# Reluctantly — Fuck Texas **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 19, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289 "2021-02-19T14:59:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/141 "2021-02-22T00:59:49Z")
(Warning! Graphic Content! Autoplaying video that features Ted Cruz!! You can stop it if you’re quick on the draw.) " Texas power providers Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Entergy Corporation have been hit with a $100 million lawsuit accusing them of gross negligence in the death of a child whose family suspects he suffered hypothermia when they lost electricity and heat in their mobile home during a [historic cold snap](https://abcnews.go.com/US/storm-moves-south-heavy-snow-ice-tornado-threat/story?id=75941504). The mother of 11-year-old Cristian Pineda filed the wrongful death lawsuit in Jefferson County District Court, alleging the utility giants “put profits over the welfare of people” by ignoring previous recommendations to winterize its power grid, which sustained an epic failure last week and left more than 4 million customers without heat and electricity as temperatures in some parts of the state plunged to single digits." > **[Family of 11-year-old boy who died in Texas deep freeze files $100 million...](https://abcnews.go.com/US/family-11-year-boy-died-texas-deep-freeze/story?id=76030082)** > > The family of 11-year-old Cristian Pineda, who died in his Texas home after the power was cut off, has filed $100M suit against power companies ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/142 "2021-02-22T03:44:13Z")
[https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/skyrocketing-electric-bills-are-top-priority-texas-governor-says/ar-BB1dSPRE?li=BBnb7Kz](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/skyrocketing-electric-bills-are-top-priority-texas-governor-says/ar-BB1dSPRE?li=BBnb7Kz) Now he looks to shelter people from the free market when it doesn’t go their way. Or when they scream bloody murder and blame him. Or rather, he looks to seem like he’s doing something other than stall and deflect the blame to the democrats. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/143 "2021-02-22T06:20:00Z")
_"_"_Now he looks to shelter people from the free market when it doesn’t go their way. Or when they scream bloody murder and blame him._ _Or rather, he looks to seem like he’s doing something other than stall and deflect the blame to the democrats._"\*\* ( Heavily lamentive sigh, burying head in hands ) Such big brilliant dots to connect. So easy to see them connectable. Knowing that they’ll be studiously ignored. ( Long deep, gruff sigh ) ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/144 "2021-02-22T15:34:19Z")
I’m not trying to defend Texas. It sucks here. Just pointing out that it is not one of the poor red states that are derided for not contributing, only taking. You seem to like to just attack everyone. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/145 "2021-02-22T15:48:55Z")
[The CFO of Texas considers that a _failing_.](https://thetexan.news/texas-ranks-29th-for-reliance-on-federal-funding/) > In a statement to _The Texan_ , Comptroller Glenn Hegar said, “Texas has always had an independent spirit, so it’s no surprise that we are less dependent on the Federal Government than the majority of states.” > > “However, as the CFO for Texas, **I remain concerned that Texas continues to be a donor state with Texas taxpayers sending more tax dollars to Washington than we get back.** But we also have important partnerships with Federal institutions that are key to the state and national economy as well as national security,” he continued. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/146 "2021-02-22T16:09:19Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Them dad gum byoo-ruh-crats up in WARshington! Mocking non-prestige dialects is not a good look. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/147 "2021-02-22T16:43:25Z")
Don Jr. issued an explanation. The left wing mob distorted his words, he was encouraging his fans to stop picking on Cruz in order to attack Democratic governors of states that aren’t Texas, because …socialism? I think the traitor tot has a point. It’s the new Republican legal theory. Post-election, a couple of voters were named as plaintiffs in an election lawsuit. They claimed they were injured because their absentee ballots were not counted by Republican election officials in a Republican county because they made mistakes and they were not notified and given an opportunity to cure those mistakes. The judge was actually with them up until this point, agreeing that the right to vote is an important civil right and the plaintiffs indeed suffered an injury. But then, the New Republican Legal Theory took the case into the surreal. The plaintiffs did not sue the officials that caused the injury by failing to notify them of defects in their ballots. Instead, they sued the Democratic officials in Democratic counties that _allowed_ voters to fix defective ballots, under the theory that it was unfair of them to protect the civil rights of their residents if their own officials didn’t protect theirs. They argued that the fair remedy was to deprive _ **everyone** _ of their civil rights, since theirs were violated. This reasoning, had it been accepted, could’ve turned civil rights litigation on its head. If a black suspect was hit in the head with a nightstick during an arrest, the civil rights remedy would not be centered on investigating and punishing the cops. Instead, someone would be tasked with finding every suspect arrested without incident and hitting them all in the head with a nightstick. Fairness! The Constitution! I think that is where he is heading. The problem is not the Republican officials that didn’t care if the residents of their state had power and running water. The problem is the governors of the socialist states, states that feel obliged to maintain and regulate the infrastructure that provides electricity and running water to their taxpayers. Their residents were, for the most part, warm and hydrated during the storm. Which was totally unfair to the freeze-dried residents of Texas. By acting competently. Democratic governors deprived the residents of Texas of their civil rights, their right for other people not to get something you don’t have. Because it’s like elementary school and gum, you don’t get to have gum unless you brought enough for everyone. So the Democratic governors egregiously violated the civil rights of Texans by governing competently. Republican math has grown-up and given birth to Republican legal theory. Fairness! The Constitution! ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/148 "2021-02-22T16:48:39Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Instead, they sued the Democratic officials in Democratic counties that _allowed_ voters to fix defective ballots, under the theory that it was unfair of them to protect the civil rights of their residents if their own officials didn’t protect theirs. They argued that the fair remedy was to deprive _ **everyone** _ of their civil rights, since theirs were violated. “My client is invoking the _Dog in a Manger_ clause of the Constitution, your Honor.” “I am astounded you can maintain a straight face when saying that, counselor.” ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/149 "2021-02-22T16:56:58Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [The CFO of Texas considers that a _failing_.](https://thetexan.news/texas-ranks-29th-for-reliance-on-federal-funding/) It’s also no longer true. It’s not by much but Texas takes in more federal money than it pays in taxes and this has been the case for a few years. That’s some sloppy reporting not to fact check it. And inexcusable for the state’s comptroller either not to know it or to lie about it. It is true that there’s less reliance on federal money in Texas than several other states but this wasn’t the kind of statement laden with conditionals. It was just flat wrong as stated. ---
**Author:** ![SoToasty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sotoasty/32/2803_2.png) [@SoToasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoToasty)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/150 "2021-02-22T17:25:01Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > It’s also no longer true. It’s not by much but Texas takes in more federal money than it pays in taxes and this has been the case for a few years. God forbid you make me say anything good about Texas (Razorback here), but I checked the link above, and the “MoneyGeek” site it references. That site shows that Texas gets back $0.88 for every dollar sent to the US govt (Last updated 2-8-2021 but I am not sure what was updated). So that would make it a donor state. Maybe I am missing something? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/151 "2021-02-22T17:50:56Z")
> [@SoToasty](#): > > So that would make it a donor state. Maybe I am missing something? It depends on how you count the numbers. Their numbers deliberately excluded Medicare payments (!) because they couldn’t be collected for every state. That already skews the figures. The numbers most people cite are from the Rockefeller Institute of SUNY. From there, [this study](https://rockinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1-22-20-Balance-of-Payments.pdf) has Texas taking in $1.05 for every $1.00 that goes out to the federal government. That flipped over a few years ago ([study](https://rockinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2017-09-28_Balance-of-Payments-Report.pdf) from the same institute). I’m not saying the $0.88 figure is wrong, but how the number is calculated matters a great deal and that page acknowledges it doesn’t tell the whole story. ---
**Author:** ![SoToasty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sotoasty/32/2803_2.png) [@SoToasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoToasty)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/152 "2021-02-22T17:57:34Z")
That’s the info I was looking for, thanks ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/153 "2021-02-22T17:58:46Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I’m increasingly enraged by the fundamental governing philosophy of this state — “Go get yours. You didn’t or can’t? Fuck you then.” Well, Texas is a very red, Right Wing dominated state, and that’s exactly their philosophy. You, and I mean all of you Texans, could vote in a blue, people oriented government, but you will not. So, whom, EXACTLY, is ultimately the blame for all of this? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/154 "2021-02-22T18:10:46Z")
Hey, everyone should be fair. It’s only _most_ Texans that are stupid and evil. There are decent people in Texas, and we should have pity for them. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/155 "2021-02-22T18:12:57Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > You, and I mean all of you Texans, could vote in a blue, people oriented government, but you will not. So, whom, EXACTLY, is ultimately the blame for all of this? And many do, at least in the cities. And then the Republicans do things like gerrymander the heck out of districts - one of the districts that covers Austin extends out to Houston and another extends out to Mexico. And enact voter suppression measures. So, um…the GOP is to blame? It’s a race between the new generation of voters coming into their own and getting enough voter suppression in place to prevent that. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/156 "2021-02-22T18:40:16Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > ( Heavily lamentive sigh, burying head in hands ) > > Such big brilliant dots to connect. So easy to see them connectable. Knowing that they’ll be studiously ignored. > > ( Long deep, gruff sigh ) Perhaps you missed the part where he has _already_ blamed the failure on green energy, and how it is proof that green energy (being forced by the democrats) will be a continued disaster for Texas? Would you like me to link it? ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/157 "2021-02-22T19:29:51Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Perhaps you missed the part where he has _already_ blamed the failure on green energy, and how it is proof that green energy (being forced by the democrats) will be a continued disaster for Texas? > > Would you like me to link it? I believe you misread or misinterpreted my post. I was strongly implying that he fabricated a BS reason for this debacle even though he damned well knew it was of their own making. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/158 "2021-02-23T16:24:39Z")
My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/159 "2021-02-23T16:28:28Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Well, Texas is a very red, Right Wing dominated state, and that’s exactly their philosophy. You, and I mean all of you Texans, could vote in a blue, people oriented government, but you will not. So, whom, EXACTLY, is ultimately the blame for all of this? That reason is only as good as the effective voter suppression. What would the votes look like if the people in charge didn’t do all they could to make it hard to vote if you’re in a blue area? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/160 "2021-02-23T16:36:12Z")
What would it look like if the people in the state pushed back and did something about it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289.md?page=9)