I, being a Texan by birth and a citizen of the greatest state in the union, would totally welcome the opportunity, if given, to leave the Union. Here's why:
1. We don't want the bailout money cause we can overcome this "depression" on our own. There is no such thing as free money, there are always strings attached. People have become obsessed about free money without any regard to the consequences. I prefer to earn mine and do with it what I please.
2. Contrary to popular belief, most Texans love the United States and what it and its Constitution stand for, else I doubt we'd have joined the union in 1845. Gov. Perry reaffirmed his belief, along with the vast majority of Texas Senators and Legislature in the United States Constitution's 10 amendment.
3. Also if you believe for one second that Texas leaving the Union is good for the country, let me remind you that Texas is the second largest state in the Union. Not to mention the second largest population, meaning a lot of the beloved federal government's tax dollars would disappear. We have no income tax, and the seventh lowest per capita in the United States. Which means the majority of our money stays where it belongs, in the hands of the people who earned it. I would also like to point out that Texas is a tax donor state meaning that for every dollar a Texan paid to the federal income tax the state receives approximately .94 cents in tax dollars. Can Pennsylvania say that?
4. Texas alone has a gross state product of around 1.09 trillion, which happens to be the second highest in the nation. We also happen to have the most fortune 500 companies in the country headquartered in Texas.
5. Our universities are some of the best in the country. University of Texas and Texas A & M, just to name a few of the best known.
6. Texas also happens to be the nation's leader in having the most farms and highest acreage of farms, as well as the leading livestock producer in the country. Cattle being the most valuable livestock, but we also lead the nation in sheep and goat products. We also grow the most cotton in the country, and vast quantities of both cereals and various produce. Texas also leads in creating cement, crushed stone, lime, salt, sand and gravel. Without raw materal it will be difficult to build buildings and roads.
7. Unlike most states, Texas has its own alternating current power grid, not to mention our electric services are deregulated allowing for power companies to compete with each other. Another example of free market economy which probably disgusts you.
8. Texas has petroleum deposits of around 5 billion barrels, which is roughly a quarter of the entire United States reserves. I think you'd miss that when you can't drive to school when you get ready to start the 28th grade at the University of Pennsylvania.
9. As far as "green" energy, Texas is a leader in renewable energy by producing the most wind power in the country. So you'd be missing all that wonder green energy, you blue folks talk about all the time.
10. Our technology sector and well as commerce, airports, highways, railroads, culture, arts, sports are some of the best in the country.
So yes sir, I'd believe we'd be just fine without "Blue" America, most of which isn't blue to begin with. Oh yes, our president has promised change, but as far as I can see he is continuing the practices of the Bush administration by spending money the government doesn't have. He wants to have a civilian defence force to protect us from terrorist? I think our FBI and first responders do a heck of a job. He wants to triple the size of Americorps through the "GIVE" act? Why? Americans give more money to charitable organizations and volunteer more then any other nation on earth. That's tax payer money that can go to the deficit. I don't even remember what his budget is supposed to run except that its the largest in our nation's history, so he tries to convince Americans that if he cuts 100 million of a several trillion dollar budget, that he's actually trying to save money? We aren't stupid, well most of us aren't. I see it right through him as do most Texans. I also saw through the Bush administrations decisions as well, just so I can prove to you this isn't about President Obama.
I also believe you need to check your geography because Alabama is not a bordering state. But hey, if you and your buddies don't want Alabama either we'd be more then welcome them to join us. I think you'd be surprised most of the south feels the way Texans do about whats happening in our country. We just happen to be a little more vocal, and we believe in free speech. I suppose you didn't notice the tens of thousands of tea party gatherers all around the country, even in your blue states. You didn't notice because you "blue" people think the tea party concept is anti - Obama. The concept is based on uncontrolled government spending, misuse of tax dollars, and the slow erosion of freedoms we enjoy as Americans.
If you want big brother Obama to hold your hand all your life that's fine with me. Here in Texas we take care of ourselves, and if forced, we'll show that we can.
Mr. Faris' article can be found here.
*all information was taken from wikipedia and its sources.
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Nice. Here was my take: http://jacktember.blogspot.com/2009/04/npr-finds-my-shitlist.html
ReplyDeleteI, being a non-Texan by birth and currently residing in Texas, the shittiest state in the Union, would be ecstatic if Texas left the Union. Here's why:
ReplyDelete1. Texas, and all its citizens, really does want money. Federal dollars will do just fine. And property. Texans have the most sickening sense of entitlement that I have ever seen. Sure, already rich Texans can "overcome" this "depression," if by "overcome" you mean spend your way out of it by buying lots of Hummers and other SUVs, and if by "depression" you mean "recession." And there is such a thing as free money, buddy. It's called being born into it, and I have firsthand experience working with some of these people. In case you hadn't guessed, they are some of the most morally-deficit, deplorable people I have ever encountered. Like you, I prefer to earn my own money, but to think you can do with it what you "plaese" is a sorrowful neglect of your fellow man. Sadly, this is another sentiment echoed by many other Texans.
2. Contrary to popular belief, most Texans love to claim they love the United States and what it and the Constitution stand for. Really, the old South is alive and well here. The only thing missing are "whites only" drinking fountains. Invoking the "10 amendment" and state's rights is not a legitimate argument to the necessary compromises that come with being part of the Union. I suppose your spouse lets you do whatever you want without regard to the consequences. Most relationships based on that kind of attitude don't tend to last. No one state is greater than any other.
3. "Also if you believe for one second that Texas leaving the Union is a good for the Union let me remind you that Texas is the second largest state in the Union." Let me remind you that Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas, geographically speaking. Texas is big, has lots of people, produces lots of federal tax dollars, agricultural products, etc. These are indeed good points. However, none of what you state changes the facts that property taxes here are outrageous, public services are a joke, people here don't know how to drive worth a damn, and it is just plain hot and shitty most of the year.
4. "Texas alone has a gross state product of around 1.09 trillion, which happen to be the second highest in the nation. We also happen to have the most fortune 500 companies in the country headquartered in Texas." Another good point. Texas is probably about the business-friendly place in the country. Unfortunately, that also means it is among the least employee-friendly. Good luck getting ahead here is you work for someone else.
5. "Our universities our [sic - shouldn't this be "are?"] some of the best in the country. University of Texas and Texas A & M, just to name a few of the best known." I'm guessing you must be a graduate of one of these proud institutions. UT is a fine school, I'll give you that. A&M produces some of the most useless people I have ever encountered. The really sad part is that A&M has an engineering department. Each year, the A&M engineering drop-outs get hired by the Texas Department of Transportation to create roads and (some) bridges. This might partially explain Texas' pathetic infrastructure. The A&M engineering graduates go to work at their "daddy's" ranch or Home Depot.
6. "Texas also happens to be the nation's leader in having the most farms and highest acreage of farms, as well as the leading livestock producer in the country. Cattle being the most valuable livestock, but we also lead the nation in sheep and goat products. We also grow the most cotton in the country, and vast quantities of both cereals and various produce."
Another excellent point about agricultural production. Texas probably contributes significantly to feeding part of America. But what the hell is your attempt at creating that last sentence? “Texas also boast [sic] in creating cement, crushed stone, lime, salt, sand and gravel." It sounds like you are really saying, "Texas boast in creating rocks and dirt. Me drink pale lager beer, wash truck, and have sex with sister. ARRRR!" Again, these are good points you raise, but your Texas higher education overshadows this.
7. Unlike most states, Texas has the worst possible power grid ever. Mild thunderstorms knock out the power around here. I've lived in places where the thunder almost blew the windows out of my house, it got to 20 degrees below in winter, and the power grid worked just fine.
"... not too [sic - that darn Texas education again!] mention our electric services are deregulated allowing for power companies to compete with each other.
Let's be clear: the deregulation certainly hasn't helped me. My power bills are pretty damn high. I am not aware of any competing power company that can provide my electricity. Customer service from my provider is awful. Who knows? Maybe it's my fault.
8. "Texas has petroleum deposits of around 5 billion barrels, which is roughly a quarter of the entire United States reserves."
This is just awesome, but unfortunately amounts to little more than typical Texas penis-waving. How long do you think the oil will really last? And by the way, most students at the University of Pennsylvania don't drive there. It is in the middle of Philadelphia, a city you may have heard of that was in existence long before Texas was stolen from Mexico. Parking is pretty limited there, but Philly has something called "public transportation," which makes getting around the city quick and easy. Meanwhile, Texas boasts shitloads of semi-poorly designed highways and too many pickup trucks (Does everyone really need a truck? Most of them don't ever have four-wheel drive. More Texas penis-waving to compensate for how much life really sucks here. Come on, dude, admit it!). What pride!
9. "Texas is a leader in renewable energy by producing the most wind power in the country. So you'd be missing all that wonder green energy, you blue folks talk about all the time."
Or other states could build their own wind farms. How much power the Texas produces leaves the state? Probably none, right? Otherwise, why would Texas have a new nuclear power plant in the works? I'm not saying that's bad, just putting the question out there. Does Texas over consume or overproduce energy?
10. "Our technology sector and well as commerce, airports, highways, railroads, culture, arts, sports are some of the best in the country."
Highways, culture, and arts among the best? That is funniest thing I have heard in months! The roads and highways here are the worst I've driven on in any state (and I've been to about 40). Arts: mission style design, and not much else that I can see. I'm probably wrong on this one, but the arts do not seem to be emphasized as much as things like property ownership, football, and blind Texas pride. Holy shit, you can even buy tortilla chips in the shape of the state of Texas! I've never seen a place so wholly self-absorbed and culturally void. Well, maybe the masses of illegal immigrants add a touch of flavor to an otherwise dull template of white people with money who are more than happy to exploit the cheap illegal immigrant workforce. I know the Hispanic groundskeepers do a pretty good job in my subdivision.
So yes sir, I believe the United States would be just fine without Texas, most of which is composed of bible-beating, inbreeding hypocrites.
"...just so I can prove to you this isn't about President Obama." Good idea. Let's not make this a partisan discussion.
"I also believe you need to check your geography because Alabama is not a bordering state. [RIGHT!] But hey, if you and your buddies don't want Alabama either we'd be more then welcome them to join us. I think you'd be surprised most of the south feels the way Texans do about whats [sic] happening in our country." I say we let the former Confederate states secede again. Really, why should the rest of the country be burdened with some of the poorest states with the ignorant populace? Let them secede, sell them to Japan or France, whatever.
"We just happen to be a little more vocal, and we believe in free speech."
No shit? What about people's right to speak out in favor of abortion, same-sex marriage, sex-education in schools, or other topics normally considered taboo in places like Texas? What about the right of people to express their dearly-held belief that Texas is an awful place? What about my right to criticize what you have written?
"If you want big brother Obama to hold your hand all your life that's fine with me. Here in Texas we take care of ourselves, and if forced, we'll show that we can."
Please, get the chip off your shoulder, or at least fine another way to express your point more eloquently. Texas has a long history of being independent, the Lone Star State. I think it is fair to say that just about everyone knows that. That's cool; it is part of Texas' identity, and probably your identity as a Texas citizen. It's great to be proud of who you are and where you're from. But if you think you're better than someone else because of where you were born or where you live, that's just sad. Using those sentiments as a basis to pick a fight with the rest of your own country is just pathetic.
P.S. I'd leave Texas if I could, but I'm stuck here for the time being. Plus, as a show of good faith, I'll point others to your blog so they can see your point of view.
Now that JRG has attempted to point out all of the blogger's typos in an effort to avoid confronting the arguments, should somebody point out all of his/her typos?
ReplyDeleteJRG,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the help with the typos and sentence structure, I really do and as you see it you may have some valid points. I for one don't know where you live and what the quality of the roads happen to be.
I am not picking a fight with anyone, just stating beliefs. And I prefer the chip on my shoulder because it suits me.
I do with my money as I please because its my money, but hey I give money to churches and what not, so guess what, I do help my fellow man. Unlike some I pay my federal income taxes.
I attended neither UT or A&M, but I know people from both, and most of them are bright people. And good people at heart.
I don't really care Alaska is bigger, becasue it really has no bearing on my argument, I believe I mentioned that Texas was the 2nd largest state.
While I concede that property taxes are high, I also remind you you there is no income tax, and overall the tax burden in state is fairly light compared to some other places.
And the comment about the crushed rock and cement, well if you don't have any of that stuff your going to find it hard to build building and improve roads and bridges.
I for one also have no sense of entitlement, I earned everything I have, with no help from any inheritance.
I really don't see any reason to bring my relationship with my spouse into this argument. It isnt really any of your business what I do at home. Stick to the argument at hand.
The publics services may are a joke, I don't seem to have any problems with them. Also most of Texas business happens to be based on the small business owner, so the opportunity to work for yourself is their if that is what you want to do.
I also happen to believe we make our own destiny. If you dont like it here you are more then welcome to leave the state and go and find another to live in.
You can insult my education all you wish I don't have a problem with that. I know my own self worth. And my worth to the people that know. I hope you can say the same.
I appreciate your commentary, I really do, and I appreciate your show of good faith as well. But next time if you would, you can leave all the incest jokes, and all the other stereotypes at the door.
Having said all that I appreciate your response.
Rock on. Many positive things can be said about Texas (even by me - for example, the people here are generally polite, which cannot be said of many places). You took the high road here, and I openly admit I took the low road.
ReplyDeleteJRG -
ReplyDelete1. People who buy products and accessories are employing people. Even if it's a hideously ugly H2 liberally slathered in chrome, that's employing someone in its manufacture and "pimping" process. Those private enterprise funds are going into the hands of citizens, not government.
"Neglect of your fellow man" comes from the individual - it doesn't come from government staying out of your business. The reduced tax rates in Texas lead to more discretionary spending - and if you put some of that into your hummer and some of that into charity, everyone benefits (even the state through increased commerce & sales tax revenue).
You might be surprised to learn that those who are politically more conservative give a lot more to charity. Google it. The stories come around every Christmas, and every year, liberals are shocked that conservatives (classic liberals) are actually more generous people.
2. You recognized you took the low-road, so I'll simply point out that bashing the South is the last accepted form of racism. It was embraced by North/Northeastern urban whites after the Civil War and continues to this day. Look at Cleetus on the Simpsons and tell me that character would be acceptable if given any other characteristics other than "white southerner redneck".
As a point of fact, the Union is created by the States, not vice versa. 13 colonies and other states later joined to form the United States. United States. Not the short form "America" - it's the United States.
Even states that were formed from territories underwent a process of both being accepted into the United States and accepting the United States. Montana's constitution requires certain things of the US, as does Texas.
Short version: The Feds don't run the place - we do.
3. Property taxes vs. income taxes are a system that seem to work in Texas, and specifically benefit folks on the lower level of the economic ladder. You get more for your paycheck - period. When you've reached the point of owning land (historically it's a huuuge deal, too) - you pay more taxes. And the more citizen/business friendly tax status means that businesses are booming. The lower taxes, the more business comes, and the more state revenue by volume, as well as more productivity and much greater benefit for the citizen. Everybody wins (except statist politicians who want to take our money for "the good of your fellow man", or some such utopian socialist nonsense).
4. That's just dumb. If you work for someone else, you can get along fine. That's based off your personal work ethic.
It's great for employees - it's a state where you have a choice of employers. You also don't have a stranglehold on many enterprises from "labor" groups that extort businesses for wages they don't deserve while putting their own workers on unemployment for months at a time so the labor bosses can extort more pay for themselves. Ask someone not paid off by a union how they feel about them - specifically ask the people who've had their jobs destroyed by union boss greed (all the while hearing about how "the companies are evil" or other such tripe).
Texas booming economy benefits everyone from lowest man on the ladder to the highest. The guy on top can hire more guys on the bottom and can move more guys up the ladder.
5. Low road - good on you for seeing you took it.
Texas roads are designed kinda weird and take some getting used to. San Antonio's extremely high speed entrances and exits off the 410 loop require a lot of attention to drive on, but they move people very fast. It works for the region.
That's also why States are more important than feds, again.
6. ""Texas boast in creating rocks and dirt. Me drink pale lager beer, wash truck, and have sex with sister. ARRRR!" Again, these are good points you raise, but your Texas higher education overshadows this."
If he were talking about the businesses in Mobile, would you say something like "Alabama boast in making rocks. Me drink grape soda, wash rims, and have sex with hood rats! Yo, homie!" JRG, you already acknowledged you took the low road, but racist Northerners don't even realize that they are. I'm just trying to open your eyes to things that if you saw, you wouldn't have said.
7. We had golf-ball sized hail where I live and the power flickered for a couple of minutes and that's all. Deregulation is a good thing. It isn't there to help you personally, though.
It is there because when a hundred of you start complaining to the power company, or complain to another power company, by providing a market for another company, you can bring in competition.
Contrast that with Chicago, where the head of the power company went on in 2006 and said "we're raising rates" to the tune of triple the cost. And there is no choice. They run it.
8. Public transportation usually only keeps itself afloat by government subsidies. Most Texas communities, being of larger landmass, are driver friendly to begin with (relative to eastern cities), but public transit would require taxing citizens who don't need it, don't want it, and wouldn't use it. There are dozens of cities with abysmal public transit that siphons money out of the hands of productive members of society and gives it to a cruddy mass transit system that can't provide and doesn't work.
Mass transit is fun to ride (I like the DC Metro, myself :D), but it's on someone's dime. Invariably it cost the citizens of a community. Either direct taxes (like the idiocy in Kansas City with the light rail scam) or in business taxes that drive local businesses out, reduce their incomes and require them to cut costs - like employment.
If it's economically feasible, it'll stand on its own.
9. How much power leaves Texas? Something like 30% last I heard. Texas exports huge amounts of power.
Personally, I don't like wind power because nuclear is easier and even safer to do with pebble bed reactors. Also, perhaps more importantly, it kills bats - not even through blades hitting them, but through pressure waves that rupture their internal organs. Bats are too important to the ecosystem as a bug control mechanism to ignore. For once I'd be on the side of a few more enviro impact statments.
10. "Funniest thing I've heard in months"? The immediate derision of anything Southern, laced with pejoratives, and including a half dozen insults - including calling someone ignorant who's shown himself to be more open minded and tolerant than yourself.
The comments about illegal aliens adding culture while smugly commenting about "hispanic groundskeepers" strikes another racist chord. They're only there to trim your lawn or provide you restaurants? That's downright insulting, pinche gringo. A gal I met in SA had family that went back 16 generations in Texas - you talk down to her with "hispanic" and comments like that and you'd get slapped.
Arts? You've got a very closed mind if you haven't seen what's here or can't appreciate it. Everything from local arts & crafts to big city stuff. Even your seemingly narrow-minded profanity spewing host-insulting self might appreciate Austin. (You'll also find it's a city that has a few self-righteous snobby leftist Texas-haters, too.)
"What about people's right to speak out in favor of abortion, same-sex marriage, sex-education in schools, or other topics normally considered taboo in places like Texas?"
You can speak out all you like. Culturally, most Texans disagree with you. Also, unlike most states north of the Mason-Dixon line or not part of the Rockies, they'll tell you you're wrong. Often they'll tell you why.
For one simple example - a lot of folks are against same-sex marriage because it's a corruption of a religious institution. It also opens the door to polygamy (legal battles being fought over that now, much to the consternation of gay "rights" activists who didn't listen when they were told it was a can of worms). Also because civil unions offer almost identical legal protections - and then gays who want to marry can do so in a ceremony of a church that accepts them.
Abortion is a topic that most abortionists don't really understand. Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Life begins at conception (tell me how condoms work if life doesn't). That means life, as in unborn children, is valid - and not subject to arbitrary termination. If abortion is acceptable, then infanticide should be equally acceptable. The morality is the same. Again, life begins at conception, so you're murdering a life based on your convenience. (I lean pro-choice because I don't want the government saying yes or no, but I don't want to give tax money to anyone for abortions, either.)
Now that you've got a basic frame of reference for the debate, maybe it makes more sense.
Also, if you go in and say "hey you sister-fucking denizen of the shittiest state" and proceed to tell people how everyone should be allowed to kill innocent children, do you see how you're going to get a negative reaction? I would hope you have more class than that (and by your second post, it seems you do!)
If you were to look at Texas and possibly the Old South seceeding, you'd see it would be terrible for the rest of the nation, yankee bluster aside. Texas has great shipping ports, the 9th largest economy in the world (Cali is 8th for now), a wonderful business climate, a proud population, a good relationship with Mexico (I live on the border - it really is good), an energy surplus, dedicated public servants (I've even had a good time at the DMV here), and a lot going for it. The rest of the South is much the same - that's why Japanese and US automakers keep opening plants that utilize the skilled workforce in those states (your racist notions aside, whether demeaning Southern whites as inbred idiots or Southern blacks as impotent and unable to provide for themselves without being saved by white liberals from the government). You're looking at a huge agricultural base plus shipping and manufacturing of everything from basic widgets to complex machinery - and none of it has been destroyed by union parasites. (Seriously, look at Detroit vs Kentucky. One has a booming auto business, the other is a hellhole. Unions and govt in Detroit have destroyed that city - ask anyone from Motown how they feel about Kwame Kilpatrick.)
Most of the Rockies states and great plains would probably go right along with the South, as they're more culturally compatible - respecting individual rights (just not special priviledges that some people demand) and property rights.
Even with just the old South, the huge loss of federal revenue for the Union would cripple it. Southern states can pay their budgets. South Carolina is refusing stimulus money because of it. Texas doesn't need or want it (hopefully our reps listen and refuse - so far they've refused some of it, at least). Most of the South already knows what happens when you're on the hook for govt. handouts - they don't come.
JBH did take the high road, and as much as I've criticized you for your inherent racism (nothing you can do about that - when I lived in Minnesota, I went along with the racist flow of that state and made fun of Southerners, too) - you can take the high road, too.
Get out and look at all the good in Texas. It really is the greatest state in the nation. If you force yourself to only see the worst, you'll only see the worst - and you'll only see the best in whatever state you came from (I'll assume Northeast postage-stamp states, Cali-Pac NW, or possibly Illinois. You're too polite to come from Madison, WI.)
Wait until you go home and don't hear please & thank you, gracias & de nada, sir & ma'am, senor or senora. You'll notice how rude and often cruel people are from non-Southern, non-Western states.
Contrast your original post with the response and consider why, if you were being treated the same, apropos of nothing, you'd find yourself obliged to send tax money to that other person's state - that they self-destructed with their own foolish social policies? Should the fruits of my labor and JBH's be sent to your failed state? Should we have to put up with your verbal abuse and then have our property seized so your scummy leaders can squander it, all the while deriding us for being the cause of their suffering? Should we want to be a part of a nation where we're insulted, yet we have to carry your sorry ass because you made damn fool mistakes?
If you've ever read Animal Farm, we're doing Boxer's job, but we're not really seeing a reason why Napoleon or Snowball should be in charge of us, since we're a horse, and they're two self-absorbed, insulting shit-soaked pigs.
You should learn to enjoy Texas - you'll miss it when you leave and all the kindness you showed in your first post is what you're treated to on a daily basis - as opposed to the politeness you showed in your second. Looks like Texas is rubbing off on you.