Texas > California? Best Country Ever? Envy of the world?

[magickyleo101]

Apparently TEXAS is now the best state in the best country and therefore the best geographical region in the entire world!!!!!!






I've included a copy of the Texas pledge of allegiance, as I'm sure y'all now feel inspired to recite it:

Honor the Texas flag;
I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas,
one state under God,
one and indivisible.

Also, important facts you'll need to memorize in the near future:

The Texas State

• flower is the bluebonnet
• bird is the mockingbird
• small mammal is the Armadillo
• large mammal is the longhorn
• flying mammal is the Mexican Free-tailed bat
• cooking implement is the dutch oven
• state grass is the sideoats gramma
• state shrub is the crape myrtle
• state NATIVE shrub is the Texas Sage
• state stone is the petrified palmwood

But somewhat more seriously, do you guys think that influence is shifting within the United States? Not just in a Texas-California sense, but from areas that have traditionally been influential during much of the 20th century (e.g. Michigan, California) to areas that have been less influential (namely the South). What parts of the country are in decline and what parts are ascendant?

[Aetius]

Texas and the South (especially Georgia) are on the rise because of economic development and cheap land and stuff.

California is just stagnating or declining due to financial woes everywhere, but there is still huge potential.

Basically all the northwest is just stagnating as well.

East coast is still the heart of the country but the Rust Belt has almost rusted away lol.

Everyone is leaving the Midwest except farmers.

I do not enjoy (nationalistic?) Texans at all. As I Californian I find it hugely annoying. LONGHORNS!!! etc is stupid.

[Justinian]

I hate Texas.

[magickyleo101]

I hate Texas.

I suppose that if I too were from a lesser region my envy might slowly fester into hatred. So I understand. It's cool.


But, really, shifting geographical influence? Yes? No?



@ Aetius

I do not enjoy (nationalistic?) Texans at all. As I Californian I find it hugely annoying. LONGHORNS!!! etc is stupid.

It's usually tongue-in-cheek. And the "longhorns" thing is associated with a particular school, not the state as a whole.

[Justinian]

I suppose that if I too were from a lesser region my envy might slowly fester into hatred. So I understand. It's cool.


But, really, shifting geographical influence? Yes? No?

It depends what you're defining as "influence". Economic influence, it's New York and LA (in terms of cities); cultural influence, it's New York and LA. I think states are defined by the cities they contain and Dallas and Houston are not really that impressive. Sure, Texas has the strongest economy of any state, but that's due both to oil and the fact that Texas is part of the overall country organism -- its economic stats would dip severely if it wasn't part of the USA.

It's usually tongue-in-cheek.

As was my comment about hating Texas

[Visna]

Sure, Texas has the strongest economy of any state, but that's due both to oil and the fact that Texas is part of the overall country organism -- its economic stats would dip severely if it wasn't part of the USA.

I thought California had the best economy.
There's entertainment, defence AND computers in California. Can't get much better moneywise than that.

[Justinian]

I thought California had the best economy.
There's entertainment, defence AND computers in California. Can't get much better moneywise than that.

California had the largest economy until the financial crisis, when its economy started tanking and Texas overtook it.

EDIT: Actually, looking it up, CA is still #1.

[Fiyenyaa]

Apparently TEXAS is now the best state in the best country and therefore the best geographical region in the entire world!!!!!!

I'd love to know how you worked that out.

[Markas]

Texas is the Yorkshire of the US, so I guess I agree with the OP.

[Yorkshireman]

Texas is the Yorkshire of the US, so I guess I agree with the OP.

And they wear 10 gallon hats and we wear 10 gallon flat caps.

[Markas]

And they wear 10 gallon hats and we wear 10 gallon flat caps.

Yep.

They are the biggest state (alsaka doesn't count), we are the biggest county.

They have the yellow rose of Texas, we have the White rose.

They have a 'texan identity' and are culturally distinct and we like to think we do to.

They have irritating accents, as do we.

er...

[magickyleo101]

@ Fiyenyaa:

I'd love to know how you worked that out.

Pure, unquestionably sound, logic.

@ Justinian:

It depends what you're defining as "influence". Economic influence, it's New York and LA (in terms of cities); cultural influence, it's New York and LA. I think states are defined by the cities they contain and Dallas and Houston are not really that impressive. Sure, Texas has the strongest economy of any state, but that's due both to oil and the fact that Texas is part of the overall country organism -- its economic stats would dip severely if it wasn't part of the USA.

(1) I agree that NY and CA have long been very influential, but the question is whether that's changing.

(2) Why would you think that most of Texas's economy is due to oil? Maybe it was 30 years ago, but I really don't think there's a ton of basis for saying that now.

(3) Yes, Texas would be far worse off it it wasn't part of the US, but what state isn't that true of? Surely it's the same for NY and CA.

[C-Rob]

i suppose there's shifting influence, though i have no idea why anyone would be influenced by Texas, of all the states out there- I'd rather point and laugh at it, pinching its cheek and saying, awwww, whenever a politician or thought came out of it.

[Cougar109]

Been to Texas several times in my life, never cared for it.

[Boyar Son]

i cant believe people actually give a . FL> 47 other continental states..the 2 others are just territories..

[chamaeleo]

I just spent my weekend backpacking in northern New Mexico, where about 90% of all the vehicles we saw were oversized white pickups hauling ATVs, trailers, RVs, etc...guess what plates they all displayed. The entire town of Red River is but a Texan colony, complete with kick-ass steakhouse "Texas Red's", BIG-butted tourists, XL 4000 ft2 vacation "cabins", ubiquitous Bud-lite cans, 10 gallon hats, and the noise that comes with it all. I appreciate the infusion of rich tourist dollars into our economy, but damn, could you be a little less obnoxious? The Coloradans are pretty civil, it's not hard...

Ascending Mt Wheeler (13,161') we passed up an exhausted trio of Texans from Amarillo who you could hear all up and down the valley. Despite their huge pot-bellies, they made it. I've got a priceless picture of the biggest & loudest, arms outstretched atop the summit, screaming "TEXAS!!!" Gotta admire their determination!

CA and TX share another thing: they both assume that they're the center of the universe, and the brightest shining star on the flag. Believe what you want, makes no difference to me. I live in your playground! Please, just don't abuse the facilities.

[magickyleo101]

I just spent my weekend backpacking in northern New Mexico, where about 90% of all the vehicles we saw were oversized white pickups hauling ATVs, trailers, RVs, etc...guess what plates they all displayed. The entire town of Red River is but a Texan colony, complete with kick-ass steakhouse "Texas Red's", BIG-butted tourists, XL 4000 ft2 vacation "cabins", ubiquitous Bud-lite cans, 10 gallon hats, and the noise that comes with it all. I appreciate the infusion of rich tourist dollars into our economy, but damn, could you be a little less obnoxious? The Coloradans are pretty civil, it's not hard...

Ascending Mt Wheeler (13,161') we passed up an exhausted trio of Texans from Amarillo who you could hear all up and down the valley. Despite their huge pot-bellies, they made it. I've got a priceless picture of the biggest & loudest, arms outstretched atop the summit, screaming "TEXAS!!!" Gotta admire their determination!

CA and TX share another thing: they both assume that they're the center of the universe, and the brightest shining star on the flag. Believe what you want, makes no difference to me. I live in your playground! Please, just don't abuse the facilities.

[eddy_purpus]

yes!
Texas is the big lone star state , therefore im a Texan if yall like me or not !

[eddy_purpus]

I heard Texas is very racist against Mexicans.

Actually no...
Mexicans are "redundant" if that is the word.. and Texas is softer on the races...
They dont have that many africans there though.

There's this myth that people in Texas are really racist towards either a) recent immigrants or b) hispanic people generally, but I've usually found that not to be the case. Certainly here, as everywhere, there are racist morons who make everyone look bad, but there's a long history of hispanic people playing an important role in Texas that I don't think exists elsewhere. My experience working in the Texas legislature suggests that, at the very least, there's really not a lot of racism at the highest levels.

Really, the heart of the fired-up anti-immigration movement is in places like Colorado and California. The southern half of Texas has always been heavily infused with Mexican cultrue and most people I know are perfectly comfortable with that.

That myth is the biggest lie i have ever heard.

meh California at its worst still pwns Texas at its best.

At least we dont have a big ass deficit ...
We pay less for a home and ours is bigger.
We are not racist as you californianans are.
The county is the most peaceful places in US .
Good climate <3..
Girls !

I hate Texas.

You hate yourself that is

[manofarms89]

Actually no...
Mexicans are "redundant" if that is the word.. and Texas is softer on the races...
They dont have that many africans there though.

ill give you that, Texas has become a lot more Mexican friendly

That myth is the biggest lie i have ever heard.

again: http://amath.colorado.edu/carnegie/l...ch/migrant.htm

At least we dont have a big ass deficit ...

and as I said before we are still one of the largest economies

We pay less for a home and ours is bigger.

thats what happens when you live in a giant plain that nobody moves to

We are not racist as you californianans are.

we are probably the most multicultural state in the union

The county is the most peaceful places in US .

you've never been to Yosemite have you?

Good climate <3..

ive found the weather more preferable in Arizona then to Texas. you guys get hurricanes and tornadoes

Girls !

. thanks to all the different kinds of people that live here we have one of the best varieties in the nation