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Deep in the Heart of Taxless
Author: Raine    Date: 04/24/2013 15:25:44

Amid the chaos of last week, Many were watching westward, towards the small town of West, Texas.
The number of people who died in a fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, last week now stands at 15, officials said Tuesday. Some earlier reports had indicated that 14 people had lost their lives. At least 200 more were injured.

In Waco, TV station KXXV says that officials believe they have found all the victims, quoting Mayor Pro Tem Steve Vanek saying "No more victims. Everything is searched," in a news conference today.

The latest death toll comes as investigators continue to study the catastrophe and the fire that preceded it. The explosion left a crater 93 feet wide and 10 feet deep, investigators said Tuesday.
This is a terrible accident and my heart goes out to the people of West, Texas.

Since the explosion, much has come to light. In particular - how poorly regulated the plant was on both a federal and state level. There is plenty of blame to go around, but a few problems really stand out to me (Bold-face italics, mine):
DHS: Fertilizer facilities are required to report to the DHS if they hold more than 400 pounds of ammonium nitrate. The plant in West held 270 tons of it, but it failed to report this as is required. The plant did report this to the Texas DSHS.

DSHS: The West plant submitted a Type II report as part of the Chemical Reporting Program for last year, in which it documented many hazardous chemicals in amounts that pose a risk of fire or reactivity. It reported 100,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, which poses an short-term risk of fire, and 18,000 of ammonium nitrate in its largest container, which poses both a short-term and long-term risk of fire, among others. These reports serve as notification to the state that facilities have certain hazardous chemicals and can be used by first responders and the community to plan for emergencies. This information was not shared with DHS.
270 tons is 540,000 pounds -- that wasn't reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services. DSHS then went on to fail to report to the the U.S.Department of Homeland Security. Someone, either inadvertently or intentionally, gave false information.

Governor Rick Perry and former Republican candidate for President, received a phone call from President Obama:
“Last night was truly a nightmare scenario for that community,” Perry said. “President Obama called from Air Force One as he was en route to Boston… We greatly appreciate his call, and his gracious offer of support, of course, and the quick turnaround of the emergency declaration that will be forthcoming, and his offer of prayers.”
This is part of the press conference he gave:


Then there was this:
Perry, when asked whether volunteer fire department funding should be increased in light of the tragedy and cuts in 2011, suggested that's mostly up to lawmakers. He said he helped get more money for such departments when he was a lawmaker in the late '80s.

“I've been doing this for about 28 years now, and I've never seen the Legislature get it perfect. But they generally get it right,” Perry said.

“It's interesting, in 1987 and '89 when I was a member of the Legislature, I found substantial funding sources for volunteer fire departments,” he said. “Over the course of the last 20 years since then, I don't know whether that's gone up or down from that baseline, but being a small town legislator and being a governor from a relatively small town, I understand the importance of volunteer fire departments.”
I want to state that I believe the people affected by this disaster deserve any and all help any fellow citizen of this nation deserves. From the victims of 2011 Joplin MO Tornado, to Super Storm Sandy -- we come to the aid of our fellow citizens... eventually. In the past few years victims are used as political footballs before they can find relief. After the tornado hit Joplin, Eric Cantor stated that Missouri wouldn't get relief unless cuts were made elsewhere. A similar situation happened after Hurricane Sandy. FEMA is a necessity -- and I am glad that its reputation is experiencing restoration since the debacle after Hurricane Katrina. That said...

Rick Perry has encouraged the Texas secessionist movement.
The rise of membership of the Texas Nationalist Movement came in conjunction with other secession related news events which were not part of that organization’s activities. In 2009, during a political rally the possibility of secession was addressed by Rick Perry, sparking a controversy among Texans. During the rally, many in the crowd began to chant “secede, secede” to which Perry remarked "If Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that."
Since 2012, Governor Perry has tried to distance himself from this movement to secede (Ron Paul, not so much). Then in March, Perry sparked more secession speculation.
Speaking to conservative radio host Glenn Beck on Tuesday, Perry said that lawmakers were in the process of “bringing gold that belongs to the state of Texas back into the state.” “If we own it, I will suggest to you that that’s not someone else’s determination whether we can take possession of it back or not,” Perry told Beck. (snip)

Former Rep. Ron Paul on Thursday explained to The Texas Tribune that the gold would be safer in the hands of Texans.

“If you think gold is a hedge, or a protection, you always want it as close to the individual and the entity as possible,” Paul said. “Texas is better served if it knows exactly where the gold is rather than depending on the security of the Federal Reserve.”


Rick Perry has long touted Texas as being a low tax state.
At a Republican debate this month in Florida, Perry said scores of people are moving to Texas "because they know there's still a land of freedom in America, freedom from overtaxation, freedom from overlitigation and freedom from overregulation, and it's called Texas. We need to do the same thing for America."

When many politicians and pundits proclaim Texas a low-tax state, they're referring to the fact that there's no personal income tax and that direct taxes on businesses are relatively low.
We'll get back to that in a minute.

Less than a week after the West, Texas disaster, Governor Perry made a trip to Illinois to woo jobs to his state.
Perry preceded his visit with an $80,000 advertising campaign last week that, as one radio ad put it, Illinois businesses ought to “get out while there’s still time.” (snip)

Perry said it would be “a little premature” to reach a conclusion about the cause of the explosion and a course of action. Still, he said it is “stunning” that the loss of life wasn’t greater. “How there were only 14 people who lost their lives is a bit of an amazement to me,” he said, referring to the plant’s proximity to homes and a school.
While the city “grew up around that plant,” Perry said, local zoning regulations may need to be reexamined.

“Is it a legitimate question to ask, ‘Should the city have allowed [housing] to be built there?’ It’s a legitimate question,” he said.
Earlier in the year, he made trip to California with the same message.
Perry kicked off his in-your-face campaign to woo companies to the Lone Star State this month with radio ads declaring that "building a business in California is next to impossible." Now the governor is on a whirlwind trip through the state courting companies in person.


Getting back to Texas and Taxes:
Since 2006, Texas' competitiveness on business taxes has dropped compared with other states, according to the Tax Foundation's annual ranking. Five years ago, Texas had the seventh-most-favorable business tax climate in the country. In the latest rankings, Texas is 13th.

Part of the drop is due to other states lowering their tax burden on businesses, Robyn said. Another cause is likely a controversial tax overhaul Perry approved in 2006.

That legislation was prompted by the state Supreme Court declaring Texas' education funding system unconstitutional. After years of wrangling, lawmakers ultimately lowered property taxes by billions and covered the loss through raising cigarette taxes from 41 cents to $1.41 per pack and converting the franchise tax to a broader margins tax that focused more on gross revenue instead of profit.

The margins tax has drawn criticism ever since. Some businesses have said it hits certain companies more than others. A host of others say the overhaul created a structural deficit in the state budget, as the tax has never drawn as much revenue as originally forecast.


Let's sum this all up. Rick Perry - secession theorist - is touting his state as being great because of less regulation and lower taxes. During his presidential campaign he touted Texas as a shining example of conservative success. He despises the federal Government until he wants money for his state. That money is needed due to poor zoning, bad regulation and (less than) low taxation.

In the meantime, due to poor zoning, bad regulation and less than low taxation, 15 people are dead, and scores more are injured. Many, ironically or not, were volunteer first-responders. This song remains true.:



I hope the good people of Texas can set it path right again. They deserve better than fertilizer they are being given by their elected officials.

and
Raine
 

70 comments (Latest Comment: 04/24/2013 21:49:55 by Raine)
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Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 13:08:07
Morning

Comment by TriSec on 04/24/2013 13:21:14
Greetings, comrades.

Drove out of the mist into brilliant sunshine while climbing the hill from Lake Quinsigamond.

Saw a lengthy convoy of Worcester Police headed inbound to Cambridge.

Otherwise, it's fairly benign so far.



Comment by Scoopster on 04/24/2013 13:40:59
Mornin' all & happy humpdee!!

I've decided to charge my landlord $50 for petsitting every time I'm left alone with the doggie for more than a couple hours & submit an invoice for the total with my monthly rent check. So far this week that's $100 off my bill.

That'll learn him.
http://smileyshack.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/sgiving-the-finger_100-106.gif?w=35&h=40


Comment by trojanrabbit on 04/24/2013 14:05:28
Wish I had the space & $$$, I'd give one of these babies a home.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 14:09:58
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all & happy humpdee!!

I've decided to charge my landlord $50 for petsitting every time I'm left alone with the doggie for more than a couple hours & submit an invoice for the total with my monthly rent check. So far this week that's $100 off my bill.

That'll learn him.
http://smileyshack.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/sgiving-the-finger_100-106.gif?w=35&h=40



Have there been any fireworks yet?


Comment by Scoopster on 04/24/2013 14:14:18
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all & happy humpdee!!

I've decided to charge my landlord $50 for petsitting every time I'm left alone with the doggie for more than a couple hours & submit an invoice for the total with my monthly rent check. So far this week that's $100 off my bill.

That'll learn him.
http://smileyshack.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/sgiving-the-finger_100-106.gif?w=35&h=40

Have there been any fireworks yet?

Not since Sunday night. He's been out well past midnight every day since.

Comment by BobR on 04/24/2013 14:23:06
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Wish I had the space & $$$, I'd give one of these babies a home.

I've thought about getting one, pulling out the guts, and turning it into an aquarium. Don't faint.

Comment by Scoopster on 04/24/2013 14:30:47
Quote by BobR:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Wish I had the space & $$$, I'd give one of these babies a home.

I've thought about getting one, pulling out the guts, and turning it into an aquarium. Don't faint.

They had a new art exhibit at the Yale Art Museum not too long ago that had a WORKING Philco Predicta that had also been partially modified into a terrarium. It was pretty funky lookin'!

Comment by TriSec on 04/24/2013 14:33:52
*spluttttttt*

So I just ate a Jelly Belly that tasted like cough syrup. What the hell flavour was that??


Comment by trojanrabbit on 04/24/2013 14:34:22
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Wish I had the space & $$$, I'd give one of these babies a home.

I've thought about getting one, pulling out the guts, and turning it into an aquarium. Don't faint.

They had a new art exhibit at the Yale Art Museum not too long ago that had a WORKING Philco Predicta that had also been partially modified into a terrarium. It was pretty funky lookin'!

The Predictas (horribly unreliable, probably doomed Philco as a company), the 3 pre-war sets & the RCA color set are going to go for $$$$$$. Unfortunately no photos of the insides of the RCA. Makes a BIG difference to know the condition of the CRT.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 14:35:24
Quote by TriSec:
*spluttttttt*

So I just ate a Jelly Belly that tasted like cough syrup. What the hell flavour was that??


Robitussin? Maybe they're starting a Big Pharma Collection.


Comment by trojanrabbit on 04/24/2013 14:41:45
If old TV's aren't your bag, many other things being auctioned from this collection.



Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 14:52:07
Quote by trojanrabbit:
If old TV's aren't your bag, many other things being auctioned from this collection.




great stuff!

Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 14:54:08
I want those Phrenology heads!

Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/24/2013 15:13:15
Good morning, bloggers!

After getting some subbing assignments, I am home today. Checking on a few job leads. Friends have given me a few leads on work at home jobs, so I am following those up along with applying for more teaching jobs.

Some bad news -- first in downstate Illinois -- 5 fatally shot in Manchester home.

Also, there is a tragedy in Bangladesh -- Bangladesh factory building collapse kills nearly 100. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of both tragedies and their families.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 15:16:40
Babblefish?

Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 15:26:56
good call MGM

Comment by Scoopster on 04/24/2013 15:30:59
mgm!!

Comment by Scoopster on 04/24/2013 15:42:48
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p480x480/601927_351086564990849_753927611_n.jpg


Awwww yeah! It's already passed the state assembly, and Linc has promised to sign it if it hits his desk.

Comment by TriSec on 04/24/2013 15:43:35
Zero degrees of separation...

Just saw this one out there. I've known Ken for ages.


Ken Doucette, vice-president of the Waltham City Council, said he ran Monday's Boston Marathon and had crossed the finish line mere moments before two blasts erupted in Copley Square, killing three people and injuring 176 at last count.

Doucette said over the phone that this week's race was his third Boston Marathon - although his last one had been in 1993.

Doucette declined to comment on the scene he witnessed, but noted that he was able to find his family quickly after the explosions.

"I was one of the luckier ones there," he said.




Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/24/2013 15:46:41
Some labor news -- Chicago workers strike over wages at McDonald’s to Macy’s


TriSec, when I saw the friend who showed me around Boston was online last Monday, I checked to make sure that she and everyone close to her was okay. How are people feeling in Boston? I understand that Boylston Street is still closed by the bombing site.

Comment by Scoopster on 04/24/2013 15:49:00
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Some labor news -- Chicago workers strike over wages at McDonald’s to Macy’s


TriSec, when I saw the friend who showed me around Boston was online last Monday, I checked to make sure that she and everyone close to her was okay. How are people feeling in Boston? I understand that Boylston Street is still closed by the bombing site.

They are indeed.

And who says crisis doesn't breed opportunity. It seems the Fairmont Copley Plaza has decided that they need to advertise again on the website I work for.

Comment by TriSec on 04/24/2013 15:56:31
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Some labor news -- Chicago workers strike over wages at McDonald’s to Macy’s


TriSec, when I saw the friend who showed me around Boston was online last Monday, I checked to make sure that she and everyone close to her was okay. How are people feeling in Boston? I understand that Boylston Street is still closed by the bombing site.



Actually, Boylston street was re-opened in full today. There is also word that the city's "anti-graffiti" team is working the scene to remove all traces of the blasts. (Building damage, physical scarrs, blood, gore, etc.)

We had our catharsis last Friday when they were captured. There's still a lot of recovery to happen, but with one guy dead and the other apparently singing like a canary, we're doing pretty good.

Westboro Baptist never showed up, which also helps. The VP is here for the police memorial, and the poor kid that died was buried yesterday in a private ceremony, apparently to thwart any protestors.

Slowly but surely...


Comment by Scoopster on 04/24/2013 16:03:07
Oh no.. the ghost of Bill Hicks is going to KILL ME.

I just started thinking about how all the craziness in Boston has driven copious amounts of web traffic to our website's Boston-based pages!

Comment by BobR on 04/24/2013 16:06:19
per Raine - blog posted

Comment by TriSec on 04/24/2013 16:27:19
Wait a second - Air National Guard DRONES?

(Fort Drum, NY.)


Comment by livingonli on 04/24/2013 16:59:58
Good day, folks.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/24/2013 17:12:42
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Some labor news -- Chicago workers strike over wages at McDonald’s to Macy’s


TriSec, when I saw the friend who showed me around Boston was online last Monday, I checked to make sure that she and everyone close to her was okay. How are people feeling in Boston? I understand that Boylston Street is still closed by the bombing site.



Actually, Boylston street was re-opened in full today. There is also word that the city's "anti-graffiti" team is working the scene to remove all traces of the blasts. (Building damage, physical scarrs, blood, gore, etc.)

We had our catharsis last Friday when they were captured. There's still a lot of recovery to happen, but with one guy dead and the other apparently singing like a canary, we're doing pretty good.

Westboro Baptist never showed up, which also helps. The VP is here for the police memorial, and the poor kid that died was buried yesterday in a private ceremony, apparently to thwart any protestors.

Slowly but surely...



I am glad to see that Boston is healing. It has been a tragic week.



Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 17:38:42
Quote by livingonli:
Good day, folks.



Hey Liv, you feeling any better?

Comment by Raine on 04/24/2013 17:42:05
Quote by BobR:
per Raine - blog posted

What a morning....

So no one read das blog?

Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 17:45:04
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
per Raine - blog posted

What a morning....

So no one read das blog?


I read it - two old sayings come to mind, you reap what you sow and they made their bed and they should lie in it

I kinda tired of states that do nothing but bitch and moan and take, take, take but don't put into the "community" coffers to pay for things then everyone else has to cover what they refuse to raise money for.


Comment by TriSec on 04/24/2013 17:55:16
Quote by Raine:

What a morning....

So no one read das blog?



I'm busily writing a screed this afternoon.



Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/24/2013 18:08:10
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
per Raine - blog posted

What a morning....

So no one read das blog?



I read the blog and thought that it made some very important points. Government regulation can save lives -- 14 people in West, Texas died needlessly. I think that one thing that I will add is about the myth of the Texas economic boom.


Here is what Paul Krugman wrote all the way back in August of 2011



The Texas Unmiracle
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: August 14, 2011

As expected, Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, has announced that he is running for president. And we already know what his campaign will be about: faith in miracles.

Some of these miracles will involve things that you’re liable to read in the Bible. But if he wins the Republican nomination, his campaign will probably center on a more secular theme: the alleged economic miracle in Texas, which, it’s often asserted, sailed through the Great Recession almost unscathed thanks to conservative economic policies. And Mr. Perry will claim that he can restore prosperity to America by applying the same policies at a national level.

So what you need to know is that the Texas miracle is a myth, and more broadly that Texan experience offers no useful lessons on how to restore national full employment.

It’s true that Texas entered recession a bit later than the rest of America, mainly because the state’s still energy-heavy economy was buoyed by high oil prices through the first half of 2008. Also, Texas was spared the worst of the housing crisis, partly because it turns out to have surprisingly strict regulation of mortgage lending.

Despite all that, however, from mid-2008 onward unemployment soared in Texas, just as it did almost everywhere else.


Somewhat newer, the Center on Budget and Policy has a good analysis of the economy in the Lone Star State.

Comment by Raine on 04/24/2013 18:13:54
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
per Raine - blog posted

What a morning....

So no one read das blog?



I read the blog and thought that it made some very important points. Government regulation can save lives -- 14 people in West, Texas died needlessly. I think that one thing that I will add is about the myth of the Texas economic boom.


Here is what Paul Krugman wrote all the way back in August of 2011



The Texas Unmiracle
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: August 14, 2011

As expected, Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, has announced that he is running for president. And we already know what his campaign will be about: faith in miracles.

Some of these miracles will involve things that you�re liable to read in the Bible. But if he wins the Republican nomination, his campaign will probably center on a more secular theme: the alleged economic miracle in Texas, which, it�s often asserted, sailed through the Great Recession almost unscathed thanks to conservative economic policies. And Mr. Perry will claim that he can restore prosperity to America by applying the same policies at a national level.

So what you need to know is that the Texas miracle is a myth, and more broadly that Texan experience offers no useful lessons on how to restore national full employment.

It�s true that Texas entered recession a bit later than the rest of America, mainly because the state�s still energy-heavy economy was buoyed by high oil prices through the first half of 2008. Also, Texas was spared the worst of the housing crisis, partly because it turns out to have surprisingly strict regulation of mortgage lending.

Despite all that, however, from mid-2008 onward unemployment soared in Texas, just as it did almost everywhere else.


Somewhat newer, the Center on Budget and Policy has a good analysis of the economy in the Lone Star State.
Was gonna to add this link... but I figured I already had enough in there.

Did you notice this part?
The American Legislative Exchange Council, among others, has suggested that other states should adopt policies that will make them more like Texas in order to grow their economies. One example from the introduction to ALEC's recent Rich States, Poor States report: "[M]any governors are looking at Texas, which has led the nation in job growth over the past three years, as the state with the best policy to emulate." In particular, ALEC notes the state's tax policy as a plus.




Comment by Raine on 04/24/2013 18:14:36
Hey -- where has Mondo been?

Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 18:18:20
Quote by Raine:
Hey -- where has Mondo been?



I wondered why it was so quiet today - hope he's okay.

Comment by livingonli on 04/24/2013 18:31:12
Quote by Raine:
Hey -- where has Mondo been?

He hasn't been on Facebook either.

Comment by Scoopster on 04/24/2013 18:39:08
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
per Raine - blog posted

What a morning....

So no one read das blog?

OMG.. I was stuck in the stubbie for HOURS apparently!

Comment by TriSec on 04/24/2013 18:44:07
A tip for you all.

Do not cross Your Loyal TriSec.

I have a very long memory.

I bear grudges.

I keep an enemies list.

I can be, and will be, very spiteful in my latest battle.



Comment by Raine on 04/24/2013 18:47:18
Quote by TriSec:
A tip for you all.

Do not cross Your Loyal TriSec.

I have a very long memory.

I bear grudges.

I keep an enemies list.

I can be, and will be, very spiteful in my latest battle.

Uh oh.

Wassup?


Comment by Raine on 04/24/2013 18:47:58
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
per Raine - blog posted

What a morning....

So no one read das blog?

OMG.. I was stuck in the stubbie for HOURS apparently!


I;m sorry.

But I am glad I mentioned it again.


Comment by Raine on 04/24/2013 18:48:38
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Raine:
Hey -- where has Mondo been?

He hasn't been on Facebook either.
HE was here Monday, but hasn't been of TBoF since sunday.



Comment by TriSec on 04/24/2013 18:59:07
Quote by Raine:
Uh oh.

Wassup?



I am shopping for a new scout troop. I will not have a "250" on my sleeve this fall. They chose the wrong person to cross; I am in a position to destroy them if I so chose. (I won't, but I also can't recommend them in good faith to any more graduating scouts unless the situation changes dramatically. My next-door neighbor has already told me he'll follow me to whatever unit I go to; there are plenty of other parents in the pipeline that will do the same.)

Comment by livingonli on 04/24/2013 19:02:26
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by livingonli:
Good day, folks.



Hey Liv, you feeling any better?

Not really. Still kind of in the dumps because of money situation. It's back to belt tightening and hoping I come up with the money to cover bankruptcy.

Comment by livingonli on 04/24/2013 19:03:16
Refresh comments doesn't seem to be working today. I keep having to reload the page.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/24/2013 19:03:39
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by livingonli:
Good day, folks.



Hey Liv, you feeling any better?

Not really. Still kind of in the dumps because of money situation. It's back to belt tightening and hoping I come up with the money to cover bankruptcy.


have faith, you'll come up with the right answer for you.


Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/24/2013 19:07:26
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
per Raine - blog posted

What a morning....

So no one read das blog?



I read the blog and thought that it made some very important points. Government regulation can save lives -- 14 people in West, Texas died needlessly. I think that one thing that I will add is about the myth of the Texas economic boom.


Here is what Paul Krugman wrote all the way back in August of 2011



The Texas Unmiracle
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: August 14, 2011

As expected, Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, has announced that he is running for president. And we already know what his campaign will be about: faith in miracles.

Some of these miracles will involve things that you�re liable to read in the Bible. But if he wins the Republican nomination, his campaign will probably center on a more secular theme: the alleged economic miracle in Texas, which, it�s often asserted, sailed through the Great Recession almost unscathed thanks to conservative economic policies. And Mr. Perry will claim that he can restore prosperity to America by applying the same policies at a national level.

So what you need to know is that the Texas miracle is a myth, and more broadly that Texan experience offers no useful lessons on how to restore national full employment.

It�s true that Texas entered recession a bit later than the rest of America, mainly because the state�s still energy-heavy economy was buoyed by high oil prices through the first half of 2008. Also, Texas was spared the worst of the housing crisis, partly because it turns out to have surprisingly strict regulation of mortgage lending.

Despite all that, however, from mid-2008 onward unemployment soared in Texas, just as it did almost everywhere else.


Somewhat newer, the Center on Budget and Policy has a good analysis of the economy in the Lone Star State.
Was gonna to add this link... but I figured I already had enough in there.

Did you notice this part?
The American Legislative Exchange Council, among others, has suggested that other states should adopt policies that will make them more like Texas in order to grow their economies. One example from the introduction to ALEC's recent Rich States, Poor States report: "[M]any governors are looking at Texas, which has led the nation in job growth over the past three years, as the state with the best policy to emulate." In particular, ALEC notes the state's tax policy as a plus.





Here is what is coming up now on Thom Hartmann:

Hour One: Texas fertilizer plant explosion...welcome to the new Libertarian paradise - Eli Lehrer, R Street Institute


Comment by Raine on 04/24/2013 19:10:39
WTF? Listening to Randi -- The Mother of these guys, she says that the dead one is not her son?

She's wack. Alex jones wack.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/24/2013 19:11:37
Well, we have a "libertarian" arguing for regulation. I should check for stopped clocks being right.