Ailidh

I never said Texas was a majority liberal state - I pointed out that there are plenty of liberals in it and the stereotypes being bandied about on here were annoying to anyone who has actually lived there... and never actually been to a rodeo or a "country fair" (what's that??).

I'm sure you find all the stereotypes about people from Yorkshire annoying, too.

As for the governorship of Texas, here's an article that explains how limited the powers granted to the position really are. Reading this, is is easier to understand how both Shrub and Governor Good Hair managed to "handle" their jobs.

http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/1_4_0.html

Otherwise, as I think this thread has wandered awfully off-topic, I'll leave it at that.

UkWinds5353

NO! You can't leave it at just that.Not until you invite a few of your BE friends to a rodeo or maybe a country fair.BTW, I've been to both and they are so much fun!! I actually roped a girlfriend there once

sallysimmons

As I said before, I have been there many times. I used to travel there on business all the time. It's not a liberal state and the facts bear that out - one lesbian mayor notwithstanding. But of course there are liberal people there, just as there are anywhere. One of my old Texan colleagues is still a friend and shes as liberal as they come. Trust me, I hear tons about her intense frustration with the culture that surrounds her.

Anyway, my original point was to warn someone that Texas has a very different culture than Asia or the UK and not to jump in without finding out more. Nothing I said was untrue, but I also said that he/she may like it there. I really didn't mean to offend anyone who does like it there - I expect you'd hate things I like too. We're all different and that's the way it should be

vikingsail

Sadly and I really mean sadly for all involved it seems I did not have to wait to long for the Texas Police to prove up my earlier characterization of them as demonstrating that the Nazi SS were an incompetent experiment compared to them!

If you think I am merely ranting read this article and weep. Quite how any individual in a wheelchair poses any threat to an armed police officer is beyond me?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012...houston-police

Celticspirit

I have lived in Dallas for 40 years and as a liberal democrat, have not had any issues that have made me feel uncomfortable, like an underdog nor less than anyone else. I have have friends on each side of the fence. My sister in law was married to a Democratic State Senator. Her best friend was Anne Richards, late governor of Texas. Both my children are Democrats and attended the a University of Texas before heading to NYC to attend Columbia and Yeshiva (medicine and law). They love the cosmopolitan lifestyle that city affords them and still enjoy coming home, though I doubt either will permanently return. Texas has been very good to us and we were welcomed with open arms when we arrived. Although my divorce will be final next week and I will be eventually heading back to the UK, I will look back without regret and yet am looking forward to the next phase of my life.

Ailidh

Hello,
Do you really live in Nebraska?

What the policeman did was incredibly stupid and criminal and I hope he will suffer the consequences. BUT have you ever dealt with a schizophrenic having an episode? They are truly terrifying. My sister is a psychiatric social worker and worked for several years for 911, accompanying the police when a call involved a psychiatric patient (as this one did). The Houston police should have had a psychiatric social worker present during the visit. That was a very grave error on their part, with tragic consequences for the poor man.

Ailidh

Ann Richards and Molly Ivins are my two all-time favorite Texans - and sorely missed, they are too. Maybe Ann's daughter Cecile will move on from Planned Parenthood to politics (which she is already, unwittingly, involved in due to the Republicans' harassment of Planned Parenthood).

As Texas will become a majority minority state - probably in a couple of years' time - it will be ready for some liberal Democrats turning the state blue! I'll be there to vote for them.

vikingsail

No and yes. Nebraska by Sea aka - San Diego just my warped sense of humour.

Having worn the 'blue' I dealt with all manner if incidents; knife wielding individuals, schizophrenics, paralytic drunks, drugs etc etc...., all while I was without a weapon and yet I never once found the need to resort to the level of violence we regularly read about being displayed. Imho, they (the Texas police) don't need anyone accompanying them on 911 calls - what they need is an attitude adjustment/ appropriate training and rigorous selection procedures designed to weed out those people who feel wearing a gun is good thing.

All very tragic - I feel there has been a shift toward justifying violence on the behalf of authorities which has got out of control. I recognize the incidents police officers deal with daily are very trying but that still does not justify the kind of violence we see being exercised now on an almost daily basis. Or perhaps it does in Texas? Hence my original point I could never live there.