Texas - Last Bastion of Freedom Giving in To Collectivist Malcontents

Tim....I have not received that multi million dollar check from the taxpayers yet for my part in the zero sum game. Who do I call? Where's my lobbyist?

I believe that it was the Pres. of GM who said a 1/2 century ago: "The business of America, is the business of ripping off the government". No?

Anyway, kill education, innovation, infrastructure and investment, (whatever else) and resort to bribes ....that's not just a dig at Texas. As I said, it is "business" everywhere, politically speaking. We have this nonsense in Indiana too (Illinois makes an easy target).

The ultimate result: Low wage workers pay hefty taxes to have a job. That's not a theory ....it is playing out before our very eyes.

Egg, agreed.

Twill, agreed.

Austin is a liberal place, no doubt about that. I lived in nearby Liberty Hill when Kold Kings were built in a downtown Austin former Coke plant. I stayed just 6 months coz I realized that if I had to deal with those drivers on Research and I-35 every day for very long, surely I'd shoot one of them.

Tim you are correct about roofing being a zero sum game. I've thought of that before. I just could not put a 3 word tag on it. Thanks!

Seems like most of the real economic activities are zero sum....put the roof on. Build the roads. Take out the trash. Pump the gas. blah blah blah.

A $40 billion service to catch a ride (Uber)? not so much

In 2008 I had a contractor who was in the restoration business and was overloaded with the current Hurricane that went thru the state and caused considerable damages, I was very fortunate that I was familiar with the Insurance software that all of the companies were using. Since I was from Florida I was quite familiar with strict building codes and product approvals, however while working in Texas I discovered that the building codes were very lax and the and the product approvals were non existent,,After review of the Insurance company surveys on damaged property I came to the conclusion that the Insurance adjusters did not understand basic construction I reviewed over 100 insurance surveys and had the same amount of insurance company protests, it was a disaster for the contractors since the insurance companies brought in hundreds od of South of the Border labors to do the specific work, the quality of workmanship did not exist and what they did do would not pass any inspection in the State of Florida, but as they say when in Rome do as ghey do, so after battling with he insurance companies and their allies the building department I decided to leave after working for 18 months Yep Texas was a joke in my opinion

Sometimes I'm a poor representative of Texas. We boast but we're usually just having fun. Humbleness may not be a Texan virtue, but you won't find more loyal and decent people anywhere in the world:

http://www.theshootershangout.com/chris-was-the-american-sniper/

Bullshit's fine Tim. it's believing it that's the problem :laugh: i met many different kinds of people when I lived there for 2.5 yrs. Some Yankees. Some Rednecks. Some Desperate people. Some Mexicans. A few stout Texans. Coonasses.

No Big deal. I'll be there tommorrow BTW :laugh: Gonna see an old friend in Alvin and my Crazy Brother near Dallas.

I'll check out some old haunts, like the Texas City Dike and see if anyone is left around that I used to know. I always liked Galveston.

I'll get away from winter weather for a week or so and just clear my head. I'm sure Texas will help.

So just where is Armpit of Texas? Folks in Houston said it was El Paso. All the other Texans said it was Houston :laugh: Or did they really mean Beaumont?

Have fun in our state. I'm headed to Vegas in the morning to SHOT Show. Mecca for gun guys.

I particularly enjoy each year watching the anti-gun protesters outside the Sands Expo convention center. Silly people.

As a homegrown Texan reading this thread was a hoot!

So, I'm back. Just spent 5 days on the run down there , being a malcontent. 2 days in Galveston, a road trip to Fort Worth and a day in Brazos Bend State Park. One thing about Texas (I think), don't waste your energy assuming anything. Public radio. Wide open spaces. Lots of water, and skyscrapers too. My favorite places were the old stockyards area of Fort Worth (u can have downtown) searching for the ever elusive PBR longneck and Galveston Island. A pleasant surprise there was a tour of the Energy Star oil rig. I got to visit the texas city dike , go to Pelican Island for 1st time and see how much the area has changed.....either newly built up, re built from Ike or just destroyed by Ikes storm surge. Hung with fisherman for a while and chatted.

I know I'm on vacation when I walk up to strangers and ask "whats going on?" B)