Why Texas is the (U.S.) Future

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by Woof

Ironically enough, the future of Texas is liberalism. Hispanics are increasing as a percentage of population, and as we've seen recently they vote heavily Democratic.

What then?

Then maybe the state fails?

The bluest area of the state is the Rio Grande Region from El Paso down to Brownsville and it's also it the poorest and one of the fastest growing.

[matteo81]

Originally Posted by rynetwo

It kinda makes up the gap but Texas is still near the bottom.

http://taxfoundation.org/sites/taxfo...p-20110223.pdf

Well, I would think a state that is heavily dependent on property taxes would have a low tax burden in 2009, when real estate had just taken a big hit. Now that property values have risen across much of metropolitan Texas, I suspect Texas's tax burden has too. There's also the question of which local taxes did the Tax Foundation use? Property taxes vary widely across both Texas and metropolitan areas within Texas. Does a Tax Foundation researcher know to factor in ISDs, County, City, Hospital District, Community College District, Soil Conservation District etc. etc. etc? I like the setup Texas has for local government, but there's a lot of overlap that adds up.

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You could also make the argument that Texas is largely a success because of investments made when Democrats ran things, like the Permanent University Fund, above average highway system, above average efforts to locate military installations and contractors, etc.

[heisenberg0]

all my life I felt like Texas (esp SE Tex/HOU) was on the precipice of the world... but as time has passed (I'm only 24) I've kinda grown more hostile to the "Texas" mentality... however, economically, it would be a great place for a young person to start a life... and yes, the political thing... I bet if an intelligent, enlightened person sat down with any young, educated person living in Texas, they could be shown that they ARE a libertarian... but the older generation, tsk tsk, where they sadly still grasp hope in the current bipartisan dilemma... they think of libertarianism as absurd, as an extreme... the little do they know

[BeenThereDunThat]

Well no matter if you're a Texas fan or not, I give it high marks for higher education. LBJ (a Democrat BTW) made sure the state worked on education and highways. Also, Texas was waay ahead of everybody else as far as making college credits transferable within the state's colleges and universities, allowing regions to thrive and become attractive for anyone wanting a good education. And from my own first-hand experience, the community college system in the Dallas area is really a strong value and first rate among community colleges. In my home state of Louisiana, I wish I could say the same but it's a sad mix of bureaucracy and provincialism and educational protectionism. (NW La.'s LSUS lacks advanced doctoral degrees as an example because the State Board of Regents want to protect LSU in Baton Rouge.)

Also... my home state lost out a super valuable military organization: The Cyber Command which, thanks to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson ...wound up near San Antonio. Louisiana politicos found this an "opportunity" to get some $55 million in state tax dollars to build an expensive facility "thinking" this would get them the nod from the DOD & USAF... it did not and even the DOD / USAF warned those states on the "short list" that such a move would not play into their final decision. This was ignored, probably because of the regional political cronyism that is NW La. "friends of friends" saw lucrative construction contracts ...so that was the real incentive...and the local citizenry was clueless. But I digress.

And speaking of how people view themselves politically... I too agree that if most people really sat down and went down the list of things they feel strongly about....they'd find that they are more libertarian than they'd care to admit. I've lived all over the world (thanks to Uncle Sam) and while I'm a "Son of the South", I've learned to not get caught up in all the BS & drama which is the oversimplification of political ideologies and placing labels on people. For example; many feel that most Texans are hard-line Conservatives with a capitol "C"... I actually liken Texans to having a strong sense of "Independence" and while they may appear ultra-conservative on the outside.... I really think that's just a front, to me there's a progressive side they won't want to admit to. Why would there be sooo many good colleges and universities? I think there's a shift happening and I've seen it gradually occur for the past 20 years.

I think as more people relocate to Texas you're going to see the shift come even faster as the transplants become more influential. Austin is one example as is Houston and so is Dallas. Like it or not: SHIFT HAPPENS!

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by matteo81

Well, I would think a state that is heavily dependent on property taxes would have a low tax burden in 2009, when real estate had just taken a big hit. Now that property values have risen across much of metropolitan Texas, I suspect Texas's tax burden has too. There's also the question of which local taxes did the Tax Foundation use? Property taxes vary widely across both Texas and metropolitan areas within Texas. Does a Tax Foundation researcher know to factor in ISDs, County, City, Hospital District, Community College District, Soil Conservation District etc. etc. etc? I like the setup Texas has for local government, but there's a lot of overlap that adds up.

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You could also make the argument that Texas is largely a success because of investments made when Democrats ran things, like the Permanent University Fund, above average highway system, above average efforts to locate military installations and contractors, etc.

Here is the updated map for 2013.



http://taxfoundation.org/article/tax...ater-last-year

[Made_it_To_the_Metroplex]

Originally Posted by JimBaker488

I consider myself a "quasi" libertarian, but I don't think libertarians are socially liberal because that implies advocating government activism at the federal level. For example, I'm definitely not a fan of gay marriage, but legalizing it locally/state level I can accept, but don't want the Feds in DC imposing their agenda on me when it comes to such issues.

I couldn't agree more sir! It's all about individual liberty, and in that regard, Libertarians are viewed by others as being socially liberal on things like same-sex marriage and legalization of marijuana, etc.

[BeenThereDunThat]

Originally Posted by JimBaker488

I consider myself a "quasi" libertarian, but I don't think libertarians are socially liberal because that implies advocating government activism at the federal level. For example, I'm definitely not a fan of gay marriage, but legalizing it locally/state level I can accept, but don't want the Feds in DC imposing their agenda on me when it comes to such issues.

Ahh true...but then there's the "great equalizer" i.e. The Constitution of the United States. Consider the repeal of Section 3 of the DOMA regarding spousal benefits for federal employees and members of armed services. We have to come to accept federal statute regarding equal treatment, failing that then we really don't accept the true concept of freedom for all.