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Texas is America Inc's new centre of gravity

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Re: Texas is America Inc's new centre of gravity

#121

Post by Arodex »

sleepyguy wrote: post #61
water-data-dude wrote: post #11

As a gay dude I will never take a job in Texas. Companies may enjoy the lax regulatory environment and favorable tax laws, but there are many bright people who - for one of a NUMBER of reasons - will never move there. It is repressive and frightening. Who knows if that will be enough to move the needle on any of this, but companies aren't just buildings and incorporation paperwork, they're also the people.

Where the hell are you getting your information? Texas has the second-largest LGBTQ+ population in the United States, trailing only California. An estimated 1.8 million LGBTQ+ adults reside in the state. Demographically, this includes approximately 735,000 gay or lesbian adults, over 1.2 million bisexual individuals, and nearly 93,000 transgender

The Southern states had the largest black population. Would you have told a black person it is fine to go live there at the height of Jim Crow?

Re: Texas is America Inc's new centre of gravity

#122

Post by scoofy »

mancerayder wrote: post #117
scoofy wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People who "refuse to move" to Texas honestly have no idea what they're talking about. Yes, you probably wouldn't like it, but it's certainly not what you think it is. I grew up in Texas (mostly Austin), and later in life moved to California, and genuinely can't stand the navel-gazey "I've never been there but I know I'd hate it" type of attitude that prevails here. Texas is a gerrymandered purple state, not a red st…

All this is true, but the abortion restrictions are state-wide and a real issue while also remaining a symbolic turn-off for women from blue states. The bigger issue is the influence of Christianity on the legal system, which approaches third world levels for such a rich state.

I don't disagree that the abortion issue is egregious.

My point is more subtle. California is currently sacrificing the futures of entire generations. Why? To protect the property wealth the previous generations. To protect ocean views. To protect vibes.

My point is that I'm a consequentialist. I honestly don't know which state is doing more harm. Texas' is open and obvious and mean spirited. At the same time I see what California is doing to it's young people. It has become normal for people in their 40s and 50s to be forced to live with roommates because housing attainability literally doesn't exist. A major problem is now schools lacking teacher because the they can't afford to live anywhere. Cities are now building company town-style dorms for teachers. It's crazy.

I have no idea why it gets a pass from the pearl clutchers on my side of the political spectrum.

I just wish we would have the same reaction when looking in the mirror, and say: "as a egalitarian dude I will never take a job in California. Homeowners may enjoy favorable tax laws, but there are many bright people who - for one of a NUMBER of reasons - will never move there. It is destroying young people's futures."

Re: Texas is America Inc's new centre of gravity

#123

Post by AnneTrotter »

scoofy wrote: post #40
water-data-dude wrote: post #11

As a gay dude I will never take a job in Texas. Companies may enjoy the lax regulatory environment and favorable tax laws, but there are many bright people who - for one of a NUMBER of reasons - will never move there. It is repressive and frightening. Who knows if that will be enough to move the needle on any of this, but companies aren't just buildings and incorporation paperwork, they're also the people.

People who "refuse to move" to Texas honestly have no idea what they're talking about. Yes, you probably wouldn't like it, but it's certainly not what you think it is. I grew up in Texas (mostly Austin), and later in life moved to California, and genuinely can't stand the navel-gazey "I've never been there but I know I'd hate it" type of attitude that prevails here. Texas is a gerrymandered purple state, not a red st…

No, the reason not to live there is that I don't have the save civil rights as in other states. My life is, on a fundamental level, worth measurably less in Texas than that of a brainless fetus. I can't get lifesaving healthcare if I accidentally get pregnant. If you're totally cool living where around 50% of the population aren't legally your equal, you may not have done your homework on how this always turns out.

Re: Texas is America Inc's new centre of gravity

#124

Post by mplanchard »

scoofy wrote: post #40
water-data-dude wrote: post #11

As a gay dude I will never take a job in Texas. Companies may enjoy the lax regulatory environment and favorable tax laws, but there are many bright people who - for one of a NUMBER of reasons - will never move there. It is repressive and frightening. Who knows if that will be enough to move the needle on any of this, but companies aren't just buildings and incorporation paperwork, they're also the people.

People who "refuse to move" to Texas honestly have no idea what they're talking about. Yes, you probably wouldn't like it, but it's certainly not what you think it is. I grew up in Texas (mostly Austin), and later in life moved to California, and genuinely can't stand the navel-gazey "I've never been there but I know I'd hate it" type of attitude that prevails here. Texas is a gerrymandered purple state, not a red st…

I lived in Austin for a decade, and I think this is off base.

Yes, Austin is not like rural Texas. But also, the state legislature is in Austin and loves nothing more than voting down or making illegal any progressive measure Austin tries to take. While I was there, we voted pretty overwhelmingly for a solid plan to add some trains, but the state leg then made the method of funding illegal. Same on the plastic bag ban. Same on regulating uber and lyft.

And, much more critically, same on abortion and other issues that directly impact people’s fundamental rights. Not sure if Garza is still DA, but his power to selectively enforce state law is limited, and people can still be denied lifesaving care because of regressive state laws, or prosecuted for having a suspicious miscarriage. Any kind of care for trans people is similarly handicapped.

The state politics also mean that public nature access is not great. The few nice places in the vicinity of Austin are usually overcrowded, and there are far fewer state or national parks compared to other large states.

I am glad to have moved out, and I would never move back while the state politics remain what they are.

Also “reasonable weather most of the year” is a stretch. Reasonable if you love summer, I guess, but six months of brutal heat is not fun.

Re: Texas is America Inc's new centre of gravity

#125

Post by scarecrowbob »

mplanchard wrote: post #124
scoofy wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People who "refuse to move" to Texas honestly have no idea what they're talking about. Yes, you probably wouldn't like it, but it's certainly not what you think it is. I grew up in Texas (mostly Austin), and later in life moved to California, and genuinely can't stand the navel-gazey "I've never been there but I know I'd hate it" type of attitude that prevails here. Texas is a gerrymandered purple state, not a red st…

I lived in Austin for a decade, and I think this is off base. Yes, Austin is not like rural Texas. But also, the state legislature is in Austin and loves nothing more than voting down or making illegal any progressive measure Austin tries to take. While I was there, we voted pretty overwhelmingly for a solid plan to add some trains, but the state leg then made the method of funding illegal. Same on the plastic bag ba…

I only lived in Austin for a couple of years, but I grew up in the Amarillo and Lubbock and am a direct descendant of the racist, slave-holding white settlers who signed on the Texas Declaration of Independence.

I can concede that there are plenty of nice folks and pretty places in the state.

That's the line the person you're responding to is fishing for: somehow the people in the state aren't responsible for the oligarchy that runs it. Somehow folks aren't responsible for not knowing how oppressive that political situation is for everyone who isn't shaped like them.

I've left Texas; your points here agree with my understanding.

Texas is nothing special- I can get the same cedar fever out on my 40 acres in rural Colorado, but the view is better. I'd rather live out here where I have an outhouse than try and find parking in the green belt and go climb on a few chipped and shitty 40-foot rock climbs in a 104* sauna.

I did go down for 18 days of the Kerrville Folk Festival this year- that and my kiddo who lives in Dallas are the only things that can pull me that far south any more.

It's a just-fine place if you're okay with the highly authoritarian politics.

A lot of folks clearly are okay with those restrictions on their behavior. They see the state as only repressing other people; if the state is murdering black and brown folks (say, folks like Sandra Bland for instance), it's clearly because that's the natural, normal thing for a state to do. And it's somehow never going to affect them.

Maybe their sister has never wanted reproductive healthcare and needed a drive from Lubbock to San Antonio and back to get 2 pills. Of course, now that's not even possible, so maybe that kind of state repression is no longer relevant?

But I feel that kind of stuff in my day to day life, and I can't really ignore it.

It's not much better west of the Pecos, but at least there are fewer people here.

Re: Texas is America Inc's new centre of gravity

#126

Post by MAustriaGA »

cyanydeez wrote: post #119
MAustriaGA wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you replying with meaningless statements to comments you think are at best meaningless?

i dont know ustria, why dont you like pools.

Everyone, including “ustrians,” loves the pools where the people who are swimming are self-governed civilized individuals.

Re: Texas is America Inc's new centre of gravity

#127

Post by water-data-dude »

scoofy wrote: post #40
water-data-dude wrote: post #11

As a gay dude I will never take a job in Texas. Companies may enjoy the lax regulatory environment and favorable tax laws, but there are many bright people who - for one of a NUMBER of reasons - will never move there. It is repressive and frightening. Who knows if that will be enough to move the needle on any of this, but companies aren't just buildings and incorporation paperwork, they're also the people.

People who "refuse to move" to Texas honestly have no idea what they're talking about. Yes, you probably wouldn't like it, but it's certainly not what you think it is. I grew up in Texas (mostly Austin), and later in life moved to California, and genuinely can't stand the navel-gazey "I've never been there but I know I'd hate it" type of attitude that prevails here. Texas is a gerrymandered purple state, not a red st…

I know that if I lived somewhere urban it would feel welcoming. I know there's a large LGBT community there already. I know that there's gay clubs and stuff like Texas Furry Fiesta.

But the urban areas aren't passing the state laws. The state of Texas has laws that ban teachers from talking about LGBT topics or about LGBT folks in school. If I were to find a partner and I wanted to adopt, in Texas I have no protections against discrimination. A child placing agency can exclude me on religious grounds.

Trans folks face all that and more. They ban transgender folks from using school facilities. They ban trans folks from using public restrooms. They do that thing where they define gender as being exactly equal to biological sex. The "panic" defense is allowed in murder cases. I'm not trans personally, but they're part of my community and they're slowly having their existence criminalized.

Again: there are many parts of Texas that are great. The legal landscape is hostile to LGBT folks.

Re: Texas is America Inc's new centre of gravity

#128

Post by Tadpole9181 »

water-data-dude wrote: post #127
scoofy wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People who "refuse to move" to Texas honestly have no idea what they're talking about. Yes, you probably wouldn't like it, but it's certainly not what you think it is. I grew up in Texas (mostly Austin), and later in life moved to California, and genuinely can't stand the navel-gazey "I've never been there but I know I'd hate it" type of attitude that prevails here. Texas is a gerrymandered purple state, not a red st…

I know that if I lived somewhere urban it would feel welcoming. I know there's a large LGBT community there already. I know that there's gay clubs and stuff like Texas Furry Fiesta. But the urban areas aren't passing the state laws. The state of Texas has laws that ban teachers from talking about LGBT topics or about LGBT folks in school. If I were to find a partner and I wanted to adopt, in Texas I have no protectio…

Hell, even if you're straight, they want to let people bounty hunt you for terminating a pregnancy in another state!

Criticize your government on social media? Here comes the gestapo.

The state is run by unpatriotic, theocratic oligarchs elected entirely by disproportionately represented hicks.

Re: Texas is America Inc's new centre of gravity

#129

Post by senordevnyc »

scoofy wrote: post #75
sleepyguy wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know why you're being junked, you said nothing that any Texas resident wouldn't agree with. Shit, we have two of the largest airlines in the world that as an industry have always been incredibly welcoming to the LGBT community. The only thing that sucks about Texas is the property taxes, other than that it is a very welcoming state with great infra and comfortable standard of living.

Seriously. It's a bunch of people who've never lived there telling me what it's like. The property taxes are what keep Texas affordable. Texas's infrastructure is going the way of Southern California, when the politics on property taxes follow what Southern California did, the affordability will disappear too.

Lots of people who have lived in Texas have commented here.

And why do you keep talking about California? You know that two places can both suck, right? Or suck for different reasons, such that different people can find one of them appealing, but not the other one?

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