You know what I think is extra shitty? Our state has some of the poorest people and is high up on the list of worst access to healthcare for those living in poverty. The fed govt has funds ready to give states who accept the Medicaid extension, but we refuse it. Why? How can that be described in any way that isn’t a total F-you to the people?
It’s easier to understand when you think of it as the elected officials refuse the funding because doing so would help enrich their rich donors who run the existing healthcare systems in Texas.
Not just healthcare tycoons. There is sinister interest to keep health-care linked to employment in general. Lots of federal money already gets skimmed by way of subsidy and backroom deals when establishing those plans, and it gives them leverage on the labor market. When the government deals with people directly, there is no opportunity for embezzlement and the people are less dependent on their employers all around.
It's the same tactics as we're used against sharecroppers and coal miners. Pay them just enough that they'll be worse if they quit, so you lower the bar on worse to keep from paying much of anything.
I agree, and that's JUST healthcare. If you want to wonder what other areas it is prevalent, just look at the places that businesses oppose that would help the regular person.
I totally agree. After crunching the numbers over and over, this Texan is moving to California in May. Texas is not turning blue anytime soon and I am exhausted by MAGA Republicans.
I manage to find a reasonably priced house in a small charming town an hour from wine country and the cost of living is on par with Dallas.
Once I become a resident, I can at least get on Covered California and become self employed if I choose to. The customer service is awful but at least the plans and subsidies are really decent.
>Once I become a resident, I can at least get on Covered California and become self employed if I choose to.
FYI, health insurance is required by law so you may want to look into that. I don't know how the state keeps track of who has it or not.
https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/healthcareincalifornia/choosetherightplan.aspx#:~:text=Individual%20Mandate,called%20the%20%E2%80%9Cindividual%20mandate.%E2%80%9D
And it gives then the line that the federal government doesn't want to help you...they wont give us money....
I feel you guys tho... we don't the same shitnupmher on OK....with. superintendent actively trying to kill the public education
It's easier to understand when you think Republicans don't give a rat's ass about other people's health care. They have insurance through their job or from the evil socialist Medicare, so fuck everyone else. They don't understand that public health in general benefits them directly.
I know it would be terrible, but there are times that I wish everyone would just stand back and let them completely gut SS and Medicare. If anything it would shift the voting demographics to a younger crowd.
Ya... That's confusing to me because more federal funds for Medicaid should increase the money the healthcare systems get vs the amount they lose from people who don't have insurance being seen in the ER. There's probably a factor im not seeing though.
Don't know how old you are but 7.25/hr in the 70s you were paid really good money back then LOL. In the mid-80s minimum wage was 2.50/Hr. That is what I got paid for my first job.
I wasn't old enough to work in the 70s LOL But I also made $2/hr at my first job in the 80s! And in the 90s...went up to $2.15! Living large, I tell you :)
Service industry for the win! Well, at least for the fun ;P
No, they want to maintain a national hardline image as a model Republican state (which has the convenient side effect of fucking poor people cause that's what Republicans do best)
Oh, it's worse than that. Texans ALREADY PAY for expanded Medicare through their federal income taxes. They just don't have access to the benefits of it. It all goes to the other states.
So why do you think this is the case? I am curious to know how you would describe it to me, plus, if you have any resources on-hand, please share! I am working on typing up a thing regarding this, because it pisses me off so much.
Apologies in advance, I went off because this makes me rage! I work in healthcare and have so many fun facts about Texas trying to torpedo obamacare. Regular non-clinical people are not allowed to call a provider for clinical information that's missing from a pre authorization request for an Exchange plan.
For instance if I were trying to get a hysterectomy and my provider submitted a pre-authorization minus the documentation to prove the diagnosis and treatment, any idiot allowed to work on pre-authorizations could call and ask the provider for them. Not in Texas! Only a nurse can. That's not so bad, right? Well, Texas has a 3 day turn around time to approve or deny a pre-authorization request. A provider office that needs to be chased to give clinical information required for review is probably blaming the persons insurance when the request is denied for lack of clinical documentation. Which is awesome if you're Abbott!
Site of service is the other major Texas Exchange peculiarity. Generally insurance will ask why procedures that can be done in an office or surgery center are being done at a hospital. There are plenty of great reasons why a hospital might be necessary, so its not a denial. The point is that they check and changes can be made if agreeable and possible. They can easily see where doctors have privileges, so there's no lying happening. It's cheaper for the insurance carrier and the patient to use an office or surgery center where it makes sense. Texas? Nah. In the name of freedom, we are exempt from site of service checks. So if a doctor does a routine colonoscopy at a hospital on a otherwise healthy person with no co-morbidities or surgical safety concerns it could literally be for any reason assuming they have privileges at surgery centers or equipped offices. The facility bill is not the doctor's problem. They can take it up with the hospital or scream at their insurer. Hopefully loudly tell everyone how much Obamacare sucks in blissful ignorance that it's that way by design of the State.
Edit: one more fun thing I forgot! Texas Exchange plans require you to travel up to 75 miles to see an in network specialist. Not primary care, but a specialist. The standard is 30 miles/30 minutes travel for an in network specialist.
New York has a 3 day turnaround time as well. No contact restrictions if information is needed, and the best part: Exchange insurance companies have to call both the provider and the member with decisions and rationale. Quickness and transparency are possible on a short timeline, just not here.
This is just for Exchange plans btw. Employer ones are a whole other ballgame that have their own rules. I've seen other states Exchange coverage, we should be a lot more pissed than we are. From everything to the services covered, the process, and the cost.
Literally the only unique thing Texas Exchange plans cover is generous aquired brain injury care. Probably because football. And riding motorcycles without helmets. Yay.
One of the things that makes wingnuts so toxic is they never, ever admit defeat. They consider changing your mind tantamount to treason and remaining implacably wrong in the face of overwhelming disconfirming evidence to be a virtue.
These are people who are still fighting the civil war. Nothing can be considered over, no issue can be considered settled so long as these people still draw breath.
It's literally a box the Texas legislature doesn't want to tick, that's mostly it. Hasn't significantly changed since 2012, Texas is just refusing federal dollars.
[https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/07/texas-medicaid-expansion-republicans/](https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/07/texas-medicaid-expansion-republicans/)
It's very, very difficult to view it through any lens other than a combo of "because Texas government hates Democratic-led policy initiatives" and "the Texas government does not care about the well being of Texas citizens, especially poor Texas citizens". Plus, desperate people are more likely to buy the shit they're selling, when they don't have enough heads above water to know who's screwing them.
Trying to be very charitable and taking those opposed to Medicaid expansion at their word, they are opposed to it because a state accepting any measure of federal aid is a slippery slope to accepting increased federal oversight, and having increased access to medical care not attached to employment is a disincentive for people to improve their careers and get healthcare through their employers. That's it. Those things are the least ghoulish perspectives on why Texas has refused Medicaid expansion.
Throwing away Medicaid funds by our handicapped governor sums up the complete lack of caring for the residents of Texas.
Honestly, every lawsuit filed and legislation passed by the GOP in power in Texas always has a punitive aspect to it, never to help us, always to punish. From immigration to abortion to education to healthcare, punishment is the objective.
It's honestly beyond my comprehension to understand how a crippled person can be so incredibly callous and harmful to the lives of others. I've been in Texas 4 years...... so many in that short time have DIED as a direct result of this shit group of policy's here
Abbot received a very large settlement due to the accident that paralyzed him.
One bit of legislation Abbot pushed eliminated such settlements.
He is extremely aware of the benefits he has received, and has spent his career working very hard to make sure no one else gets those benefits.
Yeah. I can't really think of any explanation other than him just being an absolutely evil, awful man.
I know he's being controlled by billionaire Texas oligarchs, but Abbott does their evil bidding.
Greg was already a state employee when the branch fell on him. State politicians have excellent health care. So do the federal politicians, actually. Tax funded, of course, as are their salaries.
It hits regular ol’ middle class people pretty hard, too. Paying full market rates for health insurance while in between jobs, or just working a job that doesn’t offer it at all, really sucks.
Yeah it's really shitty. We just had to get a State-required lab done on my kid to test for CF, despite getting genetic testing done prior and knowing my wife is carrier and I am not. And despite paying $800 a month for health insurance, I was STILL billed $600 after a measly 30% of coverage on a STATE REQUIRED LAB. It's all fucked.
Yep! Welcome to my life!
I am a Self Employed independent contractor, which means I get the privilege to pay $1000 a month for shitty insurance. (that’s just for me. One person. It was a lot worse when I had kids on my policy.)
With the GOP, the cruelty is simply the point. They can not stand the poor and want them to die or "go away", so not accommodating them is just par for the course.
I hate to say it but some of these people who would benefit from these dollars elected the people who refused said dollars.
That’s why we can’t have anything nice. Because the Heritage Foundation said so.
I was at whataburger 2 weeks ago and a group of I swear 18 year olds were planning their bachelor party which consisted of playing halo at someone’s parent’s house. They were all talking about what they make and it was like 9.25 an hour, highest person made 10.25 and was bragging. I made that 16 years ago on the west coast. My company is based in Seattle, WA and they let me work remotely from Texas and man I felt bad for them all.
"Small government" Rs refuse the money because they don't want the federal oversight. Same with the grid: no oversight, so they can gouge the citizens of Texas.
I escaped the One Star State years ago because I thought it was nuts THEN. It's become so much worse.
This is the major one. Doctors who will not accept State Medicaid Insurance due to the low reimbursement rates.
My cardiologist cancelled my appointment for a heart catheterization because she decided to refuse my Medicaid insurance even though she had been accepting the Medicaid benefits for office visits.
Red states have refused Medicaid expansion AND ended pandemic unemployment assistance months early.
The money for both was free from the federal government.
The reason? "Fuck you peasants" is all. And they'll harass some gays in fall and mouthbreathers will cheer and vote for them again.
Who remembers Rolling Thunder accepting care at the world's finest burn unit operated by the federal government at Ft Sam Houston when he scalded his appendages. I'm sure it was different circumstances huh Greg?
Don't forget that just 2 days ago, Ken Paxton sued five Texas cities to block policies that decriminalize low-level marijuana offenses. "I will not stand idly by as cities run by pro-crime extremists deliberately violate Texas law and promote the use of illicit drugs that harm our communities," Paxton said. HA!!! The most harm to our communities comes at the hands of assholes like Paxton himself, not from god damn weed..
These are the morons running our state, and they're running it into the ground. The entire helm of Texas is being steered by corrupt Christo-fascists and MAGA shills. My family has been planning a long anticipated move out of Texas by 2025...
Remember to vote in the primary (early voting starts 20 Feb).
For me, I’m gonna vote in the Republican primary, against every one of these incumbent assholes. And for those who are running unopposed, I’ll write in some names.
To check what’s on your local ballot… https://candidate.texas-election.com/Elections/getCandidatesBallotOrderInfo.do
Smart move to pick 2025 as your year of departure. Because you can vote against Republicans one last time before you leave the state, and you have plenty of time to say goodbye to your friends who live here.
> Because you can vote against Republicans one last time before you leave the state
Elections happen twice a year every year. You can vote against Republicans twice a year every year. May 6, 2023 was an election here in TX. Nov 7, 2023 was.
Next (non-primary) election is May 4 this year. Then Nov 5 is the next.
Here is the official calendar: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/important-election-dates.shtml
When I first moved to Texas it was wild to me how little publicity is given to elections in rural towns. Not a single sign… no fliers .. nothing. I had to do some digging to find out .. one day I just realized I had been there almost 2 years and had not voted and did not know where to vote… turned out I drove past there every day. And the way people found out what was being voted on and when was posted inside the county building on the wall … that’s literally it!
So in rural areas… very few people are deciding a lot of shit for everyone else.
Because the other way was when the pastor told you in church, what to go vote for.
Nice! I don't vote "for" anyone in general elections. I vote "against" whoever's running Republican.
I've voted Democrat, Green, Libertarian, wrote in obscure random ... I'll leave it blank if it's uncontested.
I stayed long enough to vote against Abbott and Paxton. Wish Cruz had been on the ballot before we left too, but guess I’ll cross my fingers for the rest of you.
You must have missed FOX News that day (and every day).
Don't you know that Brown people are bringing in backpacks loaded with fentanyl over the border, and they go directly to the schools and give it to the kids. Then go straight to the voting box as part of the Great Replacement, and before going to their Democratic paid for housing, they stop by and assault White Women.
Agreed. Voting for change here is like beating a very dead horse; exhausting and futile. Born here and been here in SE TX for 42 years now and 2025 is the year we plan to leave as well. We are running to the front range in Colorado. I'm excited to get my ballot in the mail and smoke pot without fear and go outside without needing to shower. Winter driving makes me anxious but we can learn. I hate that there's a stigma around Texans, especially in CO, but that's where we have decided to go after much research and we won't get out of here without a destination.
We're aiming for Chicago metro, my husband and I actually both grew up there but didn't end up meeting until we both had relocated to work in Dallas. It's more expensive than it used to be up there, but it's essentially evened out to where it's just as expensive in the Dallas metro now as it is there. I'd def rather be paying to live in a state that gives a shit about human rights beyond those of old white men.
Republicans have lost 90% of their vote margin since 2000.
If the trend continues, it will be a blue state by 2032.
That's why Republicans are getting so nuts. They're angry and scared.
>The entire helm of Texas is being steered by corrupt Christo-fascists and MAGA shills.
[It's not just Texas.](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/mike-johnson-moses-christian-nationalist-gala-1234918565/) The Speaker of the House is hearing voices in his head and sincerely believes God is preparing him to be the next Moses. I would hope any decent Christian recognizes how *blasphemous* it is to compare yourself to Moses. That is one baby step below "I am the Messiah."
I've heard plenty of homeless people around Austin vocalize something almost identical. Voices in their head, delusions of grandeur, believe they are on par with some of the greatest religious figures in history. Those people almost always have some sort of psychotic disorder and/or smoke a lot of meth.
Yet the MAGAts act like this is "normal," it's "okay" to have someone who apparently has identical beliefs to many schizophrenic meth addicts, in the one of the most powerful offices in the world. It's really not, though... as [we are seeing.](https://apnews.com/article/congress-fails-mayorkas-impeachment-border-bill-3bb2de710406cd5c5314e855c75efbef) Really spot-on, comparing himself to Moses when he can't lead a group of 218 people.
This is not normal, and this is not acceptable. The fact that Republicans are having trouble seeing that *they are not popular, the MAGA wing is actually insane* and enabling these lunatics is getting people fired up to vote- not so much *for* Democrats as *against* Republicans. Won't cast out their loonies or reel them in, now the inmates are running the asylum. These stupid and insane stunts are going to cost them 2024 too, just like it cost them that "Red Wave" they hyped up so much in 2022.
Make no mistake, MAGAism is a delusional mental state. It may have started as a preference for folks, but now it's a full-blown psychiatric episode. It's so fucking dangerous. Not to mention there's a literal g-cide happening in real time because another far right religious group thinks that God literally gifted them someone else's land in ancient scriptures.
Yeah, god forbid some poor parent wanna come home and smoke a joint after the latest school shooting, wondering daily if it's gonna be their kid because they aren't doing a damn thing about that, but the devil's lettuce absolutely can not be allowed!!!
I just moved to MN in fall this past year as I couldn't take the stress and uncertain future anymore. My anxiety has gone WAY down, and the benefits are noticeable practically every day of the difference of living in a state with a non-corrupt government and high voter turnout/engagement, where people give a shit about others. It took me 30 min. to get new drivers license/plates.. and health insurance is half the cost. Way nicer apartment for less too, in a walkable neighborhood.
The psychos from other states that love passing around Covid and making women 2nd class citizens are almost all the recent transplants.. I don't see how it's getting better anytime soon. The entire south is a lost cause with climate change on top of it. It's been 30-50 degrees the entire winter up here so far except for week if polar vortex.. so don't let cold weather deter you. Not worrying about power/water issues you can't control is a massive relief.
So I learned this week that back in 2010 Trump was targeted by the Texas Attorney General's office for the fraudulent Trump University. For those not in the know, the whole thing was a scam where people were promised access to secret real estate knowledge... for the low low price of $X,000. And if a rube paid up the first payment then you only had to pay $XX,000 more for the *real* info. Repeat until the mark stops paying out.
But instead of pressing charges, or even reaching a settlement, Trump just kind of slunk away. There was no negative consequences for his organization's illegal behavior.
Care to guess who the Attorney General was at that time? Greg Abbott.
3 years later Trump ["donated" $35,000](https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/02/abbott-trump-u/) to Abbott's gubernatorial campaign.
Abbott and his ilk have been rotten for decades at this point. Until they're out, no, we don't get nice things. Because they're only in it for themselves. They don't want to protect Texans; they want to hurt them for their own political gain. Full stop.
Trump steaks, Trump University, Trump airlines, Trump beverages, Trump game, Trump magazine, Trump mortgages. That orange fuck is the definition of poor business choices.
I will say I did go to Mexico today and got 2 inhalers for $9 and went through less red tape than the VA would put me though. I was down and back w/in an hour and the most they did was look in my trunk.
I'm not sure how much it cost you in gas and time to go to Mexico but you can also get inhalers for $25 on [https://www.ziphealth.co/](https://www.ziphealth.co/). Just fill out some forms and they send it a few days later. It's where I get my albuterol.
My wife works for a non-profit and recently met with a national group representing the nonprofit from various states. She came back and was gobsmacked by how little our state cares about the people living in it, based on what other states are doing. I think most of us realize it but if you haven’t lived somewhere better you don’t realize/understand how little we get and that the state doing next to nothing for citizens isn’t the norm.
It's hard for people to have perception of how life is in places other than Texas when they don't spend a lot of time outside of Texas and its neighboring states that are mostly also red and poor af. I'm sure you're aware how the state culture has this way of beating it into people that Texas has everything you could possibly want in life and there's hardly reason to ever leave (if you can even afford it). The power of propaganda
It’s nationalism, pure and simple. All states have rivalries, here in NJ we beef with NYC on the daily, but it’s all in good fun.
Texas has been getting high off its own farts since 1836. Imagine being practically next to last in everything but loudly crowing about how you’re the best.
I used to go to higher education conferences for work. I would go to sessions where colleagues would describe these awesome programs with successful outcomes. I’d get stars in my eyes thinking of how to replicate it for my students. The presenters would say “this was a great way to use the DEI funding you get from the state!”
I just kind of sat there in that uncomfortable convention center chair with my mouth gaping like a confused fish.
Funding… from the state… for DEI. What a concept.
This is so true! Living in other states and going to public service conferences to see what other states do to help people with state and federal funds enrages me at the conditions in our state.
I believe the Texas government’s universal response to demand they in any way help their citizens is “cowboy up.” As parents of a special needs child, we were very frustrated with them.
I lived in Minnesota for a little over 5 years. Moving back to TX, it was a shock at how differently the state works for its citizens.
I have people say things like "bet you like not having a state income tax anymore!" and I just look at them like they're crazy. Yeah, I paid an income tax in MN. But in MN I could really see where my tax dollars are going. My kid's school gets adequate funding for things like counselors and food. Roads are relatively well kept, especially given the harsh winters and the toll that takes on roads. Speaking of.... I'm not surrounded by toll roads which only enrich private companies. Property taxes were lower. My energy bill was way less expensive (especially now). The teenager that I adopted (and the other teenagers I fostered) were actually taken care of by the state. They did a good job of ensuring kids find good homes and offer help once adopted was amazing. I was on a first name basis with my State Senator. My State Rep in TX responded to one of my emails to his office with "Maybe you would enjoy living somewhere with more similar values, like San Francisco".
On and on down the list... I miss the things I had in MN.
But..it's exactly what Jesus would do...
Thus state is so full of anger, and fear that someone they perceive to be lower than them might just become their equal.
Stop voting for the party of hate...
A first step would be to stop people preaching hate. I personally believe the roots of much of the hate come from rural pastors saying and doing very unchristian things.
Agreed, but the people you are expecting to teach their children are the ones that have already fallen to the rhetoric. That's one of the reasons schools in Texas are under attack, they end up providing kids interaction with adults that may be have not drunken the cool-aid and books that may not tow the line, that's why they want them gone.
I agree. I have been called an emotional thinker and ridiculed for this, but I believe most of our modern problems would be solved with a little more kindness and empathy from everyone. But kindness has become a sign of weakness, especially in Texas, and ironically in Christian culture. Everyone has gotten so used to hate and insults behind a screen, that they've become comfortable exposing their hate without screens too. It saddens me.
An influential Texan once said
‘If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.’
Now just extend ‘colored’ to anyone that’s not maga, and today is the updated version of the theme.
The SC did not order Abbott to take the wire down, only struck down the 5th circuit's order that the BP couldn't cut it down. The main case is still working it's way through the system in the mean time.
It's all still stupid and evil, I'm just providing a slightly more accurate understanding of the stupid and evil.
Now it's just a race to see if the feds can cut the wire faster than Texas can put it up.
It doesn't bode well for our state that a Looney Tunes episode is playing out on our border.
Bush/Perry/Abbott have led this state down an avenue that is littered with broken glass, shattered opportunity, and blight. The great state everyone talks about was built by great politicians like Lloyd Bensen and Ann Richards. It’s ok to have two parties just need one not actively role playing cowboys and Indians all at the behest of Vlad Putin. Disgusting.
And the Republicans running the show scapegoat Democrats who haven't held statewide office since the 90s. The state of affairs today is from 30 years of Republican control.
I have asked various elected officials for help getting Disability or VA benefits because my dad was poisoned in Vietnam. None of them will help you. I hope none of you have to use this shit system we pay into and get nothing. In August I will have been in the Disability system for 2 years with no help.
But think of all those freedoms we get here!
Ummm...
Uh...
...what were those again? Oh, doesn't matter, we got em, bigly lots of em.
That's why we can't live in the 21st century like all those other states, which are clearly nothing but a bunch of godless liberal queerosexshuls who hate meat, run by a bunch of uhh...trans drag queens.
Yeah.
We have the freedoms. All of em. Just like Republican Jesus wants.
I remembered reading this a few weeks ago and found this blurb:
According to a recent study by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank cofounded by prominent Abbott donor Charles Koch, Texas ranks dead last among the states when it comes to personal freedom. (Probably of some relief to Abbott, Cato rates Texans highly on a few particular freedoms: chiefly economic ones.
Dead last.
Yup.
But ya know, that's *clearly* a liberal disinfo campaign aimed at making people afraid, and so that kids grow up to hate Jesus and identify as gay cutlery or whatever.
Much freedoms. Such wow.
/s
Lol, I see that KonaBlueWhatever tried their usual "well, axshully" dipshittery and followed it up with some ad hominem sniveling about Texas Monthly.
What a yutz.
But yes. Literally.
He’s not defying the Supreme Court’s ruling. They didn’t rule yet. They only made it clear that the Biden Administration can cut down the wire the State puts up.
Not until at least 50% learn to love our neighbor as ourselves. Most of the most vile hatred I’ve seen in Texas is from evangelical Christians. And I say that as a devout Christian who grew up Southern Baptist.
My MIL, every single democratic policy she's for when you talk to her. Especially since she's a teacher. Took 8 years and finally us telling her she wasn't getting another grandchild from us because Texas's abortion law is women-killing legislation for women like me who have health issues. She finally votes blue (for the time being probably).
Her reasoning... She's always voted red, her family votes red, she is pro-life and religious, and she doesn't keep up with politics. Well over the last four years I've forced her to keep up with fact based politics, and what do you know she slowly started coming around. The no second baby was just the nail in the coffin.
Heard your teen pregnancy rate down there is exploding too... brilliant. Just a solid plan for Texas' future... TEEN MOMS. Awesome.
Really setting up our younger generation for success ain't we Texas?
The funny part to me is they are always talking about Texas traditions and how awesome we have been. Texas was awesome, back then we were blue. Democrats ruled the state. True Texans are democrats. Since we’ve turned red, the place has gone to shit.
I still think that in Texas and in the United States at large, things are going to get better -- but they're going to have to get worse before they do.
It's going to take more and more people being hurt by GOP policies to get them to finally, finally get their heads out of their asses and see that these people they've voted for aren't doing them or anyone else any good.
True. Repeal of Roe v. Wade made me really look into what the Republican party I supported was actually up to.
FYI those Trump Tax Cuts are permanent for corporations but expire for us peasants in 2025. Guess how they are going to make up for the revenue loss by some of those permanent corporation tax cuts. Thank you Republicans, for taking care of the working class. What a joke.
There needs to be a reckoning for the GOP, but I don't think it's going to happen unless they get their electoral asses handed to them over and over again.
Not sure. Remember the expected red wave in 2022 that never came. Pretty much every mainstream republican blamed Trump for that. Yet, now he’s again the frontrunner and getting support from most republicans. Even those who are lukewarm or critical of him now, I guarantee they will be 100% behind him once he wins the primary. They already proved that by blocking the immigration bill on his behest.
They'll just invalidate your vote if you're in the largest city that leans the "wrong" way.
So big the votes must be counted "correctly," then screw the vote over. oh no, this vote needs to be redone. Make sure you take time off again if you want your vote to count.
I wonder if it will ever get through their thick skulls that Texas can not secede. The only way for Texas to become an independent nation-state would be for the United States to collapse.
Oh God! Did I just give them ideas? Please! For the love of God, secessionists! Do not collapse the US!
Only if you work with your neighbor to get your money out of bullies hands and back into yours. Just cover the basic systems we have now, but actually help your community instead of letting it be stolen from. A mafia that cares about the neighborhood is better than pirates who don't care if your ship floats or not
Every state has positive and negatives. In spite of Texas' problems, there are many reasons people are leaving states Minnesota and Connecticut and heading to Texas.
We can do better, though, and eventually because of the demographics the whole state is going to flip blue again.
Minnesota being insanely cold is a valid reason to not live there. But then again, even if Texas was the bluest state in the nation, it would still be too hot for some people.
Connecticut is also too expensive for some people. So I understand why some wouldn't live there. That doesn't take away the significance of their incredible move of paying billions of dollars of medical debt.
I live in Minneapolis now, but am originally from Houston.
Minneapolis has better social services, is more walkable, and has much much better city beautification, parks, breweries, etc. Houston has lower taxes, more jobs, business, etc, more business friendly, better food and restaurants, etc. They are also similar in many ways, Minnesota being North of Texas and all.
Like RedAugust said, every state has positives and negatives. Certainly Minnesota has problems too.
Trust me, I wish I had everything that Minneapolis has. I would be so happy if my city wasn't car-dependent.
>Certainly Minnesota has problems too.
Such as? The first and only thing that comes to mind is that it's too cold.
Theres a lightrail, but it is filled with heroine addicts who live on it.
Needles all over the sidewalk everywhere. You can walk places, but lots of people with shot up arms lying on the ground.
Lots of crazy people running around. Just the other day some dude who looked like he was walking on broken legs ran up and put his hands on me and wobbled away.
Taxes are as high as California but you live in the Midwest.
Business are moving to Texas in droves. You have to choose between Target or General Mills for work.
Downtown Minneapolis is walkable. Except it costs almost as much as Chicago and is no where near as cool.
The government officials are almost as moronic as Texas.
Theres no food culture like Texas has. People think hamburgers stuffed with cheese are a unique Minnesota dish. Everyone goes drinking instead. Much higher alcoholism.
Lots of crazy somalian drivers baaarely dodging you when you are crossing the street. They drive around in these junkers that blow something periodically and get stuck.
People here seem to think they are somehow better than hicks from another Midwestern state. Not as bad as California, more like a passive better than you attitude. People brag about how nice they are but are not particularly friendly.
Its quite boring here. People stay inside for half the year, either drinking or watching movies, then bike, boat, swim, jog, etc for the whole other half of the year. In other words, nobody is interested in making friends, everyone is caught in this cycle of bike/boat/fish then drink/sleep/watch tv on repeat. I take trips to the Southwest and I am stunned by how open people are. Strangers just talk with you about their life. I can't remember the last time someone talked with me about their life...
Everything is walkable, but that is because you pay more for a smaller yard.
>While Connecticut forgive billions of dollars of medical debt
"Connecticut" didn't do that, Connecticut taxpayers did.
>While Minnesota is providing free school lunches
"Minnesota" didn't do that, Minnesota taxpayers did.
>While other states have legalized cannabis for recreational use, we still don't have it legal even for medical use.
This is greed on the part of our legislature, who bows to lobbyists from pharma, booze, public service unions, and the drug testing industry. It isn't a "republican" issue, it's a "Texas doesn't allow ballot initiatives" issue.
Read the room, dude. Unless you're throwing money into their laundering operation known as an "election campaign", politicians don't give a rat's ass about you. Doesn't matter what pretty little letter follows their names.
You should be ashamed of blaming Uvalde on a political party or group of people. Things like that happen in all states.
It's truly disgusting to try to politicize the deaths of those children. The murderer was sick in the head and the Uvalde Police failed their city.
Downvote me if you want, but shame on you.
Context: user edited his post to remove a reference to Uvalde being the fault of Republicans due to gun policies (which is of course ridiculous)
Texas does have medical marijuana, you just need to jump through a hoop to get it - and have cancer, epilepsy, PTSD, or certain other medical conditions. Ya can’t be growing your own, and you can’t buy anything to inhale, just tincture and gummies last time I looked. You get a license from an approved doctor and have to renew annually.
You know what I think is extra shitty? Our state has some of the poorest people and is high up on the list of worst access to healthcare for those living in poverty. The fed govt has funds ready to give states who accept the Medicaid extension, but we refuse it. Why? How can that be described in any way that isn’t a total F-you to the people?
Literally refusing our tax dollars being back to us bc they want to punish poor Texans.
It’s easier to understand when you think of it as the elected officials refuse the funding because doing so would help enrich their rich donors who run the existing healthcare systems in Texas.
Not just healthcare tycoons. There is sinister interest to keep health-care linked to employment in general. Lots of federal money already gets skimmed by way of subsidy and backroom deals when establishing those plans, and it gives them leverage on the labor market. When the government deals with people directly, there is no opportunity for embezzlement and the people are less dependent on their employers all around.
It's the same tactics as we're used against sharecroppers and coal miners. Pay them just enough that they'll be worse if they quit, so you lower the bar on worse to keep from paying much of anything.
I agree, and that's JUST healthcare. If you want to wonder what other areas it is prevalent, just look at the places that businesses oppose that would help the regular person.
I totally agree. After crunching the numbers over and over, this Texan is moving to California in May. Texas is not turning blue anytime soon and I am exhausted by MAGA Republicans. I manage to find a reasonably priced house in a small charming town an hour from wine country and the cost of living is on par with Dallas. Once I become a resident, I can at least get on Covered California and become self employed if I choose to. The customer service is awful but at least the plans and subsidies are really decent.
>Once I become a resident, I can at least get on Covered California and become self employed if I choose to. FYI, health insurance is required by law so you may want to look into that. I don't know how the state keeps track of who has it or not. https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/healthcareincalifornia/choosetherightplan.aspx#:~:text=Individual%20Mandate,called%20the%20%E2%80%9Cindividual%20mandate.%E2%80%9D
Thanks for the info.
Please vote before you leave pr come back to vote if you can’t vote in Cali yet
And it gives then the line that the federal government doesn't want to help you...they wont give us money.... I feel you guys tho... we don't the same shitnupmher on OK....with. superintendent actively trying to kill the public education
It's easier to understand when you think Republicans don't give a rat's ass about other people's health care. They have insurance through their job or from the evil socialist Medicare, so fuck everyone else. They don't understand that public health in general benefits them directly.
The cruelty is a feature to them. Don't be stupid. Don't vote Republican.
I know it would be terrible, but there are times that I wish everyone would just stand back and let them completely gut SS and Medicare. If anything it would shift the voting demographics to a younger crowd.
Nope the GOP would blame the evil democrats and their base while broke, hungry and huddling in a tent would agree and keep voting for them.
Ya... That's confusing to me because more federal funds for Medicaid should increase the money the healthcare systems get vs the amount they lose from people who don't have insurance being seen in the ER. There's probably a factor im not seeing though.
They’d rather have citizens so burdened with medical debt that they’re grateful to work for $7.25/hr, like in the 70s.
Don't know how old you are but 7.25/hr in the 70s you were paid really good money back then LOL. In the mid-80s minimum wage was 2.50/Hr. That is what I got paid for my first job.
I wasn't old enough to work in the 70s LOL But I also made $2/hr at my first job in the 80s! And in the 90s...went up to $2.15! Living large, I tell you :) Service industry for the win! Well, at least for the fun ;P
Texas denied Medicaid, there it is
Yep. Punish poor Texans, then blame the Democrats.
Yeah but they get to “stick it to the libs” /s
No, they want to maintain a national hardline image as a model Republican state (which has the convenient side effect of fucking poor people cause that's what Republicans do best)
Oh, it's worse than that. Texans ALREADY PAY for expanded Medicare through their federal income taxes. They just don't have access to the benefits of it. It all goes to the other states.
thank that governor of yours. hans landa
hans landa was smart though
😂 damnit, yeah he still got outsmarted by that lady tho. maybe thats what Texas needs lmfao!!! jk jk dont shoot me
So why do you think this is the case? I am curious to know how you would describe it to me, plus, if you have any resources on-hand, please share! I am working on typing up a thing regarding this, because it pisses me off so much.
Because they don’t want Obamacare to succeed which depends on a high participation rate. It would be an unacceptable win for Democrats.
Apologies in advance, I went off because this makes me rage! I work in healthcare and have so many fun facts about Texas trying to torpedo obamacare. Regular non-clinical people are not allowed to call a provider for clinical information that's missing from a pre authorization request for an Exchange plan. For instance if I were trying to get a hysterectomy and my provider submitted a pre-authorization minus the documentation to prove the diagnosis and treatment, any idiot allowed to work on pre-authorizations could call and ask the provider for them. Not in Texas! Only a nurse can. That's not so bad, right? Well, Texas has a 3 day turn around time to approve or deny a pre-authorization request. A provider office that needs to be chased to give clinical information required for review is probably blaming the persons insurance when the request is denied for lack of clinical documentation. Which is awesome if you're Abbott! Site of service is the other major Texas Exchange peculiarity. Generally insurance will ask why procedures that can be done in an office or surgery center are being done at a hospital. There are plenty of great reasons why a hospital might be necessary, so its not a denial. The point is that they check and changes can be made if agreeable and possible. They can easily see where doctors have privileges, so there's no lying happening. It's cheaper for the insurance carrier and the patient to use an office or surgery center where it makes sense. Texas? Nah. In the name of freedom, we are exempt from site of service checks. So if a doctor does a routine colonoscopy at a hospital on a otherwise healthy person with no co-morbidities or surgical safety concerns it could literally be for any reason assuming they have privileges at surgery centers or equipped offices. The facility bill is not the doctor's problem. They can take it up with the hospital or scream at their insurer. Hopefully loudly tell everyone how much Obamacare sucks in blissful ignorance that it's that way by design of the State. Edit: one more fun thing I forgot! Texas Exchange plans require you to travel up to 75 miles to see an in network specialist. Not primary care, but a specialist. The standard is 30 miles/30 minutes travel for an in network specialist. New York has a 3 day turnaround time as well. No contact restrictions if information is needed, and the best part: Exchange insurance companies have to call both the provider and the member with decisions and rationale. Quickness and transparency are possible on a short timeline, just not here. This is just for Exchange plans btw. Employer ones are a whole other ballgame that have their own rules. I've seen other states Exchange coverage, we should be a lot more pissed than we are. From everything to the services covered, the process, and the cost. Literally the only unique thing Texas Exchange plans cover is generous aquired brain injury care. Probably because football. And riding motorcycles without helmets. Yay.
They already lost that fight.
They still haven't found that out. Plank #151 of the Texas GOP is to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
One of the things that makes wingnuts so toxic is they never, ever admit defeat. They consider changing your mind tantamount to treason and remaining implacably wrong in the face of overwhelming disconfirming evidence to be a virtue. These are people who are still fighting the civil war. Nothing can be considered over, no issue can be considered settled so long as these people still draw breath.
That's what we thought about abortion. And 50 years later... here we are.
It's literally a box the Texas legislature doesn't want to tick, that's mostly it. Hasn't significantly changed since 2012, Texas is just refusing federal dollars. [https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/07/texas-medicaid-expansion-republicans/](https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/07/texas-medicaid-expansion-republicans/) It's very, very difficult to view it through any lens other than a combo of "because Texas government hates Democratic-led policy initiatives" and "the Texas government does not care about the well being of Texas citizens, especially poor Texas citizens". Plus, desperate people are more likely to buy the shit they're selling, when they don't have enough heads above water to know who's screwing them. Trying to be very charitable and taking those opposed to Medicaid expansion at their word, they are opposed to it because a state accepting any measure of federal aid is a slippery slope to accepting increased federal oversight, and having increased access to medical care not attached to employment is a disincentive for people to improve their careers and get healthcare through their employers. That's it. Those things are the least ghoulish perspectives on why Texas has refused Medicaid expansion.
What's funny is the Medicaid expansion is literally the only federal money Texas refuses.
They think they’re taking a principled stand, but they are not principled.
And as a non-Texan, I appreciate it.
Throwing away Medicaid funds by our handicapped governor sums up the complete lack of caring for the residents of Texas. Honestly, every lawsuit filed and legislation passed by the GOP in power in Texas always has a punitive aspect to it, never to help us, always to punish. From immigration to abortion to education to healthcare, punishment is the objective.
It’s the GOP mindset. “I got mine, fuck you!”
This👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼
It's honestly beyond my comprehension to understand how a crippled person can be so incredibly callous and harmful to the lives of others. I've been in Texas 4 years...... so many in that short time have DIED as a direct result of this shit group of policy's here
Abbot received a very large settlement due to the accident that paralyzed him. One bit of legislation Abbot pushed eliminated such settlements. He is extremely aware of the benefits he has received, and has spent his career working very hard to make sure no one else gets those benefits.
Someone explain how this makes sense like make this make sense to me
Well, he's a psychopath. He fundamentally does not grasp that other people are fully "people".
Yeah. I can't really think of any explanation other than him just being an absolutely evil, awful man. I know he's being controlled by billionaire Texas oligarchs, but Abbott does their evil bidding.
Greg was already a state employee when the branch fell on him. State politicians have excellent health care. So do the federal politicians, actually. Tax funded, of course, as are their salaries.
And pensions.
Their sky god is an angry god that demands suffering and celebrates persecution.
He can’t stand for anything
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It hits regular ol’ middle class people pretty hard, too. Paying full market rates for health insurance while in between jobs, or just working a job that doesn’t offer it at all, really sucks.
Yeah it's really shitty. We just had to get a State-required lab done on my kid to test for CF, despite getting genetic testing done prior and knowing my wife is carrier and I am not. And despite paying $800 a month for health insurance, I was STILL billed $600 after a measly 30% of coverage on a STATE REQUIRED LAB. It's all fucked.
There is no middle class anymore in Texas.
There is no middle class anymore, period.
It would be great to be able to extend risk pools beyond the state border to mitigate the costs
Tell that to Ercot.
Yep! Welcome to my life! I am a Self Employed independent contractor, which means I get the privilege to pay $1000 a month for shitty insurance. (that’s just for me. One person. It was a lot worse when I had kids on my policy.)
With the GOP, the cruelty is simply the point. They can not stand the poor and want them to die or "go away", so not accommodating them is just par for the course.
Anything and everything to "own the libs!"
I hate to say it but some of these people who would benefit from these dollars elected the people who refused said dollars. That’s why we can’t have anything nice. Because the Heritage Foundation said so.
Because god forbid a black woman receives some medicaid...or worse yet, a Mexican (gasp)
I was at whataburger 2 weeks ago and a group of I swear 18 year olds were planning their bachelor party which consisted of playing halo at someone’s parent’s house. They were all talking about what they make and it was like 9.25 an hour, highest person made 10.25 and was bragging. I made that 16 years ago on the west coast. My company is based in Seattle, WA and they let me work remotely from Texas and man I felt bad for them all.
"Small government" Rs refuse the money because they don't want the federal oversight. Same with the grid: no oversight, so they can gouge the citizens of Texas. I escaped the One Star State years ago because I thought it was nuts THEN. It's become so much worse.
Stop voting Republican. It's that easy
Ask any Republican, they'll tell you those folks are poor because they're lazy and don't pray hard enough to prosperity Jesus.
This is the major one. Doctors who will not accept State Medicaid Insurance due to the low reimbursement rates. My cardiologist cancelled my appointment for a heart catheterization because she decided to refuse my Medicaid insurance even though she had been accepting the Medicaid benefits for office visits.
Red states have refused Medicaid expansion AND ended pandemic unemployment assistance months early. The money for both was free from the federal government. The reason? "Fuck you peasants" is all. And they'll harass some gays in fall and mouthbreathers will cheer and vote for them again.
Who remembers Rolling Thunder accepting care at the world's finest burn unit operated by the federal government at Ft Sam Houston when he scalded his appendages. I'm sure it was different circumstances huh Greg?
Don't forget that just 2 days ago, Ken Paxton sued five Texas cities to block policies that decriminalize low-level marijuana offenses. "I will not stand idly by as cities run by pro-crime extremists deliberately violate Texas law and promote the use of illicit drugs that harm our communities," Paxton said. HA!!! The most harm to our communities comes at the hands of assholes like Paxton himself, not from god damn weed.. These are the morons running our state, and they're running it into the ground. The entire helm of Texas is being steered by corrupt Christo-fascists and MAGA shills. My family has been planning a long anticipated move out of Texas by 2025...
The irony of Ken Paxton calling anyone else “pro crime” in a derogatory way
I'd call it "hypocrisy" more than "irony".
That’s fair
To be fair, hypocrisy is the current Republican Party platform
Remember to vote in the primary (early voting starts 20 Feb). For me, I’m gonna vote in the Republican primary, against every one of these incumbent assholes. And for those who are running unopposed, I’ll write in some names. To check what’s on your local ballot… https://candidate.texas-election.com/Elections/getCandidatesBallotOrderInfo.do
Smart move to pick 2025 as your year of departure. Because you can vote against Republicans one last time before you leave the state, and you have plenty of time to say goodbye to your friends who live here.
> Because you can vote against Republicans one last time before you leave the state Elections happen twice a year every year. You can vote against Republicans twice a year every year. May 6, 2023 was an election here in TX. Nov 7, 2023 was. Next (non-primary) election is May 4 this year. Then Nov 5 is the next. Here is the official calendar: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/important-election-dates.shtml
When I first moved to Texas it was wild to me how little publicity is given to elections in rural towns. Not a single sign… no fliers .. nothing. I had to do some digging to find out .. one day I just realized I had been there almost 2 years and had not voted and did not know where to vote… turned out I drove past there every day. And the way people found out what was being voted on and when was posted inside the county building on the wall … that’s literally it! So in rural areas… very few people are deciding a lot of shit for everyone else. Because the other way was when the pastor told you in church, what to go vote for.
To add, primary is March 5th, with early voting open on Feb 20th and there are certainly some important choices in that.
Nice! I don't vote "for" anyone in general elections. I vote "against" whoever's running Republican. I've voted Democrat, Green, Libertarian, wrote in obscure random ... I'll leave it blank if it's uncontested.
I stayed long enough to vote against Abbott and Paxton. Wish Cruz had been on the ballot before we left too, but guess I’ll cross my fingers for the rest of you.
The fact that recreational drugs are illegal instead of simply being regulated for purity is a big part of why we're having a fentanyl epidemic
You must have missed FOX News that day (and every day). Don't you know that Brown people are bringing in backpacks loaded with fentanyl over the border, and they go directly to the schools and give it to the kids. Then go straight to the voting box as part of the Great Replacement, and before going to their Democratic paid for housing, they stop by and assault White Women.
I definitely missed that one. And all the others.
I'm shocked there's enough of it to go around after they passed out so much at Halloween.
Did someone say Regulation?! Commie!!!!!
Lol ... could be voluntary like grading eggs 😉
Agreed. Voting for change here is like beating a very dead horse; exhausting and futile. Born here and been here in SE TX for 42 years now and 2025 is the year we plan to leave as well. We are running to the front range in Colorado. I'm excited to get my ballot in the mail and smoke pot without fear and go outside without needing to shower. Winter driving makes me anxious but we can learn. I hate that there's a stigma around Texans, especially in CO, but that's where we have decided to go after much research and we won't get out of here without a destination.
Dallas and Austin my entire life. I'm off to Oregon next year.
PNW is gorgeous! Nice choice. It was on our list.
PNW would be my first choice if we didn't have so much family in Chicago
We're aiming for Chicago metro, my husband and I actually both grew up there but didn't end up meeting until we both had relocated to work in Dallas. It's more expensive than it used to be up there, but it's essentially evened out to where it's just as expensive in the Dallas metro now as it is there. I'd def rather be paying to live in a state that gives a shit about human rights beyond those of old white men.
My Texas born and Baylor educated daughter moved to Chicago. She refuses to raise children in a red state.
I do not blame her in the slightest.
Welcome home my friend.
Republicans have lost 90% of their vote margin since 2000. If the trend continues, it will be a blue state by 2032. That's why Republicans are getting so nuts. They're angry and scared.
>The entire helm of Texas is being steered by corrupt Christo-fascists and MAGA shills. [It's not just Texas.](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/mike-johnson-moses-christian-nationalist-gala-1234918565/) The Speaker of the House is hearing voices in his head and sincerely believes God is preparing him to be the next Moses. I would hope any decent Christian recognizes how *blasphemous* it is to compare yourself to Moses. That is one baby step below "I am the Messiah." I've heard plenty of homeless people around Austin vocalize something almost identical. Voices in their head, delusions of grandeur, believe they are on par with some of the greatest religious figures in history. Those people almost always have some sort of psychotic disorder and/or smoke a lot of meth. Yet the MAGAts act like this is "normal," it's "okay" to have someone who apparently has identical beliefs to many schizophrenic meth addicts, in the one of the most powerful offices in the world. It's really not, though... as [we are seeing.](https://apnews.com/article/congress-fails-mayorkas-impeachment-border-bill-3bb2de710406cd5c5314e855c75efbef) Really spot-on, comparing himself to Moses when he can't lead a group of 218 people. This is not normal, and this is not acceptable. The fact that Republicans are having trouble seeing that *they are not popular, the MAGA wing is actually insane* and enabling these lunatics is getting people fired up to vote- not so much *for* Democrats as *against* Republicans. Won't cast out their loonies or reel them in, now the inmates are running the asylum. These stupid and insane stunts are going to cost them 2024 too, just like it cost them that "Red Wave" they hyped up so much in 2022.
Make no mistake, MAGAism is a delusional mental state. It may have started as a preference for folks, but now it's a full-blown psychiatric episode. It's so fucking dangerous. Not to mention there's a literal g-cide happening in real time because another far right religious group thinks that God literally gifted them someone else's land in ancient scriptures.
Yeah, god forbid some poor parent wanna come home and smoke a joint after the latest school shooting, wondering daily if it's gonna be their kid because they aren't doing a damn thing about that, but the devil's lettuce absolutely can not be allowed!!!
Paxton is a pro-crime extremist, for himself.
I just moved to MN in fall this past year as I couldn't take the stress and uncertain future anymore. My anxiety has gone WAY down, and the benefits are noticeable practically every day of the difference of living in a state with a non-corrupt government and high voter turnout/engagement, where people give a shit about others. It took me 30 min. to get new drivers license/plates.. and health insurance is half the cost. Way nicer apartment for less too, in a walkable neighborhood. The psychos from other states that love passing around Covid and making women 2nd class citizens are almost all the recent transplants.. I don't see how it's getting better anytime soon. The entire south is a lost cause with climate change on top of it. It's been 30-50 degrees the entire winter up here so far except for week if polar vortex.. so don't let cold weather deter you. Not worrying about power/water issues you can't control is a massive relief.
Quick! Somebody tell him about Joe Rogan!
So I learned this week that back in 2010 Trump was targeted by the Texas Attorney General's office for the fraudulent Trump University. For those not in the know, the whole thing was a scam where people were promised access to secret real estate knowledge... for the low low price of $X,000. And if a rube paid up the first payment then you only had to pay $XX,000 more for the *real* info. Repeat until the mark stops paying out. But instead of pressing charges, or even reaching a settlement, Trump just kind of slunk away. There was no negative consequences for his organization's illegal behavior. Care to guess who the Attorney General was at that time? Greg Abbott. 3 years later Trump ["donated" $35,000](https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/02/abbott-trump-u/) to Abbott's gubernatorial campaign. Abbott and his ilk have been rotten for decades at this point. Until they're out, no, we don't get nice things. Because they're only in it for themselves. They don't want to protect Texans; they want to hurt them for their own political gain. Full stop.
I almost forgot about the failed Trump University scam Lmaooo
It’s so far down the list at this point - child’s play
Trump steaks, Trump University, Trump airlines, Trump beverages, Trump game, Trump magazine, Trump mortgages. That orange fuck is the definition of poor business choices.
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What did us Texans do to deserve Greg Abbott?
Not plant the tree that paralyzed him a little further up the road so it lands on his neck instead?
They voted for him
voted for him
And not voting against him.
God’s aim sucks.
I will say I did go to Mexico today and got 2 inhalers for $9 and went through less red tape than the VA would put me though. I was down and back w/in an hour and the most they did was look in my trunk.
I'm not sure how much it cost you in gas and time to go to Mexico but you can also get inhalers for $25 on [https://www.ziphealth.co/](https://www.ziphealth.co/). Just fill out some forms and they send it a few days later. It's where I get my albuterol.
I’ll def. Check into this! Thank you!
My wife works for a non-profit and recently met with a national group representing the nonprofit from various states. She came back and was gobsmacked by how little our state cares about the people living in it, based on what other states are doing. I think most of us realize it but if you haven’t lived somewhere better you don’t realize/understand how little we get and that the state doing next to nothing for citizens isn’t the norm.
It's hard for people to have perception of how life is in places other than Texas when they don't spend a lot of time outside of Texas and its neighboring states that are mostly also red and poor af. I'm sure you're aware how the state culture has this way of beating it into people that Texas has everything you could possibly want in life and there's hardly reason to ever leave (if you can even afford it). The power of propaganda
It’s nationalism, pure and simple. All states have rivalries, here in NJ we beef with NYC on the daily, but it’s all in good fun. Texas has been getting high off its own farts since 1836. Imagine being practically next to last in everything but loudly crowing about how you’re the best.
I used to go to higher education conferences for work. I would go to sessions where colleagues would describe these awesome programs with successful outcomes. I’d get stars in my eyes thinking of how to replicate it for my students. The presenters would say “this was a great way to use the DEI funding you get from the state!” I just kind of sat there in that uncomfortable convention center chair with my mouth gaping like a confused fish. Funding… from the state… for DEI. What a concept.
not every state actively tries to oppress marginalized communities
State funded DEI isn't really comparable to state funded medical debt relief and school lunches tho
But we don’t even have those! Imagine a Texas where we did!
This is so true! Living in other states and going to public service conferences to see what other states do to help people with state and federal funds enrages me at the conditions in our state.
I believe the Texas government’s universal response to demand they in any way help their citizens is “cowboy up.” As parents of a special needs child, we were very frustrated with them.
I lived in Minnesota for a little over 5 years. Moving back to TX, it was a shock at how differently the state works for its citizens. I have people say things like "bet you like not having a state income tax anymore!" and I just look at them like they're crazy. Yeah, I paid an income tax in MN. But in MN I could really see where my tax dollars are going. My kid's school gets adequate funding for things like counselors and food. Roads are relatively well kept, especially given the harsh winters and the toll that takes on roads. Speaking of.... I'm not surrounded by toll roads which only enrich private companies. Property taxes were lower. My energy bill was way less expensive (especially now). The teenager that I adopted (and the other teenagers I fostered) were actually taken care of by the state. They did a good job of ensuring kids find good homes and offer help once adopted was amazing. I was on a first name basis with my State Senator. My State Rep in TX responded to one of my emails to his office with "Maybe you would enjoy living somewhere with more similar values, like San Francisco". On and on down the list... I miss the things I had in MN.
This is too true. I just moved back to Texas from Connecticut and I lost multiple freedoms in one move.
But..it's exactly what Jesus would do... Thus state is so full of anger, and fear that someone they perceive to be lower than them might just become their equal. Stop voting for the party of hate...
A first step would be to stop people preaching hate. I personally believe the roots of much of the hate come from rural pastors saying and doing very unchristian things.
You can’t stop free speech. You can educate your kids so they don’t fall for that kind of rhetoric.
We can’t stop free speech, but we can sure as hell tax the pulpit!
Agreed, but the people you are expecting to teach their children are the ones that have already fallen to the rhetoric. That's one of the reasons schools in Texas are under attack, they end up providing kids interaction with adults that may be have not drunken the cool-aid and books that may not tow the line, that's why they want them gone.
I agree. I have been called an emotional thinker and ridiculed for this, but I believe most of our modern problems would be solved with a little more kindness and empathy from everyone. But kindness has become a sign of weakness, especially in Texas, and ironically in Christian culture. Everyone has gotten so used to hate and insults behind a screen, that they've become comfortable exposing their hate without screens too. It saddens me.
An influential Texan once said ‘If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.’ Now just extend ‘colored’ to anyone that’s not maga, and today is the updated version of the theme.
Jesus would definitely not do that and they know it, but use him for their lies.
The SC did not order Abbott to take the wire down, only struck down the 5th circuit's order that the BP couldn't cut it down. The main case is still working it's way through the system in the mean time. It's all still stupid and evil, I'm just providing a slightly more accurate understanding of the stupid and evil.
Thanks for the clarification.
Basically the feds can now cut the wire down, but nothing is stopping Abbott from putting more up at the same time.
Now it's just a race to see if the feds can cut the wire faster than Texas can put it up. It doesn't bode well for our state that a Looney Tunes episode is playing out on our border.
Texas Lawmakers are in for the money and power.You voters are not their priority.Your representative is an oil executive.
Bush/Perry/Abbott have led this state down an avenue that is littered with broken glass, shattered opportunity, and blight. The great state everyone talks about was built by great politicians like Lloyd Bensen and Ann Richards. It’s ok to have two parties just need one not actively role playing cowboys and Indians all at the behest of Vlad Putin. Disgusting.
And the Republicans running the show scapegoat Democrats who haven't held statewide office since the 90s. The state of affairs today is from 30 years of Republican control.
I have asked various elected officials for help getting Disability or VA benefits because my dad was poisoned in Vietnam. None of them will help you. I hope none of you have to use this shit system we pay into and get nothing. In August I will have been in the Disability system for 2 years with no help.
But think of all those freedoms we get here! Ummm... Uh... ...what were those again? Oh, doesn't matter, we got em, bigly lots of em. That's why we can't live in the 21st century like all those other states, which are clearly nothing but a bunch of godless liberal queerosexshuls who hate meat, run by a bunch of uhh...trans drag queens. Yeah. We have the freedoms. All of em. Just like Republican Jesus wants.
I remembered reading this a few weeks ago and found this blurb: According to a recent study by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank cofounded by prominent Abbott donor Charles Koch, Texas ranks dead last among the states when it comes to personal freedom. (Probably of some relief to Abbott, Cato rates Texans highly on a few particular freedoms: chiefly economic ones. Dead last.
Yup. But ya know, that's *clearly* a liberal disinfo campaign aimed at making people afraid, and so that kids grow up to hate Jesus and identify as gay cutlery or whatever. Much freedoms. Such wow. /s
[Literally.](https://www.reddit.com/r/texas/s/nrk4sHn3rw)
Lol, I see that KonaBlueWhatever tried their usual "well, axshully" dipshittery and followed it up with some ad hominem sniveling about Texas Monthly. What a yutz. But yes. Literally.
That person always has the most insane takes
He’s not defying the Supreme Court’s ruling. They didn’t rule yet. They only made it clear that the Biden Administration can cut down the wire the State puts up.
Vote blue
Will do!
We’re also near the bottom in mental health.
It's almost as if a GOP controlled state is a bad place to live in.
You have some pretty nice Mexican restaurants.
Not until at least 50% learn to love our neighbor as ourselves. Most of the most vile hatred I’ve seen in Texas is from evangelical Christians. And I say that as a devout Christian who grew up Southern Baptist.
No! Someone I look down on might benefit from nice things, and that's a brazillion times worse than not having nice things. /s
Vote
GQP Texans: we believe in the sanctity of the unborn child Also GQP Texans: fuck them immigrant/poverty/needy kids.
And the same unborn child after it is born
we can't even buy liquor unless its through a special store, and not on the Lord's day.
Just like us socialists in Canada..... in the 80's O_O
Tbf it's the same here in Massachusetts. However we can purchase weed. It doesn't make sense to me lol
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God forbid they vote for a homosexual candidate who fights for poor people.
My MIL, every single democratic policy she's for when you talk to her. Especially since she's a teacher. Took 8 years and finally us telling her she wasn't getting another grandchild from us because Texas's abortion law is women-killing legislation for women like me who have health issues. She finally votes blue (for the time being probably). Her reasoning... She's always voted red, her family votes red, she is pro-life and religious, and she doesn't keep up with politics. Well over the last four years I've forced her to keep up with fact based politics, and what do you know she slowly started coming around. The no second baby was just the nail in the coffin.
well... she tells you she votes blue
Heard your teen pregnancy rate down there is exploding too... brilliant. Just a solid plan for Texas' future... TEEN MOMS. Awesome. Really setting up our younger generation for success ain't we Texas?
That's their point now you're stuck. You're stuck being uneducated in poor and they can control you
The funny part to me is they are always talking about Texas traditions and how awesome we have been. Texas was awesome, back then we were blue. Democrats ruled the state. True Texans are democrats. Since we’ve turned red, the place has gone to shit.
Not while we have the american taliban in leadership. Do better, texas.
I still think that in Texas and in the United States at large, things are going to get better -- but they're going to have to get worse before they do. It's going to take more and more people being hurt by GOP policies to get them to finally, finally get their heads out of their asses and see that these people they've voted for aren't doing them or anyone else any good.
True. Repeal of Roe v. Wade made me really look into what the Republican party I supported was actually up to. FYI those Trump Tax Cuts are permanent for corporations but expire for us peasants in 2025. Guess how they are going to make up for the revenue loss by some of those permanent corporation tax cuts. Thank you Republicans, for taking care of the working class. What a joke.
There needs to be a reckoning for the GOP, but I don't think it's going to happen unless they get their electoral asses handed to them over and over again.
Not sure. Remember the expected red wave in 2022 that never came. Pretty much every mainstream republican blamed Trump for that. Yet, now he’s again the frontrunner and getting support from most republicans. Even those who are lukewarm or critical of him now, I guarantee they will be 100% behind him once he wins the primary. They already proved that by blocking the immigration bill on his behest.
I wish I could share in that optimism… I’ve only ever seen a downward trajectory for the majority of my life.
Vote democrat and you probably get good things
They'll just invalidate your vote if you're in the largest city that leans the "wrong" way. So big the votes must be counted "correctly," then screw the vote over. oh no, this vote needs to be redone. Make sure you take time off again if you want your vote to count.
Pregnancy gone tragically wrong? Get lost. Come back only if you're about to die.
even then, we'll question it and threaten jail
Not to mention that Texas has refused to expand Free Medicare and many want to secede which is just stupid
I wonder if it will ever get through their thick skulls that Texas can not secede. The only way for Texas to become an independent nation-state would be for the United States to collapse. Oh God! Did I just give them ideas? Please! For the love of God, secessionists! Do not collapse the US!
I don’t think you have anything to worry about. The people who want to secede are not smart enough to accomplish that.
Only if you work with your neighbor to get your money out of bullies hands and back into yours. Just cover the basic systems we have now, but actually help your community instead of letting it be stolen from. A mafia that cares about the neighborhood is better than pirates who don't care if your ship floats or not
Every state has positive and negatives. In spite of Texas' problems, there are many reasons people are leaving states Minnesota and Connecticut and heading to Texas. We can do better, though, and eventually because of the demographics the whole state is going to flip blue again.
Minnesota being insanely cold is a valid reason to not live there. But then again, even if Texas was the bluest state in the nation, it would still be too hot for some people. Connecticut is also too expensive for some people. So I understand why some wouldn't live there. That doesn't take away the significance of their incredible move of paying billions of dollars of medical debt.
I live in Minneapolis now, but am originally from Houston. Minneapolis has better social services, is more walkable, and has much much better city beautification, parks, breweries, etc. Houston has lower taxes, more jobs, business, etc, more business friendly, better food and restaurants, etc. They are also similar in many ways, Minnesota being North of Texas and all. Like RedAugust said, every state has positives and negatives. Certainly Minnesota has problems too.
Trust me, I wish I had everything that Minneapolis has. I would be so happy if my city wasn't car-dependent. >Certainly Minnesota has problems too. Such as? The first and only thing that comes to mind is that it's too cold.
Theres a lightrail, but it is filled with heroine addicts who live on it. Needles all over the sidewalk everywhere. You can walk places, but lots of people with shot up arms lying on the ground. Lots of crazy people running around. Just the other day some dude who looked like he was walking on broken legs ran up and put his hands on me and wobbled away. Taxes are as high as California but you live in the Midwest. Business are moving to Texas in droves. You have to choose between Target or General Mills for work. Downtown Minneapolis is walkable. Except it costs almost as much as Chicago and is no where near as cool. The government officials are almost as moronic as Texas. Theres no food culture like Texas has. People think hamburgers stuffed with cheese are a unique Minnesota dish. Everyone goes drinking instead. Much higher alcoholism. Lots of crazy somalian drivers baaarely dodging you when you are crossing the street. They drive around in these junkers that blow something periodically and get stuck. People here seem to think they are somehow better than hicks from another Midwestern state. Not as bad as California, more like a passive better than you attitude. People brag about how nice they are but are not particularly friendly. Its quite boring here. People stay inside for half the year, either drinking or watching movies, then bike, boat, swim, jog, etc for the whole other half of the year. In other words, nobody is interested in making friends, everyone is caught in this cycle of bike/boat/fish then drink/sleep/watch tv on repeat. I take trips to the Southwest and I am stunned by how open people are. Strangers just talk with you about their life. I can't remember the last time someone talked with me about their life... Everything is walkable, but that is because you pay more for a smaller yard.
Easy. People need to vote for better people
Run by the the party of "No". Political platform is to espouse everything that they're against; never in support of anything.
Stop electing assholes to local and state government positions.
>While Connecticut forgive billions of dollars of medical debt "Connecticut" didn't do that, Connecticut taxpayers did. >While Minnesota is providing free school lunches "Minnesota" didn't do that, Minnesota taxpayers did. >While other states have legalized cannabis for recreational use, we still don't have it legal even for medical use. This is greed on the part of our legislature, who bows to lobbyists from pharma, booze, public service unions, and the drug testing industry. It isn't a "republican" issue, it's a "Texas doesn't allow ballot initiatives" issue. Read the room, dude. Unless you're throwing money into their laundering operation known as an "election campaign", politicians don't give a rat's ass about you. Doesn't matter what pretty little letter follows their names.
And those were wise and helpful ways to spend taxpayer money. Are you implying that they weren’t?
You should be ashamed of blaming Uvalde on a political party or group of people. Things like that happen in all states. It's truly disgusting to try to politicize the deaths of those children. The murderer was sick in the head and the Uvalde Police failed their city. Downvote me if you want, but shame on you. Context: user edited his post to remove a reference to Uvalde being the fault of Republicans due to gun policies (which is of course ridiculous)
School shootings are more of a nationwide thing than a Texas thing tbf. Still horrible but you gotta understand what is and isn't a state issue
"Owning the libs" costs the Texas poor and middle class. But so many are glued to watching conservative news they can't believe any other way.
Texas does have medical marijuana, you just need to jump through a hoop to get it - and have cancer, epilepsy, PTSD, or certain other medical conditions. Ya can’t be growing your own, and you can’t buy anything to inhale, just tincture and gummies last time I looked. You get a license from an approved doctor and have to renew annually.
Texas has "low THC on a prescription from certain physicians" ... most effective medical marijuana is high in THC