comment: >
  
  God and Guns….90% of conservatives vote on those issues and nothing more.
context: Well, Republicans control education in Texas, so if there's a problem you know who to blame. In fact, Republicans have controlled Texas for about 30 years, so really ANY complaints people have about the state can be laid at Republican feet. That gerrymandering they did last redistricting and are wanting to do again? Gee I wonder why people are losing faith in democracy when we're watching it dissolve in front of us. >
  
  Nah it's always the Democrats' fault. Admitting it's the GOP fucking everything up would require an inkling of self-awareness which isn't possible with conservatives. >
  
  Why not both. >
  
  Because we are talking about people acting in bad faith so labeling them appropriately is important.  The point of what they are doing is to harm the state that not conservative it’s something else. >
  
  I totally get what you say. And I really really DO NOT WANT to argue with you. I support and respect what you are saying. But from my prospective I would argue both sides are equally dangerous. Personally I have been burned by both side equally. The sequester, the patriot act, the shear amount of money we wast on the military industrial complex. Iraq/Afghanistan was a bi-partisan venture. The war on drugs, the war on the LGBTQ until only in the last 10  yearsih have the democrats finally switched. So me personally, I’m done supporting either side. Both side sent me war to kill the poorest people on the planet. Both side prolonged the war. Anyways. That’s just my experience. Don’t want to take away from yours. Good luck to us all. >
  
  Well I can see why you “don’t want to argue”. I have no respect for your useless jack-off off both sides position, and do not receive it as a good faith contribution to the discussion.,  I say good day. >
  
  45% voter participation rate in 2022. 
  not directly related to the issues in the article, but its exhausting talking to so many people who continuously complain that 'the system is broken, nothing is getting better, the reps in power dont listen to the people, etc etc' and its like 'did you vote?' always followed with 'no, the system is rigged/broken/predecided/doesnt matter/i dont agree with anyone' etc. 
  like, participation rates in the usa are reliably pathetic. fuckin participate if you want to see change. its exhausting how many people just want 'them' to fix it but they cant be bothered to actively pay attention or participate in their own future every few months. >
  
  It’s easier to complain about other peoples choices than to make a stand and not get your way. It’s the same reason people don’t study for tests they “know” they’re gonna fail, or not do any work on a group project so they can talk shit about the end result. 
  Yes, there is voter suppression but not to the degree of people just opting out bc they don’t feel like making a compromise >
  
  I don’t get why they can’t just do both. I do things all the time but still complain about it afterwards. 🤷🏻‍♀️ >
  
  The part of the article that confirms my "look at your own voting choices, fools" thoughts:
  
  The poll also found that Gov. Greg Abbott’s approval rating has hit an all-time low.
  Abbott easily won his reelection for a third term in November by 11 points against Democratic nominee Beto O’Rourke.
  But, according to the poll, 48% of Texans either somewhat or strongly disapprove of the job Abbott is doing as governor. That’s in contrast with 47% of Texans who answered the same in 2022. >
  
  They just see the “R” and the “D.”  Anything beyond that is too much thinking. >
  
  The Santos disaster is the prime example of that. They elected a guy who lied about every single aspect of his life and career but because he ran as a republican they voted for him, no questions asked. >
  
  Texan here and I can confirm.  I have zero faith in Texas democracy.
  Ken Paxton, our Attorney General has been under active indictment since 2015 on state securities fraud yet he continues to stay in office.  He actively skirts the legal system he took an oath to uphold by running and hiding from process servers tasked with issuing him subpoenas.
  Many of our voting districts are included in the list of most gerrymandered districts in the nation.  This has led to a situation where despite the fact that well over half our population votes democrat, only republicans get elected.
  Greg Abbott, our governor, uses this artificial replublican majority to pass state level laws that effectively invalidate city/county level laws passed by more progressive cities.  These laws mandate forced birth on rape victims, prohibit environmental reforms ( plastic bag bans among others ) , restrict cities ability to reform their own police departments, as well as cities ability to reduce gun violence, even in the wake of an unprecedented number of mass killings.
  On top of all that, our local elections are flooded with dark money that is used to fund the campaigns of fascist republicans who are dead set on destroying the separation of church and state.
  You're god damn mother fucking right Texans have no faith in democracy. >
  
  I agree with you. I recognized democracy was dead in Texas in the mid-aughts, so I left Texas. I'm legit surprised more people don't do the same. Life is too short to live in a fascist state. >
  
  
  I'm legit surprised more people don't do the same. Life is too short to live in a fascist state.
  
  WhY DoNt YoU JuSt MoVe is about on par with WhY DoNt YoU GeT a BeTTeR JoB ThEn? >
  
  BuT mOvINg iS hARD!
  Complain about how moving in the US is hard to an undocumented immigrant. Or a refugee. >
  
  Who’s fault is that??  Keep voting for Republicans and that’s exactly what you get
  It’s not that hard to figure out except maybe for tone deaf Texans, it may very well be