I hate texas.

[OldCorpse]

Nice "low key" jab at anyone not living on the coasts.......

DDP

I'm sorry you read it this way - it certainly is not what I meant, and not what I wrote. It's not a jab at anyone - merely a plea to accept personal responsibility, instead of blaming some external factors... we humans are very skilled at finding scapegoats - the devil made me do it, the evil politician, my rotten parents, etc., etc., etc. I'm saying, in a democracy, we are responsible for the state of the union. We the voters, who vote in the "evil" politicians. Texas is the way it is because the voters wanted it that way, period. And so on for every state - and no, it's not a geographical issue... there are blue and red states in every region, not just "the coasts", and and within every state and city and neigborhood, there are "red" and "blue" voters. Our choices, our responsibility. If you or I don't like something - vote. We are ultimately responsible - there's no tyrant dictating to us how to organize society. And the results speak for themselves - just look at the statistics, no need for argument. Peace and respect to all

 

[JasonFox]

Sorry to hear about your dad. It's really unfair. And Barry is quite right in one way - people can always vote with their feet. On the other side of it though, is that you can't always run away - what about staying and fighting for what you believe in? There may come a day where you have nowhere else to run. I mean, what if back in the pre-independence days someone said: you don't like it, find another country? Instead we kicked the Brits out. Yay!

That said, different strokes for different folks. I would never want to live anywhere in the South. There's a reason why they've been backward forever while the coasts developed. It's the mentality... figure it out. Some like that, and that's cool. I don't, which is why I live in Cali.

The South, and Texas in particular has a predatory set up - legally, economically, culturally - really stacked against anyone who is poor or seen as "different". I can't assign blame to politicians, however... we live in a democracy. The folks in Texas and the South in general vote their politicians in... they like it that way. Sure, it's hell - from my point of view - but who am I to tell them how to vote? Look at how the South has voted for 150 years, and where did it get them? Where's all the economic, scientific and most cultural activity at? That's right - the coasts. And why is that? It's pretty plain why. I don't want to get into politics, which is why I'll leave it at this: the proof is in the pudding. East Germany and West Germany. North Korea and South Korea: same people, different systems... and what is the result? Same here: Red states (many in the South), and Blue states. Which ones are the economic engine and which are the basket cases living off the feds? At least the Germans and Koreans have the excuse of being forced. We don't. You don't like it? Vote. And if you vote based on bigotry and fear-mongering, well, you get the same results you had for the past 150 years. There are no "evil" politicians in a democracy - they are all voted in by the "good" people of the state, whichever state it may be. Long live democracy - and long live personal responsibility. Take ownership of the issues - "this land is your land". Peace

Wow. Didn't realize I'd spent my entire life living an economically backward, bigoted existence whilst sucking at the government teat. Guess the greed induced by my comparatively low cost of living must have blinded me to the truth.

 

[Sad Max]

The degree of gerrymandering to which much of the country is subjected, takes a lot of power away from the voters, in the interests of the political parties. There may be no tyrants dictating the way things are organized, but there are certainly powerful interests that will lie, cheat and worse, to make sure that the 'democratic' system is sufficiently tilted, to guarantee them what they want.

 

[ddp]

I'm sorry you read it this way - it certainly is not what I meant, and not what I wrote. It's not a jab at anyone - merely a plea to accept personal responsibility, instead of blaming some external factors... we humans are very skilled at finding scapegoats - the devil made me do it, the evil politician, my rotten parents, etc., etc., etc. I'm saying, in a democracy, we are responsible for the state of the union. We the voters, who vote in the "evil" politicians. Texas is the way it is because the voters wanted it that way, period. And so on for every state - and no, it's not a geographical issue... there are blue and red states in every region, not just "the coasts", and and within every state and city and neigborhood, there are "red" and "blue" voters. Our choices, our responsibility. If you or I don't like something - vote. We are ultimately responsible - there's no tyrant dictating to us how to organize society. And the results speak for themselves - just look at the statistics, no need for argument. Peace and respect to all

You wrote that you don't want to get "political" then you go about getting very stereo typical political. You have every right to your opinion but I'm just thinking that you might have gone a little far on the dvxuser pages.
Re-read your post, calling states "backwards" and saying coast states have "developed" is opening pandoras box.
Religon and politics is dangerous territory......
(I assume this thread will (should) get locked very soon....)

Respectfully,
DDP