I don’t get asked a lot of questions, though I tend to make people feel like they are being investigated when I let my curiosity loose with anyone I’ve just met or that I find interesting. The one inquiry I do receive a lot of, however, is why do I still live in Texas. The context for that, of course, is our state’s politics. Even if you have only recently moved down here, the venal nature of our politics is in the air you breathe. Every facet of a person’s life in Texas is affected by our legislature’s misguided notion that taxpayers don’t really want a government that functions and provides useful services. We also have a governor whose only creative bent is to come up with new ways to hurt people, emotionally, psychologically, physically, and financially; unless, of course, you are a corporation, and those, apparently, now count as people.
Agree with you, Mauri. I've been to all the lower 48 (most on a motorcycle), and Alaska, Europe, Australia, Mexico, Canada, and Central America, etc. But Texas does have a hook in me. Still, I may leave. The politics inform every facet of life here, and too many people remain unawares. Why spend these precious years of your life dealing with political angst.
I'm a fifth generation Texan. My Dad is 96. When he passes on, I'm going to sell my land, where I'm currently dedudely thinking I'm a bit safer than in town, and move somewhere with strong gun laws and without a psychopathic governor. Abbott and our republican legislature have been doubling down on the already successful voter suppression. Were Texans allowed to register to vote online and were our people, especially young people, not being duped by the TDPS into thinking they've registered to vote by filling out their voter registration cards and depositing them with the TDPS when applying for a drivers license, we'd already have a more purple state. If republicans didn't cheat, they wouldn't be in control.
I was born in Texas (4th generation) but perhaps because I got to travel to other countries when I was a child and returned in the 60s, my attitude is different. I've done all the bonding things that you have, but by living in other states and in other countries, you finally learn that Texas is not as grandiose as you were taught. And there are other, even prettier states, with values that are more generous and safe. Texas is a disappointment, frankly.
Terrific essay, straight from the heart. One of my favorite quotes:
"… when a man who has been accused by authorities of beating his wife in a drunken furor, can easily buy, and repeatedly shoot an AR-15 in his yard, and then at his neighbors, something has gone horribly wrong."
And yet, for most Texans, it's collateral damage, a cost of having so much "freedom."
I thought of people in Texas (and Florida and Montana and Tennessee, etc.) when I read this piece by Thom Hartmann earlier this week on weathering, how politics and RW politicians are grinding down thinking people in this country: https://hartmannreport.com/p/america-is-being-exhausted-by-the?lli=1. I imagine the erosion of normalcy that Thom writes about happens in spades in the red states. Hell, I feel ground down by Abbott and company (and DeSantis, et. al) even though I'm on the left coast.
Agree with you, Mauri. I've been to all the lower 48 (most on a motorcycle), and Alaska, Europe, Australia, Mexico, Canada, and Central America, etc. But Texas does have a hook in me. Still, I may leave. The politics inform every facet of life here, and too many people remain unawares. Why spend these precious years of your life dealing with political angst.
My Texas soul reaches out to you.
It is getting difficult to maintain enthusiasm for the fight. I tend to feel, more frequently than not, that I am shouting into the wind.
I'm a fifth generation Texan. My Dad is 96. When he passes on, I'm going to sell my land, where I'm currently dedudely thinking I'm a bit safer than in town, and move somewhere with strong gun laws and without a psychopathic governor. Abbott and our republican legislature have been doubling down on the already successful voter suppression. Were Texans allowed to register to vote online and were our people, especially young people, not being duped by the TDPS into thinking they've registered to vote by filling out their voter registration cards and depositing them with the TDPS when applying for a drivers license, we'd already have a more purple state. If republicans didn't cheat, they wouldn't be in control.
I was born in Texas (4th generation) but perhaps because I got to travel to other countries when I was a child and returned in the 60s, my attitude is different. I've done all the bonding things that you have, but by living in other states and in other countries, you finally learn that Texas is not as grandiose as you were taught. And there are other, even prettier states, with values that are more generous and safe. Texas is a disappointment, frankly.
I don't think the Republicans understand how much danger they'll be in when everyone has a gun.
Greedy, power hungry, narcissistic, short-sighted people really mar the scenery.
Terrific essay, straight from the heart. One of my favorite quotes:
"… when a man who has been accused by authorities of beating his wife in a drunken furor, can easily buy, and repeatedly shoot an AR-15 in his yard, and then at his neighbors, something has gone horribly wrong."
And yet, for most Texans, it's collateral damage, a cost of having so much "freedom."
I thought of people in Texas (and Florida and Montana and Tennessee, etc.) when I read this piece by Thom Hartmann earlier this week on weathering, how politics and RW politicians are grinding down thinking people in this country: https://hartmannreport.com/p/america-is-being-exhausted-by-the?lli=1. I imagine the erosion of normalcy that Thom writes about happens in spades in the red states. Hell, I feel ground down by Abbott and company (and DeSantis, et. al) even though I'm on the left coast.