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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

Fudge Nuggets

Legacy Members

Fuck this god damn shithole where you can’t buy beer after 10:00pm on NYE.

mchookem

Certifiably Surly
No image preview

Texas Supreme Court Takes Over Law School Accreditation F...

The Texas Supreme Court has ended the state’s reliance on the American Bar Association to accredit its law schools, finalizing a rule that places the state high court in charge of that certification.

i'm not a lawyer but i think we have a few on surly, yeah? 🤔😆

anyways... what does this mean for Texas law schools?

Longhorn_Fan68

New Members

I think it means our justice system is getting watered down even more.

atomheartbevo

Certifiably Surly

Southeast Central Texas School of Law and Hairdressers

Anthony Adams Slow Clap GIF

Evil Bill Obrien

Full Members

Oh great, Gov Hot Wheels wants the State to take over more stuff in Harris County...

image.png


https://x.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/2009315542826402053?s=20

100ish voter registrations at P.O. boxes out of 2.7 million registered voters is apparently just cause for State takeover... never mind that if I had to hazard a guess most of those registering/trying to register at a P.O. box are probably Abbott/Trump voters who "don't want the govmit to know where I really live" (spoiler alert, they know where you live, Jethro)

atomheartbevo

Certifiably Surly
9 minutes ago, Evil Bill Obrien said:

Oh great, Gov Hot Wheels wants the State to take over more stuff in Harris County...

Somebody is a little worried about the mid-terms. Can't imagine why.

Valmy77

Full Members
1 hour ago, Evil Bill Obrien said:

Oh great, Gov Hot Wheels wants the State to take over more stuff in Harris County...

image.png


https://x.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/2009315542826402053?s=20

100ish voter registrations at P.O. boxes out of 2.7 million registered voters is apparently just cause for State takeover... never mind that if I had to hazard a guess most of those registering/trying to register at a P.O. box are probably Abbott/Trump voters who "don't want the govmit to know where I really live" (spoiler alert, they know where you live, Jethro)

I don't understand how their election officials finding bad voter registrations means they should be stripped of operating elections. Doesn't that mean they are doing their jobs by finding these illegal registrations?

Evil Bill Obrien

Full Members
7 minutes ago, Valmy77 said:

I don't understand how their election officials finding bad voter registrations means they should be stripped of operating elections. Doesn't that mean they are doing their jobs by finding these illegal registrations?

It's mostly just a power play by Abbott. He insists he wants to "Turn Harris County Red" and taking state control of election operations is one way to do that.

Nice Guy Eddie

Certifiably Surly
On 1/7/2026 at 12:07 PM, mchookem said:
No image preview

Texas Supreme Court Takes Over Law School Accreditation F...

The Texas Supreme Court has ended the state’s reliance on the American Bar Association to accredit its law schools, finalizing a rule that places the state high court in charge of that certification.

i'm not a lawyer but i think we have a few on surly, yeah? 🤔😆

anyways... what does this mean for Texas law schools?

I'm guessing that law schools better not be woke or they will lose their accreditation. Honesty, I'm surprised that Paxton didn't take this power for himself. Not the AG role but him personally.

MissingInAction

Certifiably Surly
5 hours ago, speed817 said:

Texas hands over complete list of registered voters to Trump administration

The Texas Tribune
No image preview

Texas gives DOJ list of its 18 million registered voters

The Justice Department has asked states for their voter rolls with an eye toward purging ineligible voters. Democrats say sharing the data could violate federal election law.

Hmm, I wonder who they're gonna purge...

Evil Bill Obrien

Full Members
Just now, MissingInAction said:

Hmm, I wonder who they're gonna purge...

Well, if Gov Hot Wheels had his way probably all of Harris County...

MissingInAction

Certifiably Surly

If your name ends in EZ is my expectation.

Brisketexan

Legacy Members
8 minutes ago, MissingInAction said:

If your name ends in EZ is my expectation.

DINGDINGDINGDING!

The state already unilaterally changed my name on my TDL because my actual name was too messican (had to go in and get it corrected, so I don't have non-matching IDs).

When my daughter tried to register to vote, it took her three tries for them to accept our funky messican last name.

None of this is by accident.

CooterBrown

Full Members

Texans can now report public universities to the state over legal violations

Public universities found in violation of state laws could lose state funding until compliance is certified.

By Lily Kepner,Staff WriterJan 9, 2026

Members of the public can now submit complaints against public universities and colleges to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s new Office of Ombudsman, according to a new website launched by the agency Friday.

The website, “Students First,” allows anyone to submit a complaint through a portal, with separate sections for feedback and student complaints. The coordinating board said Brandon Simmons, former Chairman of the Texas Southern University Board of Regents and leader of the office, has already begun meeting with university leaders and chancellors.

The creation of the new oversight office was authorized through Senate Bill 37, a law that took effect Jan. 1. It comes after a fall during which conservative lawmakers and activists attempted vigilante enforcement online to rid gender ideology from public universities.

New policies now restrict how race and gender can be taught at Texas A&M University System and Texas Tech University System. Professors lost their jobs this September after videos went viral online: one showed a professor speaking at a revolutionary socialism conference, and the other showed a children’s literature professor talking about gender identity in her course.

The new statewide office serves “as an intermediary between the legislature and the public and institutions of higher education,” the website states, with the purpose of investigating complaints regarding violations of Senate Bill 37’s provisions on faculty governance, curriculum, grievances, hiring and decision-making authority provisions, and the 2023 law Senate Bill 17, which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and practices.

Per Senate Bill 37, the office has five days to notify the institution named in a complaint, and the institution has 175 days to respond. The office has the power to recommend the Legislature withhold funding from the institution if it is found to be in violation of state law — until compliance is certified. Each year, the governor, lieutenant governor, state auditor and higher education chairs of the Texas House and Senate will receive a report on the complaints and findings. Those who willingly submit a false report may be subject to fees associated with the investigation, the law states.

The announcement did not discuss guidance for course or degree audits, which are also mandated through the law. That process is left up to each university system. The law also restricts faculty influence in university decision-making while expanding the power of politically appointed regents to regulate degrees, core curriculum and hiring of leaders. 

Sen. Brandon Creighton, Senate Bill 37's author, said his legislation restores the balance of power at universities and holds them more accountable to the public. Faculty who advocated against the law say it replaces subject matter expertise with political influence.

The Texas Tech University System, which Creighton now leads, banned courses that advocate for race or gender “ideology” or contain LGBTQ content. Multiple university systems have already launched audits into courses for gender identity following conservative criticism of “gender indoctrination” at universities. No law bans teaching in those subjects.

Simmons said he looks forward to engaging more with university leaders and the public to ensure universities remain excellent.

“Through a user-friendly website and engagement on campuses across Texas, I look forward to a collaborative, productive partnership with our institutional leaders and students,” said Simmons in a statement. “Texas leads the nation with top-ranked, rapidly ascending universities, and our office is here to support these great institutions in serving the next generation of Texas students.”  

Jan 9, 2026

Willfully Horn

Burnt Ends

I prefer the federal government not be given my voter information. Fuck those who aide and abet this state government, a complicit vassal of fascism.

Fudge Nuggets

Legacy Members

I'm trying to figure out how my fucking gas bill can go up 65% in a year when we haven't had winter.

Brisketexan

Legacy Members
4 minutes ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

I'm trying to figure out how my fucking gas bill can go up 65% in a year when we haven't had winter.

Shut up, peasant. There are billionaires who need more billions.

atomheartbevo

Certifiably Surly
2 hours ago, CooterBrown said:

Texans can now report public universities to the state over legal violations

I can report aggy for all kinds of violations?

Anthony Adams Slow Clap GIF

Dnaguy

Full Members
2 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

I'm trying to figure out how my fucking gas bill can go up 65% in a year when we haven't had winter.

That’s a good one.

Just ask Chat GP…. waaaiiiitttttt.

You guys don’t think all those data centers getting subsidized and incentivized by our cogent state leadership are using up copious amounts of electricity and in turn the gas to make the electricity AND THAT have anything to do with rising energy and electricity costs?

Kombucha Funny Meme GIF

Probably vaccinated sanctuary big city democrats doing trans things to kids.

Pretty sure that’s why your gas bill went up.

bluto

Certifiably Surly

Goes in education thread too I reckonIMG_9655.png

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
13 hours ago, Valmy77 said:

I don't understand how their election officials finding bad voter registrations means they should be stripped of operating elections. Doesn't that mean they are doing their jobs by finding these illegal registrations?

100% those 100 p.o. box registrations were R plants. The state has to approve voter registrations, am I correct ?

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
(edited)
6 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

I'm trying to figure out how my fucking gas bill can go up 65% in a year when we haven't had winter.

all of this !!!

Edited by tx 3 putt

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
48 minutes ago, bluto said:

Goes in education thread too I reckonIMG_9655.png

fuck that douche

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
5 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

I can report aggy for all kinds of violations?

Anthony Adams Slow Clap GIF

sheep fucking is legal in college station

Valmy77

Full Members
53 minutes ago, bluto said:

Goes in education thread too I reckonIMG_9655.png

What the hell? A former NFL QB who works in real estate? What does he know about higher education? I hope this is mainly a symbolic position.

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
11 minutes ago, Valmy77 said:

What the hell? A former NFL QB who works in real estate? What does he know about higher education? I hope this is mainly a symbolic position.

pretty sure he's hard core maga

Valmy77

Full Members
1 minute ago, tx 3 putt said:

pretty sure he's hard core maga

Hope not. But even if he isn't it is kind of a weird thing for Colt to be appointed to. Did he even get a degree in education? But maybe this is some kind of oversight if physical education programs or intercollegiate sports or something.

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
Just now, Valmy77 said:

Hope not. But even if he isn't it is kind of a weird thing for Colt to be appointed to. Did he even get a degree in education? But maybe this is some kind of oversight if physical education programs or intercollegiate sports or something.

abbott appoints puppets

atomheartbevo

Certifiably Surly
1 hour ago, bluto said:

Goes in education thread too I reckonIMG_9655.png

7 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

abbott appoints puppets

Yep, Abbott doesn't appoint him unless he does 100% as Abbott says.

McCoy about to burn all of the goodwill he's ever built up with UT alumni.

I would love to be wrong and for Colt to stand up for UT, but Abbott wouldn't have appointed him without knowing where he stands on the various issues.

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members

lovely ....

mchookem

Certifiably Surly
3 hours ago, bluto said:

Goes in education thread too I reckonIMG_9655.png

i worked there under Perry, it was rife with aggy at the time. worst job i ever had, absolutely full of assholes. i doubt it's changed much.

but there was a time when i would have said 'aww good for him, congrats Colt!' but everything is stupid and has been ruined now especially in Texas so, meh.

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
19 hours ago, speed817 said:

Texas hands over complete list of registered voters to Trump administration

The Texas Tribune
No image preview

Texas gives DOJ list of its 18 million registered voters

The Justice Department has asked states for their voter rolls with an eye toward purging ineligible voters. Democrats say sharing the data could violate federal election law.

fyi ...

Alicia Pierce, a spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, told Votebeat and The Texas Tribune that the state had sent its voter roll, which includes information on the approximately 18.4 million voters registered in Texas, to the Justice Department on Dec. 23.

The state included identifiable information about voters, including dates of birth, driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers, Pierce said.

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members

I live in a dem precinct that voted heavily against trump and vote in the dem primaries. I'm on a pay back list for sure.

I can't remember the last R I voted for, maybe Bush

MissingInAction

Certifiably Surly
3 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

sheep fucking is legal in college station

Yea it is.

bluto

Certifiably Surly

Higher ed board functions from their site. Colt was the obvious choice given his extensive background in higher ed.

Five Key Functions

1. Provide Statewide Perspective for Resource Efficiency

Efficient and effective utilization of higher education resources is essential. This involves eliminating unnecessary duplication across the state to optimize resource allocation.

2. Develop and Evaluate Long-Range Master Plans

The creation and evaluation of a comprehensive long-range master plan for higher education are crucial steps in ensuring progress and alignment with future goals.

3. Collect and Disseminate Higher Education Data

Centralizing and making accessible data on higher education facilitates informed decision-making and supports policy recommendations for the benefit of all stakeholders.

4. Improve Transition Efficiency

Enhancing the efficiency of transitions, whether from high school to postsecondary education, between different institutions for transfer purposes, or from postsecondary education to the workforce, is vital. Recommendations aimed at streamlining these transitions benefit students and the broader community.

5. Administer Financial Aid Programs

Managing programs and trusteed funds for financial aid and grants plays a pivotal role in achieving the state’s long-term objectives, in accordance with directives from the Texas Legislature.

Fudge Nuggets

Legacy Members
10 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

McCoy about to burn all of the goodwill he's ever built up with UT alumni.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA

Have you never read the Daily Texan board?

tx ind

Legacy Members
(edited)

Just once I’d like someone afforded the opportunity to ask Abbott some basic questions:

You’ve been in office for 10 years, what have you accomplished?

You’re running for reelection, what do you intend to accomplish?

You’ve had the legislature support for 10 years, how were you not able to accomplish more and why do you deserve more time after 10 years? How much time do you need?

It’s sad but we’d be much better off with Rick Perry.

Edited by tx ind

The Ace of Aces

Legacy Members

Have to fly back to Austin this next week for a quick one day deal. What kind of visa do I need coming from the Unoted States?

Longhorn_Fan68

New Members
1 minute ago, The Ace of Aces said:

Have to fly back to Austin this next week for a quick one day deal. What kind of visa do I need coming from the Unoted States?

you just gotta bring some weed to share

The Ace of Aces

Legacy Members

I blame Obama for autocorrect not fixing United

Im_smarter_then_you

Burnt Ends

Damn shame this state sucks as the real estate is cheap

bluto

Certifiably Surly
26 minutes ago, tx ind said:

Just once I’d like someone afforded the opportunity to ask Abbott some basic questions:

You’ve been in office for 10 years, what have you accomplished?

You’re running for reelection, what do you intend to accomplish?

You’ve had the legislature support for 10 years, how were you not able to accomplish more and why do you deserve more time after 10 years? How much time do you need?

It’s sad but we’d be much better off with Rick Perry.

“I got school vouchers passed”

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members
1 hour ago, tx ind said:

Just once I’d like someone afforded the opportunity to ask Abbott some basic questions:

You’ve been in office for 10 years, what have you accomplished?

You’re running for reelection, what do you intend to accomplish?

You’ve had the legislature support for 10 years, how were you not able to accomplish more and why do you deserve more time after 10 years? How much time do you need?

It’s sad but we’d be much better off with Rick Perry.

share jericho GIF

Dnaguy

Full Members
17 hours ago, Valmy77 said:

What the hell? A former NFL QB who works in real estate? What does he know about higher education? I hope this is mainly a symbolic position.

IDK if he can shoulder this burden

Valmy77

Full Members
12 minutes ago, Dnaguy said:

IDK if he can shoulder this burden

Damn. Too soon.

Im_smarter_then_you

Burnt Ends
17 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

Yep, Abbott doesn't appoint him unless he does 100% as Abbott says.

McCoy about to burn all of the goodwill he's ever built up with UT alumni.

I would love to be wrong and for Colt to stand up for UT, but Abbott wouldn't have appointed him without knowing where he stands on the various issues.

I’d bet most of the bmds are mega maga. Be real

Anyways. The original owner of this burger joint was deported. New owner:

image.png

tx 3 putt

Legacy Members

flatonia 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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