More Texas bashing
Sure is good to be back in the Natural State, having just
returned from the Unnatural one, otherwise known as Texas.
You know, gentle readers, the Texas Department of Travel and tourism
has adopted the motto, “Texas - It’s like a whole ‘nother
country.” In spite of the deplorable grammar, I couldn’t
agree more.
The other country Texas is like, in my estimation, would be a Latin
American version of Albania. There is an inordinate number of wealthy
people who go to considerable lengths to separate themselves from the
remainder of the population, many of whom live at a level of poverty
that makes the most run-down slum in Arkansas look like a suite at the
Ritz. There is a middle class, most of whom are well on their way to
joining one of the other two groups.
Texas is a great place to be rich. That’s why the family of our
Beloved President, George Dubyuh, relocated there from Maine, which
is a terrible place to be rich. Why, in Maine, the state government
is so mean they actually insist on rich people paying their fair share
of the tax load! Have you ever heard of such a scandalous situation?
Texas, on the other hand, is rich-friendly. The middle and lower income
folks pay a far greater percentage of their income to support a state
government that is so dreadful it makes the Good Ol’ Boys Malaprop
and Debating Society, otherwise known as the Arkansas Legislature, look
like a congregation of Rhodes Scholars. That’s a pretty bold statement,
I realize, but you needn’t take my word for it. Those of you,
gentle readers, who are home owners should endeavor to find out what
your home would sell for in most Texas communities, and what it would
consequently be taxed for. I did. I got a real eye opener, and I’d
bet you would, too.
My home, a modest, 3 bedroom, 2-bath brick domicile without so much
as a sprinkler system in the yard or an automatic garage door opener,
would bring between $200,000 and $300,000 in a major city and almost
as much in a rural area. The property taxes would force me to choose
between paying them or buying food, clothing and medicine. I sure as
the dickens couldn’t do both. If your home has a pool, or any
kind of “luxury” addition like a sun room, screened porch
or patio the numbers become ridiculous.
Heaven knows we Arkansans have our problems, but we have plenty to be
thankful for, as well. If we have any sense, we’re thankful we
don’t have to be proud to be Texans.