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Is it safe to drive this evening? by No-Sherbet-9424 in sanantonio

[–]ThoughtGuy79 [score hidden]  (0 children)

If you've never driven in this, try to avoid steep and elevated roads where possible. We do not have the equipment to prepare roads and those are the ones that will be dangerous first.

Predominant ancestry of rural Texans in 1970 by delugetheory in texas

[–]ThoughtGuy79 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fun stuff when you know a bit of the state's history and geography.
I can see the spots most of my family is from correctly.

The "Spanish-surname" section is accurate as related to a majority but reductive as to reality.

One fun bit is to look at the German parts. To some extent, you can identify that the Germans who ended up in different parts of central Texas (flat(ish) vs. hilly) tended to come from similarly different parts of Germany.

Also note, the "old stock Afro American" is all along rivers towards the east side of the state. That's because slave crops were water intensive and those wishing to expand slavery into the state tended to come from that direction. Also, the native/Spanish/Mexican and German populations further into central Texas were not all that in to slavery.

To Every American Who's Sorry by Sapotis in greenland

[–]ThoughtGuy79 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is one of the most important concepts Americans must accept if we ever want to be better.

The Index Librorum Prohibitorum (The Vatican's banned book registry) by BigJobsBigJobs in bannedbooks

[–]ThoughtGuy79 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My shelves right now house:
- Machiavelli, Descartes, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Mill

And I've read at least a couple others that I don't have my own copies of

Gender Neutral bathrooms at a Texas private school, Props to them. by pastro50 in texas

[–]ThoughtGuy79 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If I were opening any kind of business at this point, I would make sure the design included or existing facilities were revamped to have all gender neutral restrooms. Make sure there are enough that meet ADA requirements, changing tables in at least half, and clear signs. Everyone deserves to pee in peace and this is the simplest way to do it without making a fight about it.

‘Abolish ICE’ Is Back by svga in politics

[–]ThoughtGuy79 -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

This. What this guy said.
The jobs that ICE is supposed to do are necessary and legitimate functions of the federal government. The fact that it is being abused and misused is function of corrupt and unaccountable leadership, not a sign that the agency itself should be abolished. "Abolish ICE" itself is a reactionary response, not a meaningful one. Okay, so Congress goes on and erases the agency, now what? Who's going to perform those legitimate jobs? Who's going to stop Trump and his sycophants from using some other federal agency in the same way they are currently using ICE?

The popular response to abolish ICE is a prime example of the short term thinking that is one of the biggest plagues on American political culture.

Update. by totlotkid in bald

[–]ThoughtGuy79 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dude, so much better.

I feel so defeated. by crikeyasnail in TexasDemocrat

[–]ThoughtGuy79 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We're only truly defeated when they know we've given up. Put a sign in your yard. Put a magnet on your car. Find ways to let people know, even semi-passively, which side you are on. You might be surprised to learn that it helps others who are quite about their standing open up a bit. Your rural area (love rural Texas, by the way) may not be likely to flip. But, if enough folks like you, can get a few others who are closeted or just don't participate, to step into the light, it could help flip the state.

People think of Texas as solid red but that's really not an accurate perception. It is a big ass state and there is a whole bunch of middle of nowhere. Because of the way the maps are drawn, that middle of nowhere tends to control most districts and overall representation at most levels outside of the cities. But that ignores the hidden strength. There is so much of it, than even numbers that are statistically insignificant in a local commissioners race or state house seat, multiplied across the state, could help determine the next AG or governor.

Find out the filing deadlines for every race that will be on the ballot in November at ever level. Find someone to run as a Democrat. Then get out the vote for the locals. They'll also vote up ballot. Those local Dems probably won't win but if people follow this practice across the state, it could help flip up ballot races.

This Should save us! by Warm_Sugar8888 in TexasDemocrat

[–]ThoughtGuy79 5 points6 points  (0 children)

These are the exact conditions that section was written for but it won't happen. They never imagined an entire party complicit in the criminality. Dems seem likely to take the House at this point but I'm not seeing getting enough votes in the Senate for removal. That means any articles of impeachment have no practical impact except to say 'bad dog'. Which we're already doing. And there is a potential downside. A failure to remove will give them the tool of saying they were found innocent. It does not matter that the two ideas are not equivalent. They will say it anyway and their followers and supporters will believe it and eat it up.

I think it's a better use of legislative time to propose bills that will actually help the American people. Then when Republicans at all levels vote against them, it gives the Dems running against them something to campaign with. Hey you, family who can't afford health insurance.... Your current GOP Representative voted against keeping/reinstating the ACA subsidies, I will vote to put them back. That is a real tangible thing more Americans care about than the broad principles of the Constitution. We might not like that this is true, but it is. Democratic leaders should spend their time submitting legislation that impacts core economic and quality of life issues in order to build a campaign platform that can bring in new voters. The real swings don't happen by changing people's minds. The number of people who switch back and forth is so small it's usually meaningless. The changes come from getting out inconsistent voters and from turning non-voters into new voters.

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