Don't shoot the messenger. Information taken from "Practicing Texas Politics"

Updated 13th Edition. This is just the first chapter.
You don't like it? Sorry, thems the facts.
You don't believe me? Buy the book.
This is a TEXTBOOK being taught in colleges across Texas.
Texas has some nice window dressing...this is true. But you CANNOT ignore the social issues that exist in this state. I live here, I know. You can only heal something when you tear off the scab and expose it to fresh air. Covering it up and telling everyone it is fine does NOTHING to heal the wound.
I want CHANGE here--you cannot do that when you live in denial of the problems that exist at the heart of the state.

More than 1 in every 5 Texas children live in poverty.
100,000 to 200,000 Texans are homeless.
In 2008, more than 1/3 of Texans were earning less than $20,000 year--below poverty level.
As a result, the Lone Star State continues to rank near the bottom of 50 states in governmental responses to poverty and social problems. (all this info from page 36).

Texas ranks (page 35)
#1 in air pollution emissions
#1 in pollution released by manufacturing plants
#1 in amount of greenhouse gases released
#1 in toxic chemicals released into water
#1 in recognized carcinogens released into air
#1 in number of clean water permit violations
#1 in number of environmental and civil rights complaints
#1 in amount of hazardous waste generated
#1 in amount of carbon dioxide emissions

Yet only
#18 in per capita spending on air quality
#38 in water quality planning
#46 in per capita spending on environmental protection for open spaces
#49 in per capita spending on water quality
#45 in per capita spending on environmental protection
#50 in per capita spending on open space protection

I could go on, but I won't. Texas is what happens when an individualistic culture dominates a moralistic culture. It is NOT the shining example that many want it to be, but that doesn't mean that we can't make it better.

the DU Texans will take what you posted as nothing but bashing Texas, and you will be told exactly how offensive it is, and how they're sick of Texas being bashed, how many millions of Texans voted for Obama, how tired they are of Texas bashing, how those figures aren't correct, how weary they are of Texas bashing, how statistics are nothing but lies, how vile you are for bashing Texas, and your mother wasn't a nice person, and you can't even write well, and you used the wrong words, and they're sick and tired of Texas being bashed, and you're going on Ignore.

Or maybe people will find this information interesting, and wonder if Hutchinson would be an improvement over Governor Goodhair (as Molly Ivins so famously dubbed him, but be careful using that appellation, because you're not Molly Ivins, and they're so sick of Texas bashing), and maybe the secessionists have a pretty good idea.

Unless it included Austin, which is a really neat place..................

Yes I know he was a fictional character.

as an ultra-progressive, married, Jewish, grandmother lesbian friend of mine said, "If I want to watch re***ds, I'll go over to St. Elizabeth's (a mental hospital in DC, now closed)," so I skipped it............................

Forrest didn't contend. He just did everything naturally and "accidentally" achieved greatness while remaining humble.

:)

and I know that, but there are some Texans here who are gonna read whatever they want into what you posted, no matter how clear it is.

Yeah, truth is the perfect defense, but when it comes to perceived (not actual) Texas bashing, the brains fly right out their ears, and the stuff they come up with is just amazing.

You did good, Horse............. :hi:

I'm fine with letting Texas go - fuck um - but your idea of making it better is probably well.. better. :evilgrin:

Oil did to texas what tobacco did to North Carolina. Shame, really, all those people suffering and
we have to breathe in their filth.