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I was born in Texas and lived the first part of my adult life there. All of my family still lives there. But many years ago, I decamped for Seattle (before th

I was born in Texas and lived the first part of my adult life there. All of my family still lives there. But many years ago, I decamped for Seattle (before the tech boom really got started here) and, bluntly, I'm never going back. I wish everyone who is moving to Texas the best of luck and truly hope you succeed. But if you think moving to Dallas or Austin or Houston and putting a Beto sign on your front window is anywhere near comparable, I disagree a great deal. Putting aside the politics, weather, and economic structure of Texas, the "mystical ethos" of Texas is the thing that really gets me, and I had to leave the state before I could get a good vision of it. The pervasive myth of Texas being larger-than-life, exemplified by the "I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could" and persistently quoting "you may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas" is really something, and it seeps into everything. It's like taking American exceptionalism and raising it several more notches.

tomatofarmer 5y ago
Robert O'Rourke is a billionaire who already scammed El Paso. Texas is too smart for him, even though he's backed by NYC donors and Hollywood.
- dillondoyle 5y ago
  Source? He released 10 years of tax returns [1], showing modestly high income. His disclosures in Congress - which he would be breaking the law if he lied about, e.g. Trump potential fraud - show higher net with real estate holdings. [2] Still probably 8 digitals starting with a $1 or less. There are sources that says his father in law is worth $500mm. If you think the father in law will give the couple all his net worth that would put in maybe half way there generously based on that info. But that still doesn't compute with what you said even if misleading. [3] [4] [1] https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/15/texas-beto-orourke-2020-presidential-candidate-releases-tax-returns/ https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/15/texas-beto-orourke-2... [2] https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/net-worth?cid=N00033540 https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/net-worth?cid=... [3] https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/mar/14/club-growth/no-beto-orourkes-father-law-did-not-buy-him-his-co/ https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/mar/14/club-growt... [4] https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2018/11/04/is-beto-orourkes-wife-really-a-billionaire-heiress-not-likely/?sh=335affa0387f https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2018/11/04/is...
  - tomatofarmer 5y ago
    My source is the 2018 senate election. Robert was defeated despite overwhelming publicity from out of state sources, and being backed by a father in law that 'conservatively' has a 500mm net worth (as of 2 years ago, during which time the S&P 500 has nearly doubled). Texas was too smart for him.
    - igetspam 5y ago
      "Too smart" is a very subjective statement. We have Abbott and I'd argue that anyone who voted for him is mostly braindead. Beto isn't my dream leader but at least he's not openly hostile to anyone but a very specific type brand of crazy/religious extreme.
      - tomatofarmer 5y ago
        The article is about how many people are moving to Texas. Abbott must not be too hostile.
        igetspam 5y ago
        He's openly hostile. He's specifically told people coming from CA to not "blow it" when they get here. He makes regular threats against Austin for calling him out on being a hypocrite and trying to overstep authority. Can't help it if people don't pay attention. It's genuinely harder to see until you're in the middle of it though.
        dillondoyle 5y ago
        And hostile depends heavily on your perspective. If you are a woman who values access to healthcare, specifically abortion, he is very hostile to your wellbeing and interests. But there are plenty of others who feel the exact opposite in Texas since obviously he is elected. Just brushing aside for a different thread arguing about lopsided representation lol.
    - dillondoyle 5y ago
jjtheblunt 5y ago
Do you mean you found it weird, and plainly annoying? In graduate school in Illinois, there was a guy from Texas, and he couldn't stop telling us (mostly europeans, but i'm from chicago) how Texas is better than everything. We didn't understand. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
systemvoltage 5y ago
I haven't lived in Seattle but close - Portland and has more similarity to Seattle than differences. > In 2017 Portland ranked third. Now it has dropped to 66th out of 80. [1] I am glad I got out. The entire west coast needs less Seattle chadzone, Portland protests, LA homelessness, SF crime and Berkeley wokeness. The great thing about America is that we have states competing with each other and keeping in check. My hope is that west coast will become better in next decade after some self-introspection. I love the west coast and it is sad to see the decline :-( [1] https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/06/12/portland-was-once-a-byword-for-tattooed-vegan-microbrewers https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/06/12/portland-...
- seanmcdirmid 5y ago
  All the west coast cities (what you mentioned + Vancouver BC) have roughly the same boom town problems, and, to be honest, have always had them. Hobos hopping trains for LA or SF in the 1920s, skid row being a term invented somewhere in either Seattle, Vancouver, or Portland circa the late 1800s as a place where the logs were skid up to the saw mill, and the muddiest ickiest place for someone (only the destitute) to live, etc... > My hope is that west coast will become better in next decade after some self-introspection. I love the west coast and it is sad to see the decline :-( The west coast is the way it is because they've always been boom towns. You could say "I hope Seattle learns it lessons!" when it has grown 25% in the last decade, there just isn't the feedback for that. And from this perspective, the west coast has been in decline since the mid 19th century. I'm actually glad it isn't perfect, or it would attract even more people!
Aloha 5y ago
I went the opposite way, I grew up in California, and lived in Seattle for 12 yeas, and I was miserable there. I moved to Texas in 2019, and I love it. I'm happier here, the weather suits me more, the warmth and openness of the people suits better too. The mythos of the state is both taken very seriously and a huge joke, even by native sons, we all poke fun at it, yet give it credence. I want to change the economic and political structure of the state, many folks here do, we're neither screaming liberals, nor very conservative either, when I can actually get folks to visit here, they're surprised by what they find, its not what they expect, and they usually like it, even if they dont want to live here (usually the weather does not suit them).
bradlys 5y ago
This sums up the feeling I had when visiting Texas and why the only reason Texas tempts me is because of economic reasons and that’s it. I noticed how often the lone star was everywhere. And I kept getting this feeling - “people think a little too highly of Texas and themselves here for being in Texas…” That damn lone star is so common that it shows up in god damn furniture sets. How often are you getting a set of furniture where an apple is prominently featured in every piece because you’re buying something in Washington state?
- pwinnski 5y ago
  Texans love Texas like Kanye loves Kanye.
kcplate 5y ago
It’s funny to me that I see some comments talking about moving to Texas for the economic reasons, that also seem to follow up with commentary about changing the political landscape.

tomatofarmer 5y ago

Robert O'Rourke is a billionaire who already scammed El Paso. Texas is too smart for him, even though he's backed by NYC donors and Hollywood.

dillondoyle 5y ago
Source? He released 10 years of tax returns [1], showing modestly high income. His disclosures in Congress - which he would be breaking the law if he lied about, e.g. Trump potential fraud - show higher net with real estate holdings. [2] Still probably 8 digitals starting with a $1 or less. There are sources that says his father in law is worth $500mm. If you think the father in law will give the couple all his net worth that would put in maybe half way there generously based on that info. But that still doesn't compute with what you said even if misleading. [3] [4] [1] https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/15/texas-beto-orourke-2020-presidential-candidate-releases-tax-returns/ https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/15/texas-beto-orourke-2... [2] https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/net-worth?cid=N00033540 https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/net-worth?cid=... [3] https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/mar/14/club-growth/no-beto-orourkes-father-law-did-not-buy-him-his-co/ https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/mar/14/club-growt... [4] https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2018/11/04/is-beto-orourkes-wife-really-a-billionaire-heiress-not-likely/?sh=335affa0387f https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2018/11/04/is...
- tomatofarmer 5y ago
  My source is the 2018 senate election. Robert was defeated despite overwhelming publicity from out of state sources, and being backed by a father in law that 'conservatively' has a 500mm net worth (as of 2 years ago, during which time the S&P 500 has nearly doubled). Texas was too smart for him.
  - igetspam 5y ago
    "Too smart" is a very subjective statement. We have Abbott and I'd argue that anyone who voted for him is mostly braindead. Beto isn't my dream leader but at least he's not openly hostile to anyone but a very specific type brand of crazy/religious extreme.
    - tomatofarmer 5y ago
      The article is about how many people are moving to Texas. Abbott must not be too hostile.
      - igetspam 5y ago
        He's openly hostile. He's specifically told people coming from CA to not "blow it" when they get here. He makes regular threats against Austin for calling him out on being a hypocrite and trying to overstep authority. Can't help it if people don't pay attention. It's genuinely harder to see until you're in the middle of it though.
        dillondoyle 5y ago
        And hostile depends heavily on your perspective. If you are a woman who values access to healthcare, specifically abortion, he is very hostile to your wellbeing and interests. But there are plenty of others who feel the exact opposite in Texas since obviously he is elected. Just brushing aside for a different thread arguing about lopsided representation lol.
  - dillondoyle 5y ago

jjtheblunt 5y ago

Do you mean you found it weird, and plainly annoying? In graduate school in Illinois, there was a guy from Texas, and he couldn't stop telling us (mostly europeans, but i'm from chicago) how Texas is better than everything. We didn't understand. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

systemvoltage 5y ago

I haven't lived in Seattle but close - Portland and has more similarity to Seattle than differences. > In 2017 Portland ranked third. Now it has dropped to 66th out of 80. [1] I am glad I got out. The entire west coast needs less Seattle chadzone, Portland protests, LA homelessness, SF crime and Berkeley wokeness. The great thing about America is that we have states competing with each other and keeping in check. My hope is that west coast will become better in next decade after some self-introspection. I love the west coast and it is sad to see the decline :-( [1] https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/06/12/portland-was-once-a-byword-for-tattooed-vegan-microbrewers https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/06/12/portland-...

seanmcdirmid 5y ago
All the west coast cities (what you mentioned + Vancouver BC) have roughly the same boom town problems, and, to be honest, have always had them. Hobos hopping trains for LA or SF in the 1920s, skid row being a term invented somewhere in either Seattle, Vancouver, or Portland circa the late 1800s as a place where the logs were skid up to the saw mill, and the muddiest ickiest place for someone (only the destitute) to live, etc... > My hope is that west coast will become better in next decade after some self-introspection. I love the west coast and it is sad to see the decline :-( The west coast is the way it is because they've always been boom towns. You could say "I hope Seattle learns it lessons!" when it has grown 25% in the last decade, there just isn't the feedback for that. And from this perspective, the west coast has been in decline since the mid 19th century. I'm actually glad it isn't perfect, or it would attract even more people!

Aloha 5y ago

I went the opposite way, I grew up in California, and lived in Seattle for 12 yeas, and I was miserable there. I moved to Texas in 2019, and I love it. I'm happier here, the weather suits me more, the warmth and openness of the people suits better too. The mythos of the state is both taken very seriously and a huge joke, even by native sons, we all poke fun at it, yet give it credence. I want to change the economic and political structure of the state, many folks here do, we're neither screaming liberals, nor very conservative either, when I can actually get folks to visit here, they're surprised by what they find, its not what they expect, and they usually like it, even if they dont want to live here (usually the weather does not suit them).

bradlys 5y ago

This sums up the feeling I had when visiting Texas and why the only reason Texas tempts me is because of economic reasons and that’s it. I noticed how often the lone star was everywhere. And I kept getting this feeling - “people think a little too highly of Texas and themselves here for being in Texas…” That damn lone star is so common that it shows up in god damn furniture sets. How often are you getting a set of furniture where an apple is prominently featured in every piece because you’re buying something in Washington state?

pwinnski 5y ago
Texans love Texas like Kanye loves Kanye.

kcplate 5y ago

It’s funny to me that I see some comments talking about moving to Texas for the economic reasons, that also seem to follow up with commentary about changing the political landscape.