TEXAS

"Berang" (berang) 11/08/2018 at 23:59 • Filed to: None

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politics/culture after the buffer image...

In Texas, even in Austin, you’ll hear plenty of complaints about Californians moving to Texas and “Californian-ing” the place up. Something else you’ll hear, although not very often, is another problem with yankee furriners. That is the people, mostly hard-right, republicans, who come to Texas because they’ve built up in their minds an image of what Texas “really is” - and then they come here to build that over what Texas really is.

I was not born in Texas. My personal connection to this state only goes back about 15 years, and I’ve only lived in Texas since 2009 . But my best friend since high school, has family here that have been here for generations. And he confirmed my thoughts about the death old old-school conservatism in this state, and rise of cheap-bullshit, chintzy, pretended-Texanism that has taken hold here over the past two decades or so. My coworker’s Father who is in his 80's, and has never left the state echoes these sentiments.

The people who think Alex Jones is an American hero - they come to Texas. Heck even Texas’ signature politicians, Ted Cruz and George W. Bush weren’t born in Texas. Their worshipers come to Texas - in search of a Texas that never existed. They’re here to build the new one. It’s this bunch that complains about Californians the loudest. It’s this bunch that’s scared of Mexicans (real Texans aren’t, they’ve lived in a state bordering Mexico their whole life - it doesn’t frighten them).

Older Texans don’t buy guns to show off how many guns they have, because they don’t believe owning more guns makes you more patriotic. Sure, you will have to pry their guns from their cold, dead hands, but their guns are just guns, tools, not symbols. It’s not something one brags about. Older Texans also generally aren’t afraid of Democrats, and don’t waste their breath whining about how politics has gone too far left. LBJ is still loved here.

It’s mostly yankees, who can’t deal with the reality of being yankees who come here and stupid the place up.

For Sweden > Berang 11/09/2018 at 00:28

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Immigrants voting for immigrants!

facw > Berang 11/09/2018 at 00:28

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Texas, even in Austin

I would say especially in Austin, given that Austin’s tech industry does actually attract out of state liberals (including me, briefly!). I never even got the chance to vote against Lamar Smith because I had left Austin by the 2014 mid-terms. I’m pretty pleased that he will no longer chair the House Science Committee though.

None of that challenges your general point though.

I do suspect your numbers are partly an indication the Beto pulled in more young voters. It’s natural that young voters will be more likely to have been born in TX, simply because they’ve had fewer opportunities to change where they live (not that they are all looking to flee TX, just that the older you are, the more moves you are likely to have made).

Berang > For Sweden 11/09/2018 at 00:29

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it’s funny because it’s true

wafflesnfalafel > Berang 11/09/2018 at 00:32

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that’s interesting - I would have guessed the opposite just shallowly stereo-typically .  So we have a significant number of socially conservative Californias moving to Texas?  

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > Berang 11/09/2018 at 00:33

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I’ve been in Texas for 22 years and agree with this 100%. I didn’t move here for some fake image of what Texas is or should be. I came here to marry a lifelong Texan (all my exes live in Texas, but I’m still here) and her family all pretty much echo this sentiment. I did find it interesting that Cruz went on about not making this California, when he’s really a Canadian/Cuban appropriating a more Anglo name to not appear too ethnic. He belongs in California.

Berang > wafflesnfalafel 11/09/2018 at 00:39

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It’s more midwesterners who imagine Texas to be super-ultra-red, anti-snow-flake state, and come here to be a midwesterner’s idea of a “badass”. By voting for shitty politicians, and saying and doing shitty things. Because that’s what they tell themselves “real Texans” do.

Berang > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 11/09/2018 at 00:41

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My mom is totally one who moved here for an imagined, ideal, never-existed Texas. I however did not. Funny enough, she wasn’t even born in the U.S. and lived maybe a quarter of her life in California to boot.

wafflesnfalafel > Berang 11/09/2018 at 00:43

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I remember when Texas was solid and proudly blue dog...

DipodomysDeserti > Berang 11/09/2018 at 00:45

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As someone who was born and raised in the Southwest (and a gun owner), I agree with everything you’ve written here. Well done.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Berang 11/09/2018 at 01:58

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Its not just Yankees that have yearned for a Texas that doesn't exist...

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > Berang 11/09/2018 at 02:05

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One thing I can say from growing up in Texas and living in Washington state for a while. Eastern Washington is way more conservative than pretty much anywhere in Texas.

Monkey B > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 11/09/2018 at 07:12

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He belongs in California.

He doesn’t belong anywhere...

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > Monkey B 11/09/2018 at 07:14

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Maybe we can ask Elon Musk to launch him into the sun for us?

WRXforScience > Berang 11/09/2018 at 08:36

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Ted Cruz was born in Canada (but he did grow up in the Houston suburbs) and George W. Bush is from Connecticut. Neither are from Texas, although W. really likes the cowboy cosplay and completely committed to the character.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Berang 11/09/2018 at 08:48

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That’s an interesting perspective. I am a 9th generation native Texan who’s been living outside of Texas for a variety of reasons, none having to do with politics. My family was here before Texas was a state. My wife’s family too. I have an ancestor who died defending the Alamo and another who carried the message to rally the troops. I guess you’d say I have some history here.

I completely agree with you about the guns. They are tools, not status symbols. I’ve seen exactly one AR-15 outside of a store and that wasn’t in Texas. After shooting it, I understand the appeal, but even the friend who owns it doesn’t use it for anything but target shooting. He uses a different rifle for hunting deer.

I haven’t been back in the state and interacting with the locals long enough to evaluate your criticisms. We’ve always complained about California and Colorado and how they are screwing up Austin. It’s just the way it’s always been. But now that you’ve made your assertion, I’ll have to start paying more attention. We’ve been looking forward to moving back home, but you’ve given me something to think about.

By the way, that survey is B.S. Being born in Texas has nothing to do with how long you’ve lived in Texas. In my case, I’ve now lived the same number of years in other states as I’ve lived in Texas. There are people I know who were born in other states who’ve lived in Texas much longer than I. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Berang 11/09/2018 at 09:00

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My Dad, who was born in Maine, moved to Texas for work. He could not belive the number of New E nglanders he encountered . His Lone Star Edition Ram plastered with Red Sox stickers drew a lot of attention. 

Tapas > Berang 11/09/2018 at 09:04

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This is true.

I’ve l ived in Texas for a few years.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever 11/09/2018 at 11:45

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Same goes for rural Oregon. Holy shit, people have an image of this state in their minds straight out of Portlandia. But head 30 mins in either direction outside the Willamette Valley and you’re in rain soaked back woods Alabama.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > WRXforScience 11/09/2018 at 11:47

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Would be funny if GWB pulled a Romney and ran for office in Connecticut someday. Think he’d ditch the cowboy hat and good ol’ boy talking style ?

Future next gen S2000 owner > Berang 11/09/2018 at 12:01

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Texas is too damned hot for me. I’ve met people from Texas and one guy I would consider a true Texan. They match up with your old school version of Texas. Speak softly, carry a big stick kinda thing. You do you and leave me the hell alone to do my thing sorta people.

Monkey B > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 11/09/2018 at 16:22

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I support this idea if y ou can fit the rest of the Fox news all stars in it.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > Monkey B 11/09/2018 at 18:33

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He launched a car, I’m sure he can launch a few politicians.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Berang 11/09/2018 at 22:04

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I imagine the appeal of Texas is similar to what Montana has become among several more conser ative babay boomers I know . Funny how out of the 2 signle guys and couple, that have moved, 2 returned within 18 months.