# Screw Greg Abbott {Texas Governor} **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 2, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141 "2021-03-02T21:00:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 33
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/642 "2023-06-25T14:30:55Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > So, they’re supposed to sell the asset that enables them to get to work, but have to work in order to qualify for benefits? Yeah, that sounds about right. - There’s the unreliable and almost nonexistent public transit system. Depending on weather and terrain, there’s the always popular walking uphill both ways in the rain/snow option. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/643 "2023-06-25T16:13:40Z")
This is Texas. In Summer. So it’s walk uphill both ways in 120 degree heat. Without a water break. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/644 "2023-06-25T16:34:40Z")
15 grand? So if you’re poor and need benefits, you are bound to drive a piece of shit? Why, it’s almost as if Texas Republicans are trying to keep poor people poor. Three years ago I bought a new Chevy Equinox. This is not a Mercedes, not a Cadillac, not a Corvette. It is a run of the mill, middle of the road vehicle. It cost 40 grand, three years ago. I’ve said it before, and as they keep demonstrating it, I’ll say it again: Republicans are shitty people. ETA: You know those Ford F150s that all those Texas Cowboys drive? They _start_ at 42 grand. (The fancy ones start at well over a hundred grand.) > **[2023 Ford F-150® Truck | Pricing, Photos, Specs & More | Ford.ca](https://www.ford.ca/trucks/f150/)** > > With 8 trims, 6 engines & a multitude of package options, the possibilities are endless when designing your 2023 Ford F-150® Truck. Explore the new Raptor® R model, plus see seating & cab options. View pricing. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/645 "2023-06-25T18:49:28Z")
Well, it’s 22 grand now, but 15 grand in 2001 when the law was first passed. I think the idea is probably more that they don’t really like the idea that people would be paying a car note, and applying for public assistance at the same time. And I can’t say I disagree. If you’re in dire enough straits to need public assistance when you also have a car note, I don’t like the idea that my tax money would be subsidizing a nice ride for you, when you could drive a shittier car and pay more of your own share, and _that money would be available for others_ who need it more. The nominal dollar value is probably their threshold for identifying functional vs. frivolous in cars. Where they came up for that, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/646 "2023-06-25T19:01:52Z")
> [@bump](#): > > …applying for public assistance… But dammit, this is **FOOD** assistance! It’s not like this is cash that they can use to buy booze and lotto cards! It’s freakin’ GROCERIES. Grrrrr. SCREW GREG ABBOTT-- and his ilk! ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/647 "2023-06-25T19:02:07Z")
I see. It’s the whole “Why do they have smartphones if they’re so poor?” (I’d bet that the benefits cannot be used to make a car payment.) ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/648 "2023-06-25T19:19:37Z")
The entire point is to penalize poverty. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/649 "2023-06-25T19:56:52Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I don’t like the idea that my tax money would be subsidizing a nice ride for you, when you could drive a shittier car and pay more of your own share, and _that money would be available for others_ who need it more. One: The car was certainly bought before the need for assistance occurred. 2: A shittier car will be more likely to break down and repairs won’t be affordable. It likely gets worse gas mileage thus driving up the monthly bill. 3. If you don’t like subsidizing a decent car for a poor person, then you should be up in arms about million/billionaires _demanding_ and _getting_ massive tax breaks and tax shelters that they sure as hell don’t need. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/650 "2023-06-25T20:04:48Z")
> [@bump](#): > > And I can’t say I disagree. If you’re in dire enough straits to need public assistance when you also have a car note, I don’t like the idea that my tax money would be subsidizing a _ **nice ride** _ for you… Emphasis added. $22K, eh? You and I have vastly different ideas about what constitutes a nice ride. This policy is “know your place” cruelty, period. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/651 "2023-06-25T20:08:55Z")
Re the title of this thread. No thank you. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/652 "2023-06-25T20:11:18Z")
But the assistance has nothing to do with the car! This is about **FOOD STAMPS!** Story: _Texas lowers barrier for food stamps, but many still won’t qualify_ ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/653 "2023-06-25T21:12:45Z")
Have you checked say… Carmax lately? Within 75 miles of me, I could get a 2014 Ford Focus with 16k miles for 17k. Or a 2021 Nissan Sentra with 36k miles on it for $22k. Either of those are perfectly adequate for _anyone_. And I really don’t see why the taxpayers need to subsidize something nicer for someone. That’s the point- if someone gets a 27k car and applies for food stamps, the public is effectively subsidizing that car purchase., with the expectation that a cheaper car might make someone less reliant on public food assistance. If anything it’s punitive toward making stupid decisions, and I don’t have a problem with that. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/654 "2023-06-25T21:13:31Z")
Having a car note only means that you took a loan for the vehicle. It says nothing about the quality of the vehicle itself. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/655 "2023-06-25T21:16:50Z")
> [@bump](#): > > …why the taxpayers need to subsidize… Are you reading any of my posts? Taxpayers are not being asked to subsidize cars. This is about food stamps-- groceries. > [@bump](#): > > …if someone gets a 27k car and applies for food stamps, the public is effectively subsidizing that car purchase., with the expectation that a cheaper car might make someone less reliant on public food assistance. That is really a stretch! ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/656 "2023-06-25T21:33:52Z")
You think people are saying “hey, I’m going on food stamps, maybe I should buy a brand new car!” It’s the other way around - people buy a car when things are going well and then they’re stuck when it turns around. “Whaddaya mean, stuck?” Well, what would you call it if you’re sitting on a car worth $30K with $40K left on the loan? Too bad, so sad? Hey, just roll that $10K into that 2014 Ford Focus, so now you’re paying on a $27K loan for a car worth $17K, probably with a longer term and higher interest rate, given that the person now needs food aid. You’d be upside down on that car until the day it dies. I’d guess there are a lot of buy-here-pay-here car lots that are thrilled to have this provision in law. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/657 "2023-06-25T22:09:27Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Have you checked say… Carmax lately? > > Within 75 miles of me, I could get a 2014 Ford Focus with 16k miles for 17k. Or a 2021 Nissan Sentra with 36k miles on it for $22k. Whoa, I take it back. Those are sweet, sweet rides. That’s, like, Hollywood-level wheels… ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/658 "2023-06-25T22:21:04Z")
What I’m saying is that the state government is looking at it as a whole and saying that if you’ve got 500 for a car note, you _should_ only be paying 350 and putting the other 150 toward your own food, and refusing to subsize that car to whatever the food stamps cost per month. > [@SunUp](#): > > You think people are saying “hey, I’m going on food stamps, maybe I should buy a brand new car!” It’s the other way around - people buy a car when things are going well and then they’re stuck when it turns around. I sort of doubt that’s the main situation that is causing people to be over that threshold. And anyway, if you’re financially precarious enough that you might even _consider_ food stamps when times are bad, financing a 40k+ car is irresponsible, and again not something I’m interested in subsidizing as a rule. > [@Stratocaster](#): > > Whoa, I take it back. Those are sweet, sweet rides. That’s, like, Hollywood-level wheels… They’re perfectly fine for _anyone_. Certainly not shitty anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/659 "2023-06-25T22:26:11Z")
> [@bump](#): > > And anyway, if you’re financially precarious enough that you might even _consider_ food stamps when times are bad You can be in quite a stable financial position, and then lose your job and, hey presto, you need food stamps whether you have a car loan or not. Does the food stamp formula even look at what loan payments (car/credit card/house) you might have? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/660 "2023-06-25T22:30:16Z")
I doubt it; I’m guessing the car value threshold is a very rough proxy for that. They do look at your assets though, minus your home. You can’t have more than $5000 in non-home assets to be eligible. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141/661 "2023-06-25T22:32:17Z")
> [@bump](#): > > You can’t have more than $5000 in non-home assets to be eligible. And a “2014 Ford Focus with 16k miles for 17k. Or a 2021 Nissan Sentra with 36k miles on it for $22k” would be above or below that limit? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141.md?page=34)