At its recent convention in Houston, the first in-person of its kind since 2018, the delegates of the Texas Republican Party voted to approve a party platform that can only be described as neo-fascist.
This is sickening. I know it's wrong, but one almost wishes the state would secede (not to mention a few others). Or at least hope the GOP will eat itself from the inside out.
Several years ago a friend watched “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre “ and was shocked that it was so violent. When we pointed out that the violence was right there in the title: “Chainsaw” and “Massacre “, his 12 year old daughter added “and Texas “
My fifty years as a licensed psychologist has taught me that there are consequences for trying to appease ignorant and bigoted beliefs. And once you have started to explain or argue, you have lost.
The idea of Texas seceding may actually be a wake up call for other states who think they can go it alone.
Hm, have you, as a psychologist, found it helpful to describe people with words that don't sound very nice? But yes, this appears to be at the heart of this matter, that these people are rejecting democratic principles and the rule of law based mostly on 'how they feel about it'. To try to reason against such a posture, at least from my own experience of better than 70 years now, is a study in futility.
i had an abusive landlord at one time, very difficult situation, hired an attorney who advised me to give them notice and leave as the best course of action. That's what i did, figuring it would be impossible to constructively change the situation from inside it.
But this is a little different with Texas, can't easily just walk away from it.
What might you suggest as a psychologist as an appropriate course of action here. i mean besides just calling them ignorant and bigoted...
This is absolutely terrifying. This is where we are in 2022? 100 steps backwards. This isn't all that they voted on correct? I read something about also removing all gun laws, teaching life at conception and putting Christianity back in schools in an article Heather Cox Richardson wrote. I have to wonder what century these people are living in. If this is who Texas wants to be, let them go. They are like teenagers who don't want to live by their parent's rules so let's just see how they do out in the world all by themselves.
Except that the mommies and daddies of today will bail them out and will protect them from the consequences of their selfish and short sighted decisions.
Let 'em secede... it gets Ted Cruz out of the Senate, they'll be on their own next hurricane (no aid from FEMA or US government because they're not a state or territory), get huge concessions to readmit them to the Union.
Then maybe those people who are doing all the suffering will realize that the bigoted leaders that they followed into secession ARE THE PROBLEM, and not everyone else. The lightbulb MIGHT just go on. Seems like the people who will suffer are the ones willfully following these 'politicians' thinking that this is the only right way to live and govern. Let them learn a hard lesson, as heartless as that sounds, but what else would it take?
I understand that, and there's no need to be condescending. But if the voters are voting to secede, and enough of them vote to that end and get what they want, then they are getting what they ask for, no? There will always be voters who didn't want what the majority wanted. And they are the ones who end up suffering, especially when it's regarding policy and how the lesser-fortunate are treated. I get it. But with Texas typically not giving two sh!ts about the lesser fortunate, ultimately, the politicians are to blame for ANY decisions made on behalf of their constituents. Especially the ones they end up hurting with their single-minded policies. The lesser-fortunate--unless they turn out to vote in DROVES--end up being the collateral damage of the moneyed. It's ALWAYS been this way, and Texas seceding won't change that.
Look, if the federal government can throw $52 BILLION at manufacturers of semi-conductor chips--manufacturers that've made (along with every other large corporation) record profits last year--then perhaps a stipend, similar to the Covid stipend--can be given to Texans who choose to leave the state. There must be requirements, however, for example, showing proof that they've moved residence to another state, or they have to pay that money back. Then Texas can go ahead and secede with their small-minded bigotry and go it on their own, and not drag those who are financially unable to move house to another state.
Regarding the chip manufacturers (Intel, namely): They're making record profits, they're now stating that in order for them to ramp up production of these chips--which have been in shortage since the Covid slow-down--they're holding the world hostage by refusing to ramp up production UNLESS they get this $52 BILLION subsidy. They DO NOT NEED IT. They're doing just fine, financially, thank you very much. But they're GREEDY. It's a shame that the $52B can't be spent on something that doesn't amount to greed, and actually HELPS Americans, since we're footing the bill of this subsidy, yet the world benefits. Any profit realized from this subsidy would go directly to the shareholders, instead of a portion returning to the American people, since it's our tax dollars going to this subsidy. Haven't heard much about that, have we?
I rather like the idea of a stipend for Texans wanting to move. And you're totally right about the chip story. But we appear to be unable to take on corporate greed. The "solution" to high gas prices is a gas tax holiday??
And sorry if I came across as condescending; I didn't mean to.
And I'm sorry as well, I guess I'm just so used to being attacked for having an opinion, sometimes I do struggle to separate those with whom I disagree from those who are also simply voicing an opinion. All good. :)
Yes, the prices of gas are just exorbitant, and though I believe Biden has the right idea about a windfall tax or something similar, that'll never EVER get past the Republicans. Yet, those who have so few braincells that they barely know the others are there, are insisting that this fuel price problem is all Biden's fault. There's just no talking to them. So frustrating. But also consider this: The price of crude per barrel (as of May 2022) was about $118.87. The national average price of gasoline was, as of that same moment, was $4.34/gal. Back in June 2008, for example, crude oil per bbl was $145.31. A gallon of gasoline, as of that same moment, was only $3.40 a gallon. So why is it so much more per gallon now, when crude is so much LESS per barrel? Somebody's lying to us.
And honestly, the people who live in TX who don't want to be part of the secession should submit to the federal government for a stipend, and of course, dependents, etc, and the government can either waive their federal taxes for a year(?) or give them a stipend, or some other financial relief. If they provide proof that they moved OUT OF TX, then that stipend remains. If not, they have to pay it back. Really, there are so many people who'd take advantage of this because they don't want to live in the Religious Republic of Texass, that I'm pretty sure they'd be willing to relocate and start anew elsewhere. There would probably be those who think they can get over on the USA, and take that money and stay in their godforsaken sh!thole, and they'd have to pay it back. The onerous is on the person(s) accepting the stipend/relief to provide proof that they've moved. Really, it's the best we can do to help those who don't want to remain behind.
Eeeeep! The argument the Republicans presented about federal overreach infringing on states rights may have some legitimacy but the motivation behind the challenge does not have much of a basis in a democracy under the rule of law but how they feel about how that may impact them.
That would seem to be the problem here. Elsewhere, in Otero County NM, a deeply Republican bastion in an largely Democrat controlled state, the County Commissioners were refusing to certify the votes on a recent primary election. The reason? It wasn't because they had any evidence of any voting irregularities nor was there even any particular partisan concern over the outcome but simply that they 'felt there may be some problems with the vote count and the voting machines'.
The State's Attorney had to threaten them with legal action to get them to simply do the job they signed on to.
This little microcosm in Otero Co underscores what's apparently at the heart of this movement in the Republican party - a rejection of the democratic process and rule of law based solely on 'how they feel about it'.
When people haven't much of an education, how they feel about things can certainly get to be all they've got to work with.
I don't even know what to say...no one can get threw to these people. Not even TFG - we all remember what they did to him when he told them to get vaccinated a while back. If not even him can get through to them, we are doomed.
The violence to whoever goes against their beliefs is what worries me the most.
It’s going to be crucial to see how business & corporations feel about investing their stockholders & their own $ in a state threatening to succeed, along w so much of their other seriously crazy planks. Texas can’t even keep their electrical grid on line, though I’m certain they’d use their fossil fuel, refineries, port, NASA & world class hospitals as bargaining chips. But certainly it wouldn’t take many natural (or unnatural as in their grid) disasters to force their hand in some fashion.
I fear if Beto & Garza (Dem AG candidate) lose, we’re fixing to find out how this plays out. Yet another must-win gubernatorial & AG race. Frightening.
Well, it seems to me that the one thing that would shock Texans clean down to their boots would be for the rest of the USA, to decide that the State no longer wishes to be a part of the Union, and to expel it, cleanly and completely.
All my life I’ve felt like Cassandra must have, I have always been very good at predicting future events, not because of telepathy or anything strange, but awareness of events, history and the human condition. But not being believed. What I see is that USA has stage 5 metastasizing cancer, and if something extreme and dramatic is not done to excise it, your Union, Republic and democracy will be gone in less than 4 years!
And if history is a good example, it is far easier to become a Neo Fascist regime, than it is to stop being one.
GOP has become a festering wound on the political landscape of the USA. A pox on Democracy that requires urgent attention, lest these red necks crap in their own nest.
Doesn't what they are doing violate the Constitution, or at least federal law somehow? It is too bad that there isn't a law against insanity. There is only one way to stop this nonsense. Eliminate them. Seriously. Remove them from the USA. They do not deserve to live here. Or simply move trump's wall north, and separate texas from the rest of the the USA.
I've never been violent before, but a political party calling me "abnormal" triggers violent feelings. Totally unrelated: gun laws are very lax these days.
This is sickening. I know it's wrong, but one almost wishes the state would secede (not to mention a few others). Or at least hope the GOP will eat itself from the inside out.
Though our voices are often drowned out, there are many Dems here fighting for change.
As a Texan, this saddens me deeply.
Several years ago a friend watched “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre “ and was shocked that it was so violent. When we pointed out that the violence was right there in the title: “Chainsaw” and “Massacre “, his 12 year old daughter added “and Texas “
My fifty years as a licensed psychologist has taught me that there are consequences for trying to appease ignorant and bigoted beliefs. And once you have started to explain or argue, you have lost.
The idea of Texas seceding may actually be a wake up call for other states who think they can go it alone.
Hm, have you, as a psychologist, found it helpful to describe people with words that don't sound very nice? But yes, this appears to be at the heart of this matter, that these people are rejecting democratic principles and the rule of law based mostly on 'how they feel about it'. To try to reason against such a posture, at least from my own experience of better than 70 years now, is a study in futility.
i had an abusive landlord at one time, very difficult situation, hired an attorney who advised me to give them notice and leave as the best course of action. That's what i did, figuring it would be impossible to constructively change the situation from inside it.
But this is a little different with Texas, can't easily just walk away from it.
What might you suggest as a psychologist as an appropriate course of action here. i mean besides just calling them ignorant and bigoted...
This is absolutely terrifying. This is where we are in 2022? 100 steps backwards. This isn't all that they voted on correct? I read something about also removing all gun laws, teaching life at conception and putting Christianity back in schools in an article Heather Cox Richardson wrote. I have to wonder what century these people are living in. If this is who Texas wants to be, let them go. They are like teenagers who don't want to live by their parent's rules so let's just see how they do out in the world all by themselves.
Except that the mommies and daddies of today will bail them out and will protect them from the consequences of their selfish and short sighted decisions.
Let 'em secede... it gets Ted Cruz out of the Senate, they'll be on their own next hurricane (no aid from FEMA or US government because they're not a state or territory), get huge concessions to readmit them to the Union.
The problem is that these are not the people who will suffer the most
Then maybe those people who are doing all the suffering will realize that the bigoted leaders that they followed into secession ARE THE PROBLEM, and not everyone else. The lightbulb MIGHT just go on. Seems like the people who will suffer are the ones willfully following these 'politicians' thinking that this is the only right way to live and govern. Let them learn a hard lesson, as heartless as that sounds, but what else would it take?
Not all Texans are white Republicans,
I understand that, and there's no need to be condescending. But if the voters are voting to secede, and enough of them vote to that end and get what they want, then they are getting what they ask for, no? There will always be voters who didn't want what the majority wanted. And they are the ones who end up suffering, especially when it's regarding policy and how the lesser-fortunate are treated. I get it. But with Texas typically not giving two sh!ts about the lesser fortunate, ultimately, the politicians are to blame for ANY decisions made on behalf of their constituents. Especially the ones they end up hurting with their single-minded policies. The lesser-fortunate--unless they turn out to vote in DROVES--end up being the collateral damage of the moneyed. It's ALWAYS been this way, and Texas seceding won't change that.
Look, if the federal government can throw $52 BILLION at manufacturers of semi-conductor chips--manufacturers that've made (along with every other large corporation) record profits last year--then perhaps a stipend, similar to the Covid stipend--can be given to Texans who choose to leave the state. There must be requirements, however, for example, showing proof that they've moved residence to another state, or they have to pay that money back. Then Texas can go ahead and secede with their small-minded bigotry and go it on their own, and not drag those who are financially unable to move house to another state.
Regarding the chip manufacturers (Intel, namely): They're making record profits, they're now stating that in order for them to ramp up production of these chips--which have been in shortage since the Covid slow-down--they're holding the world hostage by refusing to ramp up production UNLESS they get this $52 BILLION subsidy. They DO NOT NEED IT. They're doing just fine, financially, thank you very much. But they're GREEDY. It's a shame that the $52B can't be spent on something that doesn't amount to greed, and actually HELPS Americans, since we're footing the bill of this subsidy, yet the world benefits. Any profit realized from this subsidy would go directly to the shareholders, instead of a portion returning to the American people, since it's our tax dollars going to this subsidy. Haven't heard much about that, have we?
I rather like the idea of a stipend for Texans wanting to move. And you're totally right about the chip story. But we appear to be unable to take on corporate greed. The "solution" to high gas prices is a gas tax holiday??
And sorry if I came across as condescending; I didn't mean to.
And I'm sorry as well, I guess I'm just so used to being attacked for having an opinion, sometimes I do struggle to separate those with whom I disagree from those who are also simply voicing an opinion. All good. :)
Yes, the prices of gas are just exorbitant, and though I believe Biden has the right idea about a windfall tax or something similar, that'll never EVER get past the Republicans. Yet, those who have so few braincells that they barely know the others are there, are insisting that this fuel price problem is all Biden's fault. There's just no talking to them. So frustrating. But also consider this: The price of crude per barrel (as of May 2022) was about $118.87. The national average price of gasoline was, as of that same moment, was $4.34/gal. Back in June 2008, for example, crude oil per bbl was $145.31. A gallon of gasoline, as of that same moment, was only $3.40 a gallon. So why is it so much more per gallon now, when crude is so much LESS per barrel? Somebody's lying to us.
(Source: https://www.macrotrends.net/2501/crude-oil-vs-gasoline-prices-chart )
And honestly, the people who live in TX who don't want to be part of the secession should submit to the federal government for a stipend, and of course, dependents, etc, and the government can either waive their federal taxes for a year(?) or give them a stipend, or some other financial relief. If they provide proof that they moved OUT OF TX, then that stipend remains. If not, they have to pay it back. Really, there are so many people who'd take advantage of this because they don't want to live in the Religious Republic of Texass, that I'm pretty sure they'd be willing to relocate and start anew elsewhere. There would probably be those who think they can get over on the USA, and take that money and stay in their godforsaken sh!thole, and they'd have to pay it back. The onerous is on the person(s) accepting the stipend/relief to provide proof that they've moved. Really, it's the best we can do to help those who don't want to remain behind.
Eeeeep! The argument the Republicans presented about federal overreach infringing on states rights may have some legitimacy but the motivation behind the challenge does not have much of a basis in a democracy under the rule of law but how they feel about how that may impact them.
That would seem to be the problem here. Elsewhere, in Otero County NM, a deeply Republican bastion in an largely Democrat controlled state, the County Commissioners were refusing to certify the votes on a recent primary election. The reason? It wasn't because they had any evidence of any voting irregularities nor was there even any particular partisan concern over the outcome but simply that they 'felt there may be some problems with the vote count and the voting machines'.
The State's Attorney had to threaten them with legal action to get them to simply do the job they signed on to.
See https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/17/politics/new-mexico-primary-results-otero-county-certification/index.html
This little microcosm in Otero Co underscores what's apparently at the heart of this movement in the Republican party - a rejection of the democratic process and rule of law based solely on 'how they feel about it'.
When people haven't much of an education, how they feel about things can certainly get to be all they've got to work with.
Ouch.
I don't even know what to say...no one can get threw to these people. Not even TFG - we all remember what they did to him when he told them to get vaccinated a while back. If not even him can get through to them, we are doomed.
The violence to whoever goes against their beliefs is what worries me the most.
Well said. And terrifying.
It’s going to be crucial to see how business & corporations feel about investing their stockholders & their own $ in a state threatening to succeed, along w so much of their other seriously crazy planks. Texas can’t even keep their electrical grid on line, though I’m certain they’d use their fossil fuel, refineries, port, NASA & world class hospitals as bargaining chips. But certainly it wouldn’t take many natural (or unnatural as in their grid) disasters to force their hand in some fashion.
I fear if Beto & Garza (Dem AG candidate) lose, we’re fixing to find out how this plays out. Yet another must-win gubernatorial & AG race. Frightening.
Well, it seems to me that the one thing that would shock Texans clean down to their boots would be for the rest of the USA, to decide that the State no longer wishes to be a part of the Union, and to expel it, cleanly and completely.
All my life I’ve felt like Cassandra must have, I have always been very good at predicting future events, not because of telepathy or anything strange, but awareness of events, history and the human condition. But not being believed. What I see is that USA has stage 5 metastasizing cancer, and if something extreme and dramatic is not done to excise it, your Union, Republic and democracy will be gone in less than 4 years!
And if history is a good example, it is far easier to become a Neo Fascist regime, than it is to stop being one.
Scary stuff.
GOP has become a festering wound on the political landscape of the USA. A pox on Democracy that requires urgent attention, lest these red necks crap in their own nest.
Doesn't what they are doing violate the Constitution, or at least federal law somehow? It is too bad that there isn't a law against insanity. There is only one way to stop this nonsense. Eliminate them. Seriously. Remove them from the USA. They do not deserve to live here. Or simply move trump's wall north, and separate texas from the rest of the the USA.
I've never been violent before, but a political party calling me "abnormal" triggers violent feelings. Totally unrelated: gun laws are very lax these days.
What is wrong with this country. All I can think of is what Hitler did to Europe. We are heading toward a country of hate and lies.