Last week, Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL) remarked that Texas’ refusal to participate in the Obamacare exchanges made it a “crazy state”, which quickly angered multiple politicians from Texas. Congressman Michael Burgess, a Republican from Texas, immediately demanded an apology from Hastings for insulting his state. Former Governor Rick Perry responded by saying, “He is right! We are crazy! We’re crazy about jobs, we’re crazy about opportunity, we’re crazy about liberty, we’re crazy about the Constitution!”
For starters, let me say that I’m not in favor of this brand of politics. Our representatives in government should be able to argue their views without insulting other states and their people. While I may think that Texas is the best state to live in, I am capable of recognizing the positives in other states. Congressman Hastings’ home state of Florida has gorgeous beaches and awesome theme parks. Arguing that Texas’ refusal to enroll in the Obamacare exchanges is irresponsible does not require calling the entire state “crazy.” America deserves better than that kind of juvenile discourse, and Congressman Hastings should stop wasting the time and money of the American people by calling names.
As a native Texan, I would have the same impulse as Governor Perry if someone were to openly insult Texas in front of me. I have yet to find any group of Americans that are as proud of their state as Texans are. While non-Texans may think us crazy for our state pride, we have a hard time imagining a world in which every other state doesn’t want to be us. We are the only state to have once been an independent nation (fun fact: Lone Star beer’s motto is “The National Beer of Texas”). In many ways, Texas embodies the ideal of entrepreneurship. Its citizens are free to build their own lives as they see fit, and the role of government is to provide a stable society and then get out of the way. “Don’t tread on me” is very much alive in the Lone Star state.
If you still aren’t convinced of how great Texas is, just look at the numbers. From 2007 to 2014, Texas created more than 1.4 million new jobs while the rest of the United States was losing 400,000 jobs. Texas has the second-lowest cost of living and is one of seven states with no state income tax. Under Governor Perry’s tenure, reforms were enacted to limit frivolous lawsuits and medical malpractice lawsuits, both of which helped Texas rank as the number one state for economic-development climate and job growth ten years in a row by Chief Executive magazine. Considering its prosperous economy, it’s no wonder that people are moving to Texas more than any other state in the country.
Does this mean that everything in Texas is better than elsewhere in America? No, obviously not. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) ranks Texas 18th in the nation in education, and illegal immigrants continue to cross the Rio Grande on a daily basis due to a lack of border security. The presence of Mexican drug cartels has made many of Texas’ border towns—Laredo, El Paso, and Brownsville to name a few—far more dangerous than the average city.
Like every other state, Texas is not without problems. But its economic success and entrepreneurial spirit make it one of the most attractive places to live for business owners, workers, families, and anyone who wants to live their life free from government interference. And if Congressman Hastings has no interest in such things, then let me echo Davy Crockett in saying, “You can go to hell, and I’ll go to Texas.”
John Kurtz is the President of Student PAC at NYU.
For starters, let me say that I’m not in favor of this brand of politics. Our representatives in government should be able to argue their views without insulting other states and their people. While I may think that Texas is the best state to live in, I am capable of recognizing the positives in other states. Congressman Hastings’ home state of Florida has gorgeous beaches and awesome theme parks. Arguing that Texas’ refusal to enroll in the Obamacare exchanges is irresponsible does not require calling the entire state “crazy.” America deserves better than that kind of juvenile discourse, and Congressman Hastings should stop wasting the time and money of the American people by calling names.
As a native Texan, I would have the same impulse as Governor Perry if someone were to openly insult Texas in front of me. I have yet to find any group of Americans that are as proud of their state as Texans are. While non-Texans may think us crazy for our state pride, we have a hard time imagining a world in which every other state doesn’t want to be us. We are the only state to have once been an independent nation (fun fact: Lone Star beer’s motto is “The National Beer of Texas”). In many ways, Texas embodies the ideal of entrepreneurship. Its citizens are free to build their own lives as they see fit, and the role of government is to provide a stable society and then get out of the way. “Don’t tread on me” is very much alive in the Lone Star state.
If you still aren’t convinced of how great Texas is, just look at the numbers. From 2007 to 2014, Texas created more than 1.4 million new jobs while the rest of the United States was losing 400,000 jobs. Texas has the second-lowest cost of living and is one of seven states with no state income tax. Under Governor Perry’s tenure, reforms were enacted to limit frivolous lawsuits and medical malpractice lawsuits, both of which helped Texas rank as the number one state for economic-development climate and job growth ten years in a row by Chief Executive magazine. Considering its prosperous economy, it’s no wonder that people are moving to Texas more than any other state in the country.
Does this mean that everything in Texas is better than elsewhere in America? No, obviously not. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) ranks Texas 18th in the nation in education, and illegal immigrants continue to cross the Rio Grande on a daily basis due to a lack of border security. The presence of Mexican drug cartels has made many of Texas’ border towns—Laredo, El Paso, and Brownsville to name a few—far more dangerous than the average city.
Like every other state, Texas is not without problems. But its economic success and entrepreneurial spirit make it one of the most attractive places to live for business owners, workers, families, and anyone who wants to live their life free from government interference. And if Congressman Hastings has no interest in such things, then let me echo Davy Crockett in saying, “You can go to hell, and I’ll go to Texas.”
John Kurtz is the President of Student PAC at NYU.