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talkpolitics
Other states are trying to abolish the death penalty. My state is putting in an express lane – Ron White
When I saw that this was “Bash a Country” month, I was hesitant. I have never travelled internationally and, as an American, I have always been satisfied with my life in America. For this reason, the country I decided to bash is Texas.
This northern suburb of Mexico has a relationship with its southernmost neighbor that is akin to Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians. It is basically, “We will get along just fine as soon as you get the hell out of my neighborhood”. Many believe that Texas is already a part of the United States, albeit resentfully. Texas has tried to distance itself from the US ever since it became our protectorate to prevent Santa Anna’s armies from kicking its ass again. That would make them an AINO, pronounced \ˈā-nəl\, or America In Name Only. Texas has a history of trying to detach from America, but has never done so successfully.
Texas is the home of unbridled bluster. They boast of things other nations would be too embarrassed to claim. Their fare is a faux international cuisine attempt called Tex-Mex. The folksy descriptions of their locales are things like “When you smell shit, you’re in San Antonio. When you step in it, you’re in Rio Grande City”. The Texas death penalty count would probably rival Iran’s. They spend their days in land mass envy toward Alaska.
The United States tolerates Texas for their oil production, much like we do with Saudi Arabia. When Hurricane Ike caused devastation in Texas, President George W. Bush went on a diplomatic mission to his homeland to visit the oil wells and disregarded the residents. Their economy is bolstered by petrol dollars and low unemployment due to a third-world-like wage labor force.
The latest bid for secession was proposed by their current governor, Rick Perry, in 2009. He is now running for President of the United States. It will be interesting to see if he tries to get America to secede from America.
(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 12:32 (UTC)On the other hand, Texas confuses me. With politicians like George W. and Rick Perry in office, there have to be lots of Texans whose view of the world bothers me, but just about every Texan I have ever met has been just a fine fellow.
Texas -- can we keep the brisket and lose the lunatics?
(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 14:36 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 8/12/11 20:37 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 12:50 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 13:03 (UTC)I think it kindasorta wants to be.
(no subject)
Date: 9/12/11 04:25 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 13:43 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 13:48 (UTC)Yes. We speak 2 different languages in America. Southern drawl and the one the newscasters use so everyone can understand it.
(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 14:33 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 15:49 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 17:28 (UTC)Also, I have noticed that if one wants to sound "authentically" American, one adopts the Oklahoman accent.
(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 14:38 (UTC)Wow, yankee much?
It is Coke. Orange Coke, Lemon-Lime Coke, Dr. Pepper, it is just Coke.
j/king (well, maybe)
(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 14:43 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 8/12/11 21:20 (UTC)I say soft drink 50% of the time, soda 50%.
(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 21:43 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 9/12/11 22:47 (UTC)Texas...
Date: 8/12/11 17:32 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 16:10 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 16:31 (UTC)I'm too old for the military and I've found most people that travel don't immerse themselves in the culture enough to understand it. Travel just doesn't appeal to me.
Mexico...
Date: 8/12/11 17:34 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 8/12/11 17:50 (UTC)After Afghanistan and Iraq...
Date: 8/12/11 17:37 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 18:08 (UTC)*engine roar*
(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 21:51 (UTC)We have a dysfunctional state government. Our constitution actually says the governor can't be an atheist. We pay our legislators about 7k a year, and they're only in session every other year. So 1) even when liberal policy gains the support of the populace, we don't have the legislative resources to enact it. And 2) the people who can afford to be in public service tend to be wealthier and more conservative than the rest of the state.
For Rick Perry, I think most of his evangelical rhetoric as a useful lie. One that he might act on as President. But considering the ease in which mini-DOMA passed in Texas, he could easily push for ballot initiatives on fetal personhood, partial birth abortion bans and other conservative favorites. Instead he backed "Listen to the heartbeat before you kill your unborn child". Annoying legislation. Degrading to women. But it hardly limits the ability of a woman to commit (what he sees as) murder. So you should legitimately question how strongly he's concerned about this liberal genocide of fetuses. If you want more evidence of his weak beliefs, he worked for Al Gore's presidential campaign in 1988 and only switched to the Republican party in 1989 long after most other Southern Conservatives had abandoned the Democratic Party.
That's not to doubt his commitment to serving the Republican Party. They're getting him elected, and the political favors he owes them are plentiful enough to overshadow any Democratic values he might be hiding in his power-hungry soul.
But in Texas, a lot of conservatism is political theatre rather than conservative values. There's a compartmentalization they're able to do that you don't see in a lot of Southern states. In Houston there's a vast number of conservatives who didn't see the conflict in voting for mini-DOMA while voting a high-profile lesbian into office. I did not see any serious media campaign attacking Anise Parker for her civil union, the adoption of her two daughters and fostering a son. So while I can disagree strongly with the resulting conservative policy decisions, I find it hard to attribute their intolerant policy decisions with actually being intolerant.
They direct their conservative intolerance towards mythical people, and most of the time it evaporates when confronted with individual gays, blacks, immigrants, etc. I find it hypocritical and distasteful from a policy perspective. But there is comfort to be had in how shallow their conservative beliefs are. That most still leaves a fair amount of people for whom I'm eternally embarrassed to share a state with. Especially since white supremecists like the ones who brutally murdered James Byrd get air time disproportionate to their share of the population. But the broad strokes with which you paint the state would blame San Francisco voters for both the Reagan and Nixon presidency.
Oh. And Texas' view on immigration? So much more evolved than other border states and even the rest of nation. Our politicians have long been aware of the 'sleeping giant' of hispanic demographics, and as such try to treat the population with respect. As a liberal, it isn't where I want either policy or respect to be. But most of the nation isn't either. I'm constantly disappointed in how isolated and self-segregated parts of this nation are that I was led to believe are the bastions of acceptance and tolerance.
(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 22:27 (UTC)That's still an enormous condemnation, and nothing better.
(no subject)
Date: 8/12/11 23:26 (UTC)Wow. What a strained and futile effort to explain away the country's perception of Texas. They don't really believe what they say they believe? Yeah. I'd define that as bullshit. I did mention the unbridled bluster thing, right?
(no subject)
Date: 9/12/11 05:06 (UTC)Yeah, well nobody in SanFrancisco talks about what happened to the city's Black neighbourhoods. (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-08-26-urban-blacks_N.htm)