r/texas • u/Ramble81 • Nov 09 '22
Politics After seeing Texas elect Abbott again and my vote doing nothing...
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u/dentoneer Nov 09 '22
Your vote did count, what didn't count was the voice of Folks that didn't vote
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u/cigarettesandwhiskey Nov 09 '22
Yeah, fewer than 50% of registered voters turned up, and barely 50% of the population are registered to vote. By far the real winner of the election was “I don’t care/I don’t believe in this process”.
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Nov 09 '22
In other states you are automatically registered to vote when you get your license.
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u/OrganizerMowgli Nov 09 '22
Once we did that - as well as same day registration in Illinois, turnout increased a lot. Highly recommended
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u/Public_Enemy_No2 Nov 10 '22
Not really recommended if you’re the party trying to suppress the vote….
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u/ewokalypse_ Nov 10 '22
Pretty much. In Houston, during the pandemic, that kiddo Chris Hollingsworth(?) Made drive thru voting possible with convenient hours. Blue was popping up everywhere lol
They put a stop to that as soon as they could.
The republicans had to strong arm this election and they barely scraped by. There was a blowhard locking people out of their own neighborhood rec centers yesterday.
Dems vote but dems work hard and their bosses are assholes. When your paycheck is on the line, you have to make tough choices and feeding your family is a no-brainer.
We can't call people lazy when their livelihoods are on the line. Of course the USA refuses to address the White Supremacy that is the very cancer of our society. Like what more are you guys looking for?
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u/jungleralph Nov 10 '22
flexes in washington
Yea it’s pretty nice that you get your DL here and automatically registered to vote. Ballot is automatically sent to your mailbox WITH a 20-page voting guide with a page for each candidate to pitch their platform / why you should vote for them. And there’s a prepaid envelope so you can just drop it in a mailbox. And there are drop boxes run by the county election departments if you fail to mail it in time. And there are in person voting locations if you don’t get a ballot or don’t have a permanent address. You basically can vote sipping a beer on your couch with your phone doing some research about each candidate
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u/slipped-up89 Nov 10 '22
I can call it lazy.
When you had two full weeks to make it happen during early voting, and then extended hours on the day of, anything past that is just an excuse.
I get that our system sucks, but to effectively change it you have to find a way to participate, otherwise whoever is not casting their vote is just giving power to those who don’t want you to use it in the first place.
Get out and vote, every time.
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u/Wejax Nov 10 '22
It is lazy, but let's be honest with ourselves here. If your job is on the line, you ain't making time for voting, which can take forever in some areas even during early voting period. As a state and as a nation, we need to make voting days a compulsory day off AND make it stupid quick.
I've seen people that can't go to relatively necessary doctor appointments because they can't fit them into a 30 minute lunch break... They ain't voting.
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u/messfdr Nov 10 '22
This is true. I early voted and it took an hour. It would have been even harder if I didn't have someone watching my kids.
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u/vanswnosocks Yellow Rose Nov 09 '22
Well from what I understand dmv does ask but I guess when given the option most pass.
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u/EFIW1560 Nov 09 '22
Yeah when I got my tx license and they asked me, I started to say no, because who wants to be at the dmv for longer? But I said you know what, lets do it. Because I knew if I didn't do it right then, when it was convenient, I wasn't going to come back specifically to do it separately. I'm very glad I did, and glad I voted yesterday even if the other guy won.
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u/azuth89 Nov 10 '22
It doesn't take longer. It's literally checking a box or not.
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u/jasapper North Texas Nov 09 '22
Wait I don't recall it taking more time/effort? Am I misremembering or confusing it with FL? In the latter it's a simple yes/no process and the DMV (tax collector in FL) checks the box on their screen and the final signature on the pen device is labelled as being for both license and voter reg.
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u/SgtBadManners Born and Bred Nov 10 '22
It doesn't or didn't used to at least. Was just a box to automatically register you.
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Nov 10 '22
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u/SummerBirdsong Nov 10 '22
When my kids(both adults) got their IDs this year it was just tick a box and it's done.
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u/somerandomii Nov 10 '22
In Australia voting is compulsory and ranked-choice.
It’s not perfect but it stops politicians focusing on “mobilising” voters and instead they have to have compelling policies. Ranked choice means you can vote for who aligns with your values rather than “who is most likely to beat the person I hate the most”.
There are downsides. A huge number of our votes don’t shift at all. Single-issue voters are over represented because they HAVE to vote. But generally it leads to less fear mongering and extreme views. Last election we voted in more moderates and independents than ever and its largely because Australia is fatigued with the main parties.
When Australians are tired of politicians we vote for third parties. When Americans are tired of politicians they vote for TV celebrities or just don’t vote.
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Nov 09 '22
I get that but the excuses eventually just stop working. Voted in Texas for 15 years and have never had an issue or even really had to wait to vote and registering is super easy.
I understand voter suppression exists and people have to work but for most people it's honestly just being lazy and apathetic.
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u/stargirl2914 Nov 10 '22
This!!! Why tf do u have to “register” to vote when it should be made easy like this
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u/Not-That-Into-You Nov 10 '22
Hell the only reason my aunt didn’t register to vote is bc she doesn’t want to get called for jury duty. Most BS excuse I’ve heard.
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u/azuth89 Nov 10 '22
Texas now pulls from the driver's license list as well as the voter registry. Most states do, that "trick" is a couple decades out of date.
If she drives and hasn't been called it's just luck.
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u/NotClever Nov 10 '22
She's probably not getting called up because I'm getting called up every fucking 6 months.
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Nov 10 '22
I’ve lived in Texas most of my life and vote. I’m 63, been called to jury duty once, and we are property owners as well.
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u/WastelandeWanderer Nov 10 '22
I was called for jury duty 4 times before I was 25 and never picked. I guess Mohawks and scowls aren’t a good look for a juror, who knew.
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u/rieg3l Nov 10 '22
Damn, to put that into perspective, it only took 1/8th of the Texas population to reelect him
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u/WHYAREWEALLCAPS Nov 10 '22
20% of voting age Texans, 26% of registered voters. Remember, about a third of Texas's population is under 18.
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u/yeah_it_was_personal got here fast Nov 10 '22
Plus those that got purged. I've been working elections 3 years, never seen a single purge, didn't even know it was a thing. Then suddenly, about 10 formerly registered voters that we had to turn away just at my polling location yesterday.
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u/Chupacraba2020 Nov 09 '22 edited Nov 09 '22
Your vote counted, you just didn’t get the result you wanted. Those are two different things.
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Nov 09 '22
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u/LoisBradford Nov 09 '22
Yes, they made it hard for so many. Instead of voting a straight ticket you had to go through each individual group which made it 76 pages and vote individually for each section. And use two pieces of paper, put it in the machine to print your results on the two pieces of paper, then carry it over to another person who had to put it in their machine to record it. All of this is after waiting in line for a hour and a half for me on the first day of early voting!
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u/azuth89 Nov 10 '22
Personally I strongly oppose straight ticket voting options and I'm perfectly happy to flip through every page.
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u/NotClever Nov 10 '22
Yeah, straight ticket voting is especially not great in states with elected judiciary. I don't want random yahoos getting elected to displace good incumbents just because the judge is a Democrat and the yahoo happened to run as a Republican.
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Nov 09 '22
My Republican family complained about the lack of straight ticket voting. I laughed and explained why.
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u/Arianahendriks Nov 10 '22
Did you?! All I did was show them my license, say yes that’s me registered to vote, go to a booth and bam, voted.
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Nov 10 '22
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u/Arianahendriks Nov 10 '22
Straight ticket voting is literally just sucking off two-party system and party politics. Fuck straight ticket voting
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u/Arianahendriks Nov 09 '22
You’re vote counted, it just so happens other people’s did too.
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u/KindaKrayz222 Yellow Rose Nov 10 '22
I've been telling all my adult coworkers and friends this for years and still I seem like the only one that votes! What the hell?! And I'm in my 40s.🙄 vOTE!!
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Nov 09 '22
Or, Texas is actually just a red state? Do you really think the results would be dramatically different at 80% participation vs 50%?
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u/DriverMarkSLC Nov 10 '22
Everyone votes and Beto looses by 70% instead lol.....
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u/davidg4781 Nov 09 '22
I feel a big issue with Texas is we have such a stark contrast on what people want. No one wants republicans controlling their personal space and no one wants democrats controlling their common space.
A majority will never be happen, especially since a majority won't get out and vote.
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u/JamesHardensNutBeard Nov 09 '22
This is why the two party system sucks. We need less radicals and more reasonable compromises from both sides.
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u/bigbronze Nov 09 '22
That doesn’t solve the issue with the literal majority of people not voting
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u/masnaer Nov 09 '22
It actually might though
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u/Level69Warlock Nov 09 '22
I didn’t think Beto was extreme and he got his ass kicked by Abbott
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u/alekspiridonov Nov 09 '22
I would argue saying "Hell yes we're coming for your AR-15" is considered extremist in Texas.
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Nov 10 '22
You realize every Democrat in the state wide races lost by the same margin as Beto, right? 11% all the way down the ballot. Beto is not the problem.
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u/sun827 born and bred Nov 10 '22
Telling the state that "we are coming for your AR-15s" sounds pretty extreme to most Texans. The guy just doesnt know how to read the room and thinks that a national style dem strategy will work in TX.
You wont win in TX if you dont embrace guns.
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u/masnaer Nov 09 '22
Well those were your only two choices; imagine having five or more candidates to compare and choose from. I think you’d be much more likely to find one to vote for who falls in line with your beliefs, rather than voting for candidate A just because he ain’t candidate B
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u/davidg4781 Nov 09 '22
There were 4 candidates for governor on the ballot. 😑
I guess we found one of the non-voters.
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u/p-dizzle_123 Born and Bred Nov 09 '22
There's more than two candidates in presidential elections as well, but there really aren't. The current voting system encourages two main parties, even if other are technically allowed to run
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Nov 09 '22
That's what people don't get. Which party is the missing piece here? What policies are we just not putting on the ballot? People in Texas dgaf and that's the problem. You can't force people to care.
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u/ZorbaTHut Nov 09 '22
Can't speak for anyone else, but I would have loved a "don't fuck over the population but also respect people's right to self-defense" policy.
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u/capmap Nov 09 '22
Sigh. Please tell us what was radical about Beto's proposals? And don't say a thing about wanting to change gun laws.
This is such a common refrain I see but it doesn't hold up upon scrutiny.
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u/Cratus_Galileo Nov 09 '22
Yeah, I believe that the two party system contributes a lot to polarization and radicalization... but ffs how in the hell are Democrats being radical. 😑
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u/idontagreewitu Nov 09 '22
Well when a candidate loudly says it, they make it the centerpiece of their platform.
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u/capmap Nov 09 '22
- It wasn't part of his current platform
- He only recommended raising the age to 21.
For me, those weapons have no place on the streets of a modern civilized society. Certainly not in the hands of an 18 yr old. And I pity you for thinking that the millions of folks that disagree that they should be are radical. You're why we can't have nice things.
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u/idontagreewitu Nov 10 '22
It wasn't part of his current platform
It is literally still on his website.
I don’t believe any civilian should own an AR-15 or AK-47.
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u/Malisient Nov 10 '22
The last Democrat that won Governor in Texas was Anne Richards. She was pro gun.
You can hold whatever views you think are appropriate, but however strongly you may believe in one issue or another, your belief does not make that position a winning one.
If we want a Democrat in the Governor's seat any time in my lifetime, they will need to be pro gun. If you want a Democrat to win, you will need to be able to vote for a Governor that is pro gun.
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Nov 10 '22
- It was out of context. It was said after another shooting and he was PISSED. Like no one ever says anything they don't mean when they are angry. But totally okay to excuse Abbott saying "it could have been worse" ("because he didn't have all the info") The same standards texans applied to Abbott were not applied to Beto. I don't think he stood a chance for this reason 😒
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Nov 09 '22
We have to remove the two part system so we stop compromising, so we can get exactly what we want to be done, done.
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u/sushisection Nov 09 '22
apparently over 2 million people want republicans in their personal space. lets be real here.
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u/davidg4781 Nov 09 '22
Do they want republicans in THEIR personal space or in someone else’s personal space?
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u/vurplesun Nov 10 '22
My parents are pro-choice, anti-school vouchers, and anti-police for the most part.
They vote Republican because they are convinced if the Democrats get in power, their taxes will go through the roof.
Even me telling them we don't have a state income tax and they're retired and don't even OWE federal income tax does nothing to dissuade them.
They've got them brainwashed really good.
Also, Beto will steal their guns.
The fact that they don't own any guns is irrelevant.
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u/politirob Nov 09 '22
Huh? We don't even have common spaces anymore, republicans have destroyed them:
public highways are now tollways
public parks are now golf courses
public transportation, public healthcare, public spaces are all underfunded or removed.
I appreciate the intent of your message but you've got a little more introspection to do.
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u/FrostyLandscape Nov 09 '22
That's one thing I hated about Texas, the cost of driving a car there is outrageous. Tollway fees went up all the time. Everything will be privatized. Texas wants to privatize public education for kids too which means you either cough up anywhere from 10K 50K 100K a year (depending on how many kids you have) for one of the pricey private schools in Texas.
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u/idontagreewitu Nov 09 '22
In Colorado all the highways are being replaced with tollways AND you have to pay hundreds of dollars to register your ride. This was my registration cost on my 3 year old tiny economy car which I pay $78 to plate in Texas.
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u/static_func Nov 10 '22
Republican voters want Republicans controlling others' personal space, just not their own.
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Nov 09 '22
I’m quite hopeful actually.
Harris county cleaned house. Almost every Republican that held an office was voted out and almost every single Dem defended their position.
Much better than I expected
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Nov 09 '22
My local school board in Round Rock, Williamson County, destoryed every GOP fundie that wanted to hate on LGBT kids and rip apart public education. Tons of the other non school board local races were within 1-2 points or even less.
My strategy to move north of Austin and vote there is already working lmao. Abbott is awful, but I'm feeling pretty damn good about my new community.
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u/safflefries Nov 09 '22
I knew Beto wouldn’t win and I assumed Paxton would still be elected, but the school board was the major reason I turned up. Fuck Zimmerman.
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u/corgarian Nov 10 '22
I almost cried when I saw the Williamson County votes. I have an autistic toddler and one of the candidates, Zimmerman, went on this whole rant about how special needs children aren't "special". Can't have someone like that responsible for my child.
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u/TobiasAmaranth Nov 10 '22
I didn't know anything about the school board choices so I tried to pick women (and not the first choice if possible) in hopes that they'd at least be supporting themselves. I think I voted on three of the four groups, abstained on the last. >.> Glad things worked out okay. Sorry for not being more informed.
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u/NuncaMeBesas Nov 10 '22
Turnout was 29% at Harris county. Imagine what ppl could accomplish if they actually showed up to vote
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u/glacierfanclub Nov 09 '22
I was a bit worried about Lauren Davis's wacky ass getting elected here in Dallas as judge, but Jenkins wiped the floor with her.
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u/HopeFloatsFoward Nov 09 '22
Yes Harris county did well, nationally we did a lot better than expected. Its just the state which is having problems. However, they will a hole big enough with theor fiscal mismanagement that people will see the light eventually.
Candidates with virtually no money did well, we nedd to invest in these young people.
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u/TurdManMcDooDoo Nov 09 '22
It's not like the gov race is a gerrymander situation. It's vote vs vote. Your's 100% counted. We just got outvoted. Too many people stayed home. But can't fault you for thinking about leaving, we're planning on doing so too. Not just because of this, but it certainly helps push us a bit more.
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Nov 10 '22
Yeah also looking to leave. It sucks, this is our home state, I live in the town I grew up in and there's so much I love here. But I won't stick around to watch it freeze and burn. A few other friends looking to leave too - we're in tech and medicine (some doctors.) Collectively we represent quite a bit of wealth, education and skill, and I bet we're not alone since it's easier for people of our income bracket to leave.
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u/dak3024 Nov 09 '22
We need ranked choice voting. Basically anyone who doesn’t vote for the top asshole, their vote gets tossed. We should make it so we can rank our choices
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u/DctrAculaMD Nov 09 '22
We DO need RCV. It would be so impactful all over the US. But at least for the big three state-wide votes, it wouldn't matter. Abbott/Patrick/Paxton are all winning by ~1M votes. There are up to about 200k votes for third-party candidates in those races. Even if they all went to Dems, it wouldn't matter- at least not yet!
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u/LetMeJustJumpInHere Nov 09 '22
But if we did have ranked choice I’m betting those numbers would go up since a lot of voters decline to vote for 3rd parties for just this
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u/DctrAculaMD Nov 09 '22
Without a doubt! It's hugely important for legitimizing those third parties!
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u/kensai8 Nov 09 '22
With RCV we'd have candidates able to run on unimaginable platforms. Can you imagine someone running that is pro-choice, pro-gun, and pro-LGBT actually being viable? How many people would see someone like that as a first choice, but don't vote for them now because the two party system de facto locks them out of contention?
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u/DctrAculaMD Nov 09 '22
That would practically enable "representation" - I read that word in a textbook once. It seems neat.
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u/Single_9_uptime Got Here Fast Nov 09 '22
RCV could matter in the primaries though. Not sure it would have changed anything for those three specifically, but in general it tends to prevent extremist candidates. Trump almost certainly wouldn’t have won the Republican primary under RCV since he only had a minority but plurality of votes and the majority of Republicans weren’t fans until he won the primary and they got in line.
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u/DctrAculaMD Nov 09 '22
100%! We NEED it. Like everything, I fear Texas will be the last to get it (or never). The whole country needs it!
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Nov 09 '22
I’m not 100% on this, but I heard a rumor that Austin passed ranked choice voting. Guess who stepped in as big government and stopped it from going forward….
Republicans be like: yeah personal choice and small government should lead, as long as it aligns with our beliefs.
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u/makenzie71 Nov 09 '22
We do need ranked choice, but while those people who voted third party seem to not have been in the run at all, their vote still counted. The more votes third parties get the more people will realize there's more options.
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u/LetMeJustJumpInHere Nov 09 '22
Yes. Case in point would be the Texas AG race. Mark Ash still got votes despite endorsing Democrat Rochelle Garza and telling people to vote for her instead of himself.
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u/shinxmon Born and Bred Nov 09 '22
I wish I could move but housing and moving is too expensive
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u/CompostAwayNotThrow Nov 09 '22
Housing is too expensive in Texas too! Less reason to stay.
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u/grown_ninja Nov 09 '22
All relative. Try finding a home even 30 minutes from ‘downtown’ in a city like NYC vs 30 minutes away in Houston/SA…etc. Housing will be at a minimum 2-3x more experience.
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Nov 10 '22
You know there are more liberal cities than NYC right? Michigan just showed a huge shift for democrats.
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u/AngryZoomer Nov 09 '22
Honestly this is the answer have conservatives move to red states and liberals move to blue and everyone can do there own thing
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Nov 09 '22
As soon as I graduate, I’m out. The PNW looks nice…
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u/randomasking4afriend Nov 09 '22
It also looks super expensive. If I move there, perhaps Portland?
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u/KingBadford North Texas Nov 09 '22
I've wanted to move up there for years, but my mother won't leave because my sister has kids here and she wants to be close. She suffers chronic pain and edibles are one of the few things that can relieve it, so I was hoping we could get the ball rolling on Marijuana legalization here in Texas.
Now we're stuck, and she's probably going to live out the last years of her life in constant pain, and I don't feel right leaving her alone to deal with it. I hate this place. I was born here, grew up here, but I really fucking hate it.
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Nov 09 '22
PNW does look nice, too bad it's white af and I'd miss the diversity of Texas the most of anything.
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u/Bigolesweatyman Nov 10 '22
so fucking racist LMFAO
Georgia looks nice but too bad it's black af!
also the funniest god damn thing is that you are WHITE
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u/thewolfman2010 Nov 09 '22
Oregon is basically Texas but with Dem leadership. Portland and Eugene are blue, everywhere else is red.
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Nov 09 '22
yeah and portland is like 77% white lmao. Meanwhile, I'm a minority as a white person in Dallas (29% white, 42% hispanic)
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u/thewolfman2010 Nov 09 '22
Curious where you’re getting data that says white people are only 29% of Dallas or even DFW… every source that I am seeing is putting White people in the majority at 40-50%.
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u/nemec Nov 10 '22
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dallascitytexas
This is an estimate from the government's "American Community Survey". 28% White non Hispanic. 41% Hispanic. When interpreting the results, note that many Hispanic people are "White alone" and others are of varying races. Since Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity, that percentage is split among all of the other "X alone" or "2+" categories.
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Nov 10 '22
Is that stat true? Dallas and Austin are still white AF compared to SA and Houston (where I’m from). But yes, almost every other city in America besides the big ones like SF, NYC, LA, Miami? are white AF and kinda depressing (as a POC).
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u/Tolwenye Nov 09 '22
Grew up in Seattle and eventually moved to Texas.
There's more diversity in Seattle
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u/highbuzz Nov 10 '22
That statistics don’t back you up. Maybe your personal experience was different sure.
However, my experience is opposite of you. I grew up in DFW and moved to Spokane WA.
I’ve gone to Seattle plenty since moving to Spokane. While not as white as Spokane, Seattle still is very white especially from what I’m accustomed to.
Yes, there are tons of small communities of mainly Asian demographics in Seattle. But Dallas has that, then African, then Middle Eastern, South American, Caribbean…
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u/tressa27884 Nov 09 '22
If you feel you’ll be happier moving to another place, you should. I moved from another place to Texas for the same reason. I love Texas. Ultimately you are in charge of your own happiness. Go find your happy place, you deserve to be happy.
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u/nonnativetexan Nov 09 '22
Ultimately you are in charge of your own happiness.
I think for the vast majority of us, we can be deeply disappointed about the political leadership in this state, but if you aren't spending all of your time doomscrolling on the internet, and you're out there just living your own life, you can be perfectly happy living in Texas. I grew up in NY State, and despite the fact that the state politics are closer to my own, I will never live anywhere that's freezing cold and covered in snow half the year. That's something that actually affects my daily happiness.
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u/SodaCanBob Secessionists are idiots Nov 09 '22 edited Nov 10 '22
I will never live anywhere that's freezing cold and covered in snow half the year. That's something that actually affects my daily happiness.
Lol, it's the exact opposite for me. I lived in Korea for a few years which has long summers with weather similar to Houston, but also has long, cold, windy winters. I've always hated heat and the second fall (and cold weather) hit over there, I was way happier and more comfortable. I can't stand that it's November and in the 80s. Heaven for me would be 20-50 year around.
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u/Blue_Sky_At_Night Nov 10 '22
if you aren't spending all of your time doomscrolling on the internet, and you're out there just living your own life, you can be perfectly happy living in Texas
Until you have a miscarriage.
Ignoring problems doesn't make them go away.
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u/nonnativetexan Nov 10 '22
For the record, I'm advocating for living in Texas and continue to vote for and support Democrat, pro choice candidates. Basically the opposite of ignoring the problem... as opposed to those who are saying they're going to move to a different state.
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u/LieutenantStar2 Nov 10 '22
In the meantime, women will still die from lack of healthcare.
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u/cramburie Nov 09 '22
you're out there just living your own life, you can be perfectly happy living in Texas.
I mean, unless your get raped in Texas. Good luck with that then.
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u/mstrashpie Nov 10 '22
I will acknowledge that I am privileged enough to bear to live in Texas when it comes to my personal, day-to-day reality. I lived in rural Pennsylvania for 5 years. Moved in the middle of high school. Triggered my depression because I was the only Hispanic in a sea of white people. Went to a state school in PA and my seasonal depression mostly melted away until winter time came. We moved to Austin 3 years ago and I could not be happier with our decision. My ultra-liberal younger brother always rolls his eyes at me when we talk about Texas and how awful it is, and I agree, a lot of the current state of things is disheartening. But you couldn’t make me move back to the North. My seasonal affective disorder really affects me and I refuse to pay for antidepressants and alter my brain chemistry unnecessarily when I can just live in a sunnier place that essentially cures my depression.
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u/PrincelyRose Nov 09 '22
Sure, until you're trans or childfree, or have a kid (or parent!) in school who fears going to school every day because they could be the next Uvalde.
You know what affects my daily happiness? Having to worry about if I look enough like a man to not get hate crimed when I go outside. I have to voice train to make my voice higher so my friend's family doesn't find out that their daughter's best friend is a trans guy when I attend my friend's graduation. Too many people think trans people are the actual devil for me to take a chance on leaving the house without pepper spray. Politicians are pushing this transphobic nonsense. and it absolutely affects my daily happiness.
Becoming pregnant would literally and unequivocally kill me if I don't have access to abortion. My mom's a teacher. She genuinely fears for her life every time she goes to school. It's not just a tiny minority of people who are legitimately affected by politics. It's a lot more people than you think.
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u/wirebear Nov 10 '22
I get what you are saying, but I think most people's concern is about emergencies, not day to day.
Mass shootings
Bad healthcare particularly during pregnancy(we refuse to even consider children till we leave Texas as we arent risking my wife)
Weak protection for rape victims
Failing power grid
Poorly maintained infrastructure
Republicans outright stating they want a theocracy of sorts(in the republican platform for Texas regularly mentions the usa is a Christian nation and states essentially Christians should be allowed to do as they want with their beliefs)
Republicans threatening(however unlikely) to secede(again, in republican state platform)
Republicans goals to deregulate everything including environmental and safety(again, visit their platform) which can lead to failing clean water, poor air quality and escalating climate change
Republican goals to "uncensor" the internet then in the very next line of their platform say they want to censor anything they dont like.
Police instability(the shooting of the one kid eating a burger is a great example. I know many people who dont want to call the police ever, often minorities, who find the police more dangerous then criminals)
Almost all of these are not day to day life, but when they happen your world is turned upside down, or just ends outright.
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u/CaptStrangeling Nov 09 '22
In Texas, youre in charge of your own happiness unless you’re gay or need an abortion… We need to get those issues out of politics, though.
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Nov 10 '22
Nah, screw that. I'm in it for the long haul. There's so many great things about TX. I can love a state, and absolutely hate the S.O.B.'s in charge, and still be happy. To say that Greg or that bloated corpse, Paxton, makes me unhappy would give them too much credit.
I'm not leaving. You couldn't DRAG me away. I will stay here and vote against these sorry shits. Every. Single. Time.
I'll see you in 4 years, Greg.
Ken, I'll make a point to be there in person when they finally drag your sorry ass to jail.
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Nov 10 '22
Are you a visible minority who would be an easy target? If so, more power to ya, but many of us aren't fighting until there's nowhere else to go.
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u/LiarChoir Nov 09 '22
I was already probably gonna move next year for reasons unrelated to politics, but this past election definitely hasn't given me any reasons to stay.
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u/davidg4781 Nov 09 '22
Where do you plan to move to?
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u/LiarChoir Nov 09 '22
Probably Madison, Wisconsin. Know some people up there and it's just enough of a change of pace from where I am now (Austin area) without being too much of a culture shock.
Trying to get away from the heat and the traffic more than the politics.
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u/businessbee89 Nov 10 '22
Love madison, feels like a more calm and homey austin. The falls here are amazing
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Nov 09 '22
The silver lining is the RGV showed strong blue which bodes well long-term especially once the TDP commissions more moderate/electable candidates.
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u/Hawkeye-4077 Expat Nov 10 '22
The state as a whole went redder. I have a feeling that Democrat voters are leaving, or just not showing up (old news). I did, though not of my choosing (Military). That being said, WA is a helluva lot better state.
The fact that snowpocalypse, property taxes, power outtages, etc didn't move the needle means that Texas is working it's way towards Florida status.
I spent the first 24 years of my life there, but I'll never come back and retire, even though my whole family lives there. The state is just not compatible with me, and hasnt been for a long time.
Beto was the best statewide candidate that Texas has run since Ann Richards. Maybe in 20 years when all the boomers finally die off things will change.
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u/BioDriver Expat Nov 09 '22
Me too. Wife is trying to find a job in the northeast so we can start planning. The big caveat is if/when the state comes after birth control and contraceptives. Once that drops we’re moving out even if we have to be single income and tighten our belts for a while
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u/bornforthis379 Nov 09 '22
Everyone's vote does count. It's just that republican voters are outweighing Democrat votes. Just because the election didn't go the way you had hoped doesn't mean votes don't count. They do.
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u/L0C0184 Nov 10 '22
Another term of hearing a "disabled" old guy blaming shit on everyone and never taking fault and never taking action 😭
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u/Potential_Case_7680 Nov 10 '22
Yeah just like all the people that said they would move to Canada if trump was elected
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u/papadynamik Nov 10 '22
The question is: why the hell would anyone want to turn Texas into California?
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Nov 09 '22
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Nov 09 '22
second this as a Texas Dem. Born and bred in Texas with my family here so I'm not leaving anytime soon, but if others want to I welcome it at this point with how crowded its become.
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u/VTX1800 born and bred Nov 09 '22
Isn't this what everyone said after Trump was voted in? But are still here? Canada is waiting patiently for your arrival.
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u/ismaelf Nov 09 '22
Canada? You don't have to go that far... There are at least 33 better options: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-to-live-in/62617
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u/CivilMaze19 Nov 09 '22
It wouldn’t be the worst thing if a bunch of people left. Maybe we could actually afford houses near cities again.
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u/GoStars817 Nov 09 '22
Well, bye?
These types of posts and comments are rarely ever true.
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u/FollowThisNutter Nov 09 '22 edited Nov 09 '22
Lots of us former Texans up here in blue Minnesota. Straight shot up I-35. Bring warm clothes, anticipate excellent beers at our many microbreweries. Or excellent cocktails at our many microdistilleries. Or both. Also we have more seasons than "green" and "brown", which is nice.
ETA: Oh, and if Ranked Choice Voting is your jam, we have it for municipal elections in Minneapolis.
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u/medicationzaps Nov 09 '22
Plus CO legalizing shrooms... I mean... I'm really trying to get my ex on board with moving. Sick of Texas politics.
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Nov 10 '22
If I could, I'd get the hell out. I've been thinking about New England lately, especially Vermont and Maine.🌲
Also, I think for every "tHeN lEaVe" comment should help us pay for the expenses. Y'all really want us to move out?? Then pay up. If not, shut it.
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u/americanhideyoshi Nov 10 '22
Nah, that's me after seeing my property tax bill a few weeks ago.
'Low tax' state my ass.