn clown

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/texas-gov-abbott-says-ll-190757763.html

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) wrote on the eve of Election Day that he would impose tariffs on any New Yorker who moves to Texas after voting ended.

“After the polls close tomorrow night, I will impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC,” Abbott posted on social platform X.

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for more information from NewsNation, The Hill’s sister network, on how those tariffs would work.

The power to impose tariffs falls within the federal government’s authority in the Constitution, not the states.

What's the formula to determine how to charge a "tariff" on someone moving to Texas? Has Trump fully redefined the word tariff to mean punishment fee?

I filed my taxes late, the IRS imposed a tariff on me.

Chuckie Finster

Burnt Ends
(edited)
13 hours ago, Blotto said:

he is such a fucking imbecile. Fuck everyone that votes for this goddamn clown

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/texas-gov-abbott-says-ll-190757763.html

 

It actually makes less sense the longer you think about it.  The people moving to Texas because of the Mamdani election are likely political allies of Abbott, yet he's telling them that they are not welcome.  He's not even fake punishing the right people!

Edited by Chuckie Finster

Captainant

Burnt Ends
46 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

What's the formula to determine how to charge a "tariff" on someone moving to Texas? Has Trump fully redefined the word tariff to mean punishment fee?

I filed my taxes late, the IRS imposed a tariff on me.

I mean, at least it's a little closer to them finally being honest - they want to levy extra taxes on people that they don't like. Simple as

kevwun

Legacy Members
1 hour ago, Chuckie Finster said:

It actually makes less sense the longer you think about it.  The people moving to Texas because of the Mamdani election are likely political allies of Abbott, yet he's telling them that they are not welcome.  He's not even fake punishing the right people!

It looks like that live oak also took out his sense of humor.

wild_turkey

Legacy Members
It actually makes less sense the longer you think about it.  The people moving to Texas because of the Mamdani election are likely political allies of Abbott, yet he's telling them that they are not welcome.  He's not even fake punishing the right people!

As a political enemy of Abbott, would he consider paying me to leave? I’m open to negotiations.
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