The Future is Texas

The Economist ^ | 12-18-2002 | Economist

[Republic of Texas]

That's what i'm afraid of!

[San Jacinto]

I like the name , too. And I have had T-shirts and stuff with "Republic of Texas" emblazoned on them for years before those 4 or 5 whackos (now doing life at Huntsville) tried to corrupt the name. We (real Texans) had it first we will keep it.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Michael Lind, a fellow of the New America Foundation, a think-tank, and the author of a forthcoming book on his native state, says that Texas is transforming itself from Mississippi into California.

And, I suppose this is supposed to be accepted as something positive? If the future of America is Kalifornia, the union is doomed.

[marty60]

I agree with your assessment. Californians think Texas is some kind of weird place. I moved to Texas in 85. Would not even think about leaving. One thing about Texas I love is the attitude that when things go bad, like the weather, just wait a few minutes and things will change.

And you know what they(we) are right. The only thing that held Texas back in the past were Dumocrats, and that is changing. Not fast enough in Houston. GW has taken the optimism of Texas to the WH. I resent this authors talk of slums. Anyone that wants to work in Texas will be given a chance. (well maybe not Enron people)

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

"George Bush is thus a perfect embodiment of this Texas tradition: a man who loves to talk about individualism and entrepreneurship, but owes much of his fortune to the helping hand of fellow members of the Texas elite, and is less interested in promoting competition than in cutting deals with powerful business interests."

Barf.

[Dog Gone]

The only thing I would say is, I just hope the Texans can keep the searing weather to themselves. ;)

I'm freezing my buns off here in Houston today. I would like, though, to export our August temperatures to just about anyplace. I think it might be cooler in Hell!

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

It's kind of ironic that you are making an issue of it before the so-called "neo-Confederates." BTW, there are plenty of things in this article that are out right B.S.

[Sabertooth]

The Texas Republican Party has thrown in its lot with openness, thanks in no small part to the Bush dynasty. The party refused to engage in the immigrant-bashing that eventually condemned the Californian Republican Party to irrelevance. Indeed, George Bush was a frequent visitor to Mexico, and an enthusiastic, if imperfect, speaker of Spanish. The party also successfully got rid of affirmative action while holding out a helping hand to poorer people, offering places at state universities in Texas to the top 10% of students from every school. The Texan GOP's national ascendancy has thankfully condemned more xenophobic Republican traditions to the wilderness, not least the isolationist tradition that flourished in the mid-west.

Sheer claptrap.

It was a de facto alliance of GOP political gamesmanship (in which then-gubernatorial candidate George W. Bush was a participant), along with the liberal press, an extreme Leftist Judge Mariana Pfaelzer, and Democrat liar extraordinaire Gray Davis that wrongly mischaracterized opposition to Illegal Aliens as "immigrant bashing" or "xenophobic."

This fight is far from over, as the uproar over President Bush's attempted Amnesty appeasement (in the form of his Section 245(i) extension), and his defeat last Spring demonstrate. The collusion against Proposition #187 only delayed and exacerbated the coming battle over Illegal Aliens in this country and the Republican Party.

[Boonie Rat]

I'm for bringing back the bumper stickers we had when I lived in Houston in the 80s. Welcome to Texas, Now Go Home!

Boonie Rat

MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

"It seems like the author says this as a bad thing. If I didn't live in FL, I would live in TX."

Ditto. And, if North Florida becomes like South Florida, I will live in Texas.

[What Is Ain't]

What a schizophrenic piece of Euro-pap.

This article was a British version of the pig-in-a-blanket. But instead of finding a piece of sausage when you fold back the pancake, you find a turd.

According the this elitist, what would make Texas right is a healthy dose of good old European socialism. Think of it: going from London to Dallas and not being able to tell the difference. Sound good, Texans?

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

My old man has been known to say that Air Conditioning and Mosquitto spray ruined Florida. (allowed the influx of Yankees to move in)

[San Jacinto]

My wife's relatives are from England. Her mom was a war bride. Several years back, her relatives came to visit. We took them to a lot of places-- some honky-tonks, Mexican food joints, and chicken-fried steak cafes. I took her uncle fishing on the biggest lake he had ever seen where we caught a bunch of the biggest fresh water fish he had ever seen. They went on a 600 mile round trip drive down through San Antonio and back at a time when the blue bonnets were in full bloom along the roadsides and all over the hills of central Texas. (I told them they would have to stay longer to see very much of the state, but their little road trip would have to do for now.) It was in March, and the temperatures were 80 to 90 degrees.

When it came time to leave, Uncle Jack was very sad. He said he wanted to figure out a way to come and retire in Texas. So far, he hasn't made it, but I bet he still thinks about it.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but most of the country thinks California is a weird place.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Does this mean we all have to wear those goofy hats?

Yes, they are called Sombrero's

""Latinos already make up 32% of the state population, a share that is rapidly growing.......

[Nita Nuprez]

Only real Texans understand Texas.

Probably true, to a large extent. Or maybe after living here at least a decade or two. But I'm not sure anyone who isn't born and bred here can really understand what kind of feelings are stirred by hearing the words "Remember the Alamo!" or "Remember Goliad!" or seeing "The Flag." When I was forced to live up north a few years, I had a big Texas flag on the wall, along with paintings of The Alamo and other Texas memorabilia. I'm not sure anyone but a native Texan would understand that. ;-)

[Joe Hadenuf]

I think you better translate that. It will have much more effect. Possibly.

[Nita Nuprez]

BTW, I haven't read the article yet. I'm too afraid it'll just piss me off. I'll save it for later.

FYI to the article, Alamo-Girl.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Don't Mess WIth Texas, baby

Don't mean to pop your bubble, but that was a motto for a litter campaign in Texas some years back :o

[marty60]

I lived in California (gre up there) when it was a beautiful fun place to live. I left just as the evil Dums were growing like a cancer. They have ruined a great state. Sad.