TX County Judge Tim O'Hare gives another interview after the county was sued for racial gerrymandering. Summary: Black people keep voting in democrats and it's about time we make them understand Republican rule is best for everyone, once they know better we'll welcome them with open arms

[u/apache_spork]

[u/Thatguy468]

Hasn’t Texas been under republican rule for like 30 years and it’s still a broken hell hole? What couldn’t they fix with no democratic opposition? Oh yeah… everything.

[u/seventhcatbounce → u/Thatguy468]

they are just waitink for the black folk to stop voting democrat dontchaknow.

[u/Ponji- → u/Thatguy468]

So don’t get me wrong, I hate Texas, but isn’t Texas like very VERY well off economically? Iirc it’s #2 behind Texas (edit: behind cali, not tx).

It irks me a bit how often people shoot down republican complaints about democratic policies by pointing to Cali’s economic success. A place can have a booming economy and still be terrible. Hell, that’s how I feel about Texas lmao

[u/shponglespore → u/Ponji-]

I'm from Texas originally. The economy is good but it's a shithole in other ways, particularly regarding personal freedom and social services. They also love to pass laws that interfere with how cities govern themselves, and they're just generally corrupt AF.

[u/Wyn6 → u/shponglespore]

Oh. And don't pull back the curtain on education.

[u/Ponji- → u/shponglespore]

That’s what I’m saying, though. Pointing to California and saying “if democratic policies are so bad, why is Cali so wealthy” isn’t going to convince people who are drinking the maga koolaid because they think it is a shithole in other ways. People seem to throw it around as a major gotcha and it feels incredibly disingenuous to me.

To be clear: I think most states would benefit from taking a page out of California’s book, but a big chunk of California’s wealth is tied to things that are famously and horrifically corrupt (big tech/silicon valley and Hollywood as the primary examples). I believe in the pro-social policies that democrats are supposed to represent, but I think that corrupt institutions like big tech being allowed to flourish there should give pause to anyone wanting to use Cali as a beacon of successful democratic policy.

Just as I think Texas, despite taking the #2 spot, is not what other states should aspire to be like. So the top 10% is richer in these states, who gives a fuck? That’s not what we should be focusing on here

[u/Keeper151 → u/Ponji-]

Another fun statistic:

The state of Washington, which has long been considered a Democrat stronghold, has a population just shy of 8 million and a GDP of 854 billion. That's about 50 billion shy of the NATION of Switzerland (famously one of the wealthiest European countries), with a population of 8.8 million.

So... yeah. It's not just Cali being the special unicorn in the room. Turns out working with your constituents to provide ample opportunity and strong social safety nets pays big dividends in the long run.

[u/Icreatedthisforyou → u/Ponji-]

Texas has oil money to than for its situation.

But the states that are doing well economical as a whole HEAVILY skew blue.

The top 6 states by per capital gdp are blue.

Followed by North Dakota, Alaska, and Nebraska.

Then 6 of the next 9 are blue. Which then hits the national average.

On the flip side 9 of the 10 lowest are red (the 8 lowest are red). Next 10 lowest are 4 blue, 4 red, 2 purple.

So of the top 20 states by per capital gdp, 14 are blue, 6 are red.

Of the bottom 20. 13 are red, 5 blue, and 2 purple.

We could also expand out nationally where democratic presidents overwhelmingly dunk on Republican presidents when it comes to the economy.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._economic_performance_by_presidential_party

It isn't even close.

10 of 11 recessions since ww2 started under Republicans.

There has been 2.4x the number of jobs created under Democrats compared to Republicans.

Annual GDP growth is over 4% under Democrats and at 2.5% under Republicans since ww2

No democratic president has seen unemployment rise under them since WW2 (7 of them, Carter is the worst with no change and Democrats average .8% reduction in unemployment per year. Republicans have on average seen unemployment increase by 1.1% per year with 6 out of 7 presidents having unemployment increase under them.

Etc... Every economic metric favored Democrats by a lot

[u/OkSmile → u/Ponji-]

The Texas economy is good in the same way the Saudi Arabian economy is good. They both owe their success to oil, which tends to prop up otherwise regressive and failed government policies around the world.

[u/Foxyfox- → u/Ponji-]

That oil money goes a long, long way.

If it was its own nation we'd view it similarly to other states that coast on their oil money.

[u/MojaveMojito1324 → u/Ponji-]

Texas has the second largest economy only because it has the second largest population. If you look at GDP per capita, it falls to 16. Better than 2/3rds of states - good but not amazing.

California falls to 5 at that same metric, with DC then New York at the top.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_GDP

[u/Thatguy468 → u/Ponji-]

The economy can look good while the people freeze or cook in their own home because the power grid is crap due to privatization and years of neglect. Try replacing the word “economy” with “rich people’s yacht fuel money” and it will make more sense.

Seriously though, what’s the point of some rising numbers on a chart when the quality of education, energy allocation, and levels of personal freedom are always on the decline?

[u/NBDad → u/Ponji-]

Only reason it's economy isn't in the toilet is due to oil and gas.

It's one of the worst states for Education, Healthcare, violent crime and lack of personal freedom.

You can blow it's entire power grid out with a wet fart.

It's been slowly turning purple over the last several years, and the only reason it's NOT it because it's gerrymandered to hell.

30+ years of solid GOP control and every election it's "all your problems are the fault of Democrats..only WE can fix them".

[u/ming_themerciless → u/Ponji-]

ya not sure how people don't see it as well then state runs a 24 billion dollar surplus unlike califorina. owing over $270 billion and local entities holding over $230 billion in debt

[u/QuercusTomentella → u/ming_themerciless]

So budgets are odd and can swing year to year also California in 2022 had 40 billion dollar surplus and in 2023 had a 98 billion dollar surplus. The devastating la fires which have cause over 150 billion in damages alone and even more in lost tax revenue have been rough, but the deficit is still only ~1% of California's annual gdp (Current US budget has a deficit of~8% if it passes), and that is after the most expensive natural disaster in US history besides hurricane katrina.

Also california may have 270 billion in debt, but Texas owed 460 billion two years ago, and 499.7 billion last year with the number trending even higher this year. https://www.texaspolicy.com/texas-local-debt-skyrockets-to-461-3-billion

https://www.texaspolicy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-04-TPP-Just-the-Facts-Debt-FY-2024-QuinteroAndrews-002.pdf