Why Texas is Booming: How Low Taxes & Small Government are Transforming the Lone Star State
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"A state like this where you see so much growth and so much change...having a limited government apparatus on top of that and a robust private sector has been really good for us," says Erica Grieder, senior editor of Texas Monthly and author of the book Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right: What America Can Learn from the Strange Genius of Texas. "For the past 10 to 12 years, every economic metric you look at is better than the country as a whole—is better than what you see in most states—and is also pretty broad-based." Texas has done so well economically, that in October 2013 TIME Magazine declared Texas was the country's future. Grieder credits what she calls the "Texas model"—a limited government apparatus based on low taxes and low services—for the Lone Star State's economic success. Between June 2009 and June 2011, Texas created 40 percent of America's new net jobs. In that period, Texas saw a net population migration of 110,000 people—making it the fastest growing state in the country. But the solid growth of the Texas economy didn't stop critics like Paul Krugman of The New York Times from attacking the data and dismissing the state's performance as myth. "The critique of it I was really surprised by, especially when the country was not doing that well. I would think you would at least stop to check the numbers first," says Grieder, who believes criticism of the Texas model is rooted in negative political attitudes toward a state that is largely Republican. "People have this feeling of Texas, [that] it can't possibly be doing well. It's this sort of belligerent state, or not that smart of a state, or whatever their perceptions may be." The state's explosive growth and changing demographics (Hispanics are expected to outnumber the state's White population by 2020) have made Texas a valuable prize on the electoral map. Democrat strategists—and even President Barack Obama—have expressed the goal of turning Texas blue in coming election cycles. But Grieder doesn't think that change will come any time soon. "So far we're not seeing the Democrats putting out the candidates or campaigns or really the message," she states. "The Republicans aren't either which is kind of interesting. Given how well the state has done I've been surprised how the state Republican Party in this last set of primaries is just focused on issues that nobody cares about." While Grieder says she has seen a surprising resurgence of the religious right in the latest round of primaries, the turn toward the Christian conservative movement is not indicative of mainstream Texans. "I think that a lot of Texas Republicans—a lot of Texans in general—are sort of quasi-libertarian or tacitly libertarian because of the issues they prioritize," says Grieder. "I think that the social conservative movement is intrinsically at odds with the libertarian side of the party, but if those issues aren't advanced from the social conservative side then you don't see that tension become so manifest." Approximately 8:00 minutes. Produced by Alexis Garcia. Shot by Paul Detrick and Todd Krainin. Visit http://reason.com for full text, links, downloadable versions, and more. Subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube channel for automatic notifications when new material goes live.
Comments
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MILF
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Bill Clinton Obama and Hillary chased all your jobs away so when you are having hard time finding work thank them
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Delaware is not much better al the manufacturing has been chased away or regulated out of business college kids get to dip ice cream at mall or work at the Jack in th box.For those that are only in twentys you grew uip with a broken country so you dont know things used to be good jobs were everywher so may they were always looking for workers. Thanks to Bill Clinton Obama and Hillary
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Omg! You guys are so selfish wanting to keep the money you made to yourselves. As a citizen, I should be entitled to your money and you should pay for my college education, housing, and any other mistakes I make down the line. Anyone whoever disagrees with me is obviously a heartless conservative.
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i am the only socialist in texas. nice
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Local taxes are extremely high in Texas. My mother pays $3000 a year in property taxes on a $150000 house.
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I've also had more shit stolen from me here than I've ever had anywhere else. Texans will steal the draws off your ass if you aren't careful.
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Guys please don't believe the women in this video. Texas has the highest rate of uninsured. It has the highest percentage of people who work full time and who still qualify for government aid (housing, food stamps, etc.) the wages are just that low. Many of the employers here have 'We Use E-Verify' on their front doors and they hire nothing but illegals. They use temp agencies to knowingly hire illegals. The executives are all white and they will hire a Hispanic hr director who hires all Hispanic managers and they in turn request nothing but Hispanic employees. Lots of racism. The locals casually use racial epithets. I've never heard so many racial insults against blacks ad Hispanics in my life. Texas fought against Obamacare when it has the highest rate of uninsured. Damn near impossible to see a doctor. I still don't know why the wages are so freaking low. No one can tell me. Funny they hate the federal government but are all trying to work for it because of the wages and benefits.
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I almost forgot to mention I've had to fight continuously for my wages in Texas. The businesses commit wage theft big time. Texas is a ruthless state where workers are closer to slaves.
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Don't believe this woman. Texas is hell on earth and many texans are highly racist and highly bigoted. Look at how they treated the family of the boy in irving tx they thought had a clock bomb. His family had to leave the country. Texans hate blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, immigrants, gays, the federal government, and Yankees. They are GOOD at hate. It's also difficult to find a job with health benefits as well. Temp agencies are the only ways to get hired on at most companies. Texas Instruments keep people temp for years. My friend just went permanent. He was a temp for 8 years there. At&t is the same. Plus they hire illegals here. Neiman Printing in Dallas hires illegals through results staffing. Power packaging hires illegals too. Many companies do. Texas businesses exploit people.
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Texans has the lowest wages. I mean, a lot of people I know are struggling in this state. The wages are rock bottom and the way the employers treat people is awful. Employees are very vulnerable in Texas. I have seen so many people walk off jobs here. I've walked off several. Because of disrespect and abusive employers. Texas is like another country. Their style of doing business is RUTHLESS.
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I've struggled more financially since moving to Texas than I've ever struggled in my life. I'm college educated with a degree in finance. I live in Dallas Fort Worth. All I've been able to find here is customer service and call center. In each of those positions I'm surrounded by educated african Americans and Hispanics. Where are the educated whites? Working in great positions. Being trained with no experience to do jobs they tell blacks we have to have experience to do. So minorities struggle. BIG TIME. Texas is ran by rednecks. Most of them highly racist. I have friends who tell me what their managers say about blacks. It's hard here and I can't wait to leave. Texas is great if you're white. If you're not - not so much,
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I am for individual rights and rest follows ayn rand was right
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I'm a Conservative Libertarian. My personal views are very far-right Conservative, Christian, however, my view of government is very much Libertarian. I believe the only legitimate role of government is to protect the people's rights to their own person and property and punish criminals who infringe on those rights of others. Basically, you shouldn't be able to murder, rape, steal, commit fraud, or otherwise infringe on another individual's right to their own person or property. Other than that, the government should stay out of people's lives and the people should be free to live their lives as they see fit. The government protects against these few infringements of people's rights through law enforcement, a judicial system, and a military. Everything else should be left to the people to decide for themselves. I think we should eliminate all illegitimate roles that government has undertaken, use that revenue to pay off government debt, and then eliminate the tax code and replace it with a singe flat consumption tax (like a universal sales tax) that is the same rate for everyone. That should be the extent of government involvement in the economy. There should be a completely free market economy with no additional taxes on businesses or the more wealthy. There should be no government regulations and businesses should only be subject to the free market. These are my views of government. Personally, I believe people should be Christian and we should have a society based on a foundation of Judeo-Christian morals and principles. However, it is absolutely not the role of government to enforce this in any way, shape, or form. This is the role of Christians to promote through persuasion. People are free to believe and do what they please so long as they don't infringe on that same right of others. You can persuade people to change their views, but you are not allowed to force them on others.
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A "blue state"? HELL NO! NEVER! Libertarian/Conservatives will always advance Texas. Liberal Democrats and watered down social country club Establishment republicans have No place in the major political decision making for Texas or Texans overall. Govenor Perry and now Govenor Abbott ROCK!
And in 2016, PRESIDENT TED CRUZ! Get used to saying it! -
This has got to be a joke. Most jobs are low paying ones, and the companies are NOT headquartered in Texas, they're HQ'd in California and New York and have satellite offices in the cities. For being the state with the second highest population in the country!! that is not being very innovative or having an impact on the rest
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The job growth is a joke, mostly low and part time jobs.
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This is why people are fleeing liberal states by the hundreds of thousands and pouring into conservative states. This country was built on low taxes, low regulation, and FREEDOM. This new wave of democrats are ruining this country.
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I want to discuss this with the suit and the pin one day.
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Economics aside, I'd fuck both these bitches. Together.
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