Speaker Straus Retires - The Texas Legislature is about to get even more conservative

Why would Amazon pick a new HQ in Texas when it's obvious another bathroom bill is coming and the biggest barrier to the last one is deuces?

 

First thing - don't do Kansas.

 

This is a big blow. Straus was the last barrier between the Tea Party lunatics and total control of government. He's a free market conservative that recognized the danger that the sideshow of social conservatism can do to business in Texas. Now Dan Patrick and his cronies will run wild in the legislature, wasting our time on bills that don't affect the lives, or pocketbooks, of Texans while chasing away industries.

 

I only disagree in that the bills will affect the lives of some Texans, and it will be in a negative way each time. Nobody actually benefits from discrimination of or limiting of some subgroup of people, be they trans, women, dark-skinned or whatever. I know you agree with that sentiment, but I'm just saying these back-sliding social conservative bills have real effects, even if it's just to disenfranchise, depress, and incite.

Sad for my beloved home planet.

 

This is ****ing terrible.

 

True, I could've phrased my statement better. I should've said "the vast majority of Texans" because there will be minorities, whose existence has no bearing on the daily life of the majority of Texans, targeted by Patrick. However, it's this majority that keeps getting fooled into thinking that somehow granting any amount of dignity and respect to minority Texans goes against the interests of the state.

If a company like Amazon bypasses this state for their second headquarters specifically because of the legislation that a Patrick crony will push, these "values voters" will reap the benefits of lower tax revenue. The vicious cycle of modern conservatism - expecting first-world schools, roads and healthcare, but refusing to pay for any of it - will continue and those who vote for any warm body with an (R) next to their name will continue to compound their cognitive dissonance.

 

Goddamit. He saved our asses last summer (though to @Brando2101's point, Patrick probably cost us any serious consideration for HQ2 before it was even on the table).

 

This is like economics. The consumer is getting what they want.

I'm not an economist, but I play one as a conservative on internet forums.

 

In a market, the people who want red shoes get red shoes, the people who want black shoes get black shoes, and the people who want brown shoes get brown shoes. In this political market, everyone gets red shoes because 35% of everyone wants red shoes even though the other 65% know red shoes are stupid and dangerous and you'd have to be an effin' moron to want red shoes. So, it's a little different.

 

MOAR with this analogy please. Bend it 'til it breaks. ... Or until you've worn holes in the soles.

 

Red shoes won fair n square! You're defying the will of the people with your fancy name calling and professorial words.

 

I refrained from quoting de Tocqueville at least.

 

Triumph of the Will, huh?

 

They don't take too kindly to the French in the Federalist.

 

I didn't want brown shoes anyway, because...

 

Would be the first time since 2002 if they can pull it out: