Lack of resources going into education - of course, it's relative -- most of my friends fled Louisiana (LSU) and went to UT so they could get a better college education

So my question is, if Texas is so great, why do Texans continue to infiltrate it's neighboring states like New Mexico and Colorado? If it's such a great place to be, and plenty big, you should find plenty to do without leaving.

I grew up in southern NM and worked at a resort in the mountains as a kid and the Texans would come over and treat the hospitality people like crap! Very demanding and very poor tippers. I have no love for the "We're Texans, we're bigger and better than everyone else" mentality.

'But “the secret ingredient,” Ms. Grieder writes, has been the industrial policy of Gov. Rick Perry, offering a generous broth of subsidies and incentives that Texas has used to attract hundreds of businesses that have richly diversified its traditional energy-based economy.'

Does not take a genius here to figure this out, and you Texans might just 'get it'. I'll type slow. Hundreds of businesses were 'attracted' to South Dakota 20 years ago, mostly, banks too big to fail for their Visa processing centers and for SD's high usury limits. The locals initially reaped the benefits of this thru greater employment. However, the other shoe dropped rather quickly, as in, low wages. Walmart smelled great opportunities, looking for those at 7.50 bucks an hour or less. Walmart moved in across the land ruining local economies, driving those back to the 50s mom and pop stores Conservatives rave about, out of business. Texas has government backed subsidies for Big Oil, a 'diverse' economy built on the backs of low income earners. Low educational standards, all for that big Texas ego of 'independence'. Right.

To get a perhaps different perspective on the state of Texas, just google "where Texas ranks".

It seems that in areas where you want to rank # 1, we tend to rank around # 50 and in areas where you want to rank # 50, we tend to rank around # 1.

For example: teenage pregnancies, teenagers with 2nd pregnancies, % of workers earning minimum wage or less, number people with no health insurance, number of children not covered by health insurance, number of workers not covered by workers comp, number of workers not covered by company paid health insurance, on and on ad nauseum we are right there at # 1. If you work in TX, best not get hurt on the job.

But school funding, teacher pay, SAT scores and many other areas you would like to be ranked at least near #1 in the country, we tend to rank much closer to 50th. This bottom feeding extends into quality of healthcare, electrical grid reliability and many other areas.

Our fearless leaders don't seem to understand that as with most things in life, you tend to get what you pay for. As to guvner Ricks balanced budgets.. lots of smoke and mirrors going on there.

no way - Texas cannot possibly be lower than Mississippi!

(or Louisiana, for that matter - o'course Louisiana does it on purpose... to keep the Texans out)

Thanks, Rusty! I busted my butt my whole life to earn this place and I'm not giving it up. It is truly my fortress of solitude and relaxation.

also - you were smart to use stucco - it is hard to ignite

be sure to keep a defensible fire perimeter all the way around...

Can you make it from the balcony to the pool? It looks like you have plenty of opportunities for dangerous fun.

oh - almost forgot...

suck it, Aggies

Men’s Fleet Feats Pave Way to Win over No. 1 Aggies - GoDucks.com - The University of Oregon Official Athletics Web Site

I can think of 2:

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