Trying to gauge if I’m going crazy or a little too much “online.”
I currently live in Texas, and moving has been on my mind a lot lately as the Republican party and Texas itself seems to be slowly moving toward fascism. I don’t know when the slide toward fascism will stop, and how much more authoritarian the state will get. I do not feel very good about my tax dollars going to support this state.
I am a middle-aged cishet white man; middle to upper middle class software engineer. I have leftist opinions (libsoc/ansoc), but I’m not an activist (I am very introverted, probably a little bit on the autism spectrum, and pretty much a hermit right now). I do seldom indulge in marijuana consumption, which is illegal here.
I really don’t have much tying me down here. I have no close friends, no family in the state, and no current romantic partners. Last year, I moved within the state for a job, but the company was bought out, and everyone was layed off. I have very high autonomy at my current job, and could probably work fully remote if I wanted. Moving would be expensive (I am in an upside-down mortgage), but I have enough savings to take the hit.
I am personally feeling very isolated here (Texas suburb), at this point in my life, and am thinking about moving into some sort of intentional community (eco-village, cohousing, or land trust; not a commune) in a blue state (or even in Canada if I could pull that off).
Also, the weather in the last 2 years has been absolutely oppressive, and I have a hard time keeping anything alive in my veggie garden :)
Am I being over dramatic? Should I just stick it out here, and try to rebuild my life in a state that doesn’t align with my beliefs?
Also, I’ve heard arguments that libs should stay or even move to red states, but I’m not convinced. The state rules with an iron fist, and pre-empts anything progressive Texas cities try to do. And the district I live in is already pretty solidly blue. Not to mention, red states put families that contain females or lbgt people in danger.
Yes, moving from FL to DC has been a huge change in terms of the people I meet and the culture. Would definitely recommend
The whole DMV area is amazing, congrats on the move! I’d live there in a heartbeat if it were in the cards.
You seem to not be enjoying your current situation anyway so I’d vote for a change. We are all very small fish in a big sea when it comes to changing states whereas you can make a big change in your own life.
i’m not you, but i can only recommend you to get out. As far away from the fascists as possible.
There’s plenty of things going on in Texas that affect everyone. The biggest one in my opinion is the horrible electric grid and refusal to connect to the rest of the nation.
True, I was without electricity, heat, and water for about a week a few years ago.
I was born and raised in Texas and left over a decade ago for all the reasons you mentioned. I do think Texas will eventually turn purple. The Republicans are going more fascist because they know this too and are having to get even more aggressive to try and stop it.
I simply refuse to live in a red state. Only negative is a higher cost of living esp housing where I landed and further from family. But I feel more at home even tho I’m not where I was born.
Texas population is purple, we just need more people to vote. My work and social circle are 85% blue and 15% moderate red. You’re going to find people who agree and disagree with you in any situation and that’s how it should be. You have to do what’s right for you, but wherever you are, vote and encourage people around you to vote. That’s the only way anything gets better.
“people who […] disagree with you and that’s how it should be” I mean… except for human rights. Like there’s a ton of crap that no decent human should agree with going on in states like Texas, Florida, and more. Some of that is inexcusable, even if the person is uneducated and easier that way. Plenty of knowledge freely available on the internet. Many of the social positions of conservatives simply cannot be excused, even as a “we need differing opinions”
Therein lies the question. Stay and fight the good fight, get out while the getting is good, or ignore the sensational headlines because overall most of these people are actually pretty nice besides their hard coded habit to vote R.
I don’t care if you’re hard coded to vote against human rights. That’s an automatic bad person. Period. All Republicans Are Bastards. They let the worst of them rise to power and they pass horrendous laws in their states. It’s just inexcusable at this point. Like, the only people I feel that want to have “the conversation” are folks who want to keep voting Republican for whatever reason. I’ve failed to ever hear a good argument, even a fiscally conservative one at this point. The financial imbalance alone is the root of most economic downturn at this point. And honestly, the fiscal argument doesn’t outweigh basic human rights. No “good” person votes republican at this point. They just can’t accept theyre the bad guys and instead of switching sides, just declaring “nah, let’s ruin more lives instead. They’re the problem.” Many of their tentpole issues are rooted in hating someone else. Republicans are just not good people. Period. I just don’t buy it. You can’t justify voting against human rights.
Think Hank Hill, not Tucker. I don’t disagree with you and have a very hard time reconciling the fact that these otherwise kind decent folks continue to vote R. I think a ton of them are just disengaged voting by muscle memory, misled by faux news, and figure it is politics as usual.
You should review the thread title and re read the OP’s question. If you get off the internet and go outside and talk to people you see it’s actually quite nice out there for the most part. So should you uproot your life to get while the getting is good, stick around and tough it out, or what? It’s nowhere near as simple as you make it seem.
I just said do whatever is best for their mental health. And don’t get me wrong, what’s going on is great for some people. But it’s hell for others. Glossing over that might make you feel ok or whatever, but ignoring it and the fact Republicans likely have passed bills that have no social benefit but will likely cause people to die, whether by their own hand or shitty medical practices, is 100% not possible.
Don’t downplay the hardships others face because it doesn’t specifically affect you. It’s kind of gross and not at all as enlightened as you’re trying to sound.
Whatever
Yup it’s getting harder and harder to have that conversation. Like the video posted yesterday of the guy who went to a Trump rally, had civilized conversations with some of the people there, and found out they mostly had the same thoughts the the left had (i.e. the rich shouldn’t be as rich as they are, we’re living in an oligarchy, everything shouldn’t be owned by 6 big corporations, etc.). That’s nice and all, but at the end of the day, who are these people voting?
I made the move 15 years ago.
I’m certainly glad to be in a society that isn’t hostile to females, LGBTQ, etc.
Does it affect my day-to-day? Eh, probably not. I certainly could live in a regressive state without any personal risk or penalty.
If you have to ask, it might be best if you move. But you’d most likely fall into the same habits and become isolated again. Have you tried joining a club or something?
Isolation sucks and (political) alienation does too. I wouldn’t give too much about party politics, but supporting women and queers is a nice cause.
I guess you’re not the only one contemplating similar steps - given your class background I’d argue that it’s part of a brain drain of so called ‘red states’ (‘The South’ isn’t enough anymore). Political stability is part of QOL, but once intentionally disturbed there might be a feedback loop of brain drain, QOL decrease and political instability (because it sure isn’t safe for many).
I think you also have at least some moving experience…
Gotta go with what works for you. But as a fellow cishet middle-aged white engineer, you could not pay me enough money for me to want to move to Texas. Or Florida. Or most of the middle of the country. If I were in your shoes, I’d be out as soon as I had the means to leave.
Isn’t the weather alone enough of an argument against TX or FL? What will it be like there in 10 or 20 years?
I mean, I’m a fuckin’ weirdo who loves both heat and humidity. So I’m not really the target audience for that particular argument. But I get that I’m a weirdo, and most people don’t like living in the desert or a swamp. Personally, I’m much more turned off by their politics than I am their weather.
One of the reasons red states are so shitty is the people that disagree with Republicans keep leaving, so republicans keep winning elections.
I’m progressive but live in a red state, I might not live long enough to see shit get better, but if I leave…
It’s going to take even longer and fuck over people who can’t leave.
So I’m staying put.
I did, and multiple friends are either actively working on doing the same or have expressed interest but have constraints (e.g. an autistic child who found a school / therapist they like, or non-ASD kids in hard age ranges to move).
Contributing to a pro-birth, anti-democracy, anti-reasonable-gun-control, transphobic economy in a hot humid climate that’s getting worse made no sense.
Texas literally banned ensuring workers get 10 minute water breaks every four hours. They banned cities voting to protect their own trees. Local democracies try to make things better and Texas says no. All the while, Texas refuses to employ a fair taxation strategy for less-urban areas, so blue cities have to fund the red counties’ school districts. Anybody not actively fighting to improve the political situation there should leave.
I haven’t missed the weather at all.
You’re underwater on a mortgage - this may not be catastrophic if you have a COVID interest rate and the place is rentable. Is that an option?
Don’t let politics rule your life’, friend. I have far right wing opinions and live in what I consider to be a redistributionist socialist utopia, totally hostile to personal economic development. But more likely, like you alluded to, we both probably just spend too much time online getting politically polarized. Nowhere is perfect, and geographical political isolation is bad for the country. I advocate for localization, building the world you want where you are, and socializing even more online. My online friendships are more persistent and convenient, and sometimes deeper and more human than real life.
I’m afraid to ask and be totally disappointed, but where do you live that is a supposed socialist utopia? Cause I don’t know if any that exist in this world so I’m afraid I’m just going to be disappointed by exaggerated rhetoric. Especially since I’ve never known any socialist concept to be hostile to personal economic development. Especially since it kind of requires success on a personal level to even be possible. But I’m hopeful you might know of some utopia I’m unaware of.
Norway?
It’s a great place to live, even though I’m unemployed. My perspective is limited due to personal circumstance though. I’m just saying you can be happy and fulfilled even if you live in a society that doesnt perfectly match your values.
Unemployed, so how do you pay your rent, eat, etc?. Oh you’re in a socialist country, so others people are paying for you? But you’re far-right? It does not make sense…
If there wasn’t so much environmental religious lunacy, I could get a job in a factory more easily.
You’re still ignoring the question which I’m assuming implies you don’t think your stance would hold up to scrutiny. I’m not asking for your street address. I’m fine with just the country. Either you don’t think your beliefs hold up to scrutiny or you’re simply trolling.
Edit: and are you suggesting you believe you should be on the street instead of supported by the socialist programs? Seriously, I feel like you have to be trolling because nothing makes sense. Name the country and put your beliefs where your mouth is or admit to trolling.
OP doesn’t like the state government and has trouble relating to the local community. I have a similar experience and cope by adjusting my lifestyle and not insisting society bend to suit my Mercurial political mood, that’s all.
You’re trying too hard. Why don’t you say more empty statements and avoid saying anything with meaning again.
I can’t wrap my head around someone being purposely “far right wing”. Like, you’re proud of fucking things up for everyone?
I am a very low impact person. I doubt I’ve ever fucked anything important up because of right wing beliefs.
Oh so you don’t vote?
Of course not
Things are going to change fairly soon. That’s why the GOP is so frantic about getting voter suppression and their agenda in place before the demographics change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4FqqVzH8-0&t=22s
This is something that I think about often. There is an argument that progressives should try to stay and change things for the better where they are. I think to some extent, though, that only works if everyone is operating in good faith. The government there is essentially conducting a full assault on any progressive measures. Just recently, Texas passed a law that automatically overrules any city ordinances that they dont like. More progressive cities like Austin can try to pass laws to protect tenants or workers, but it won’t do anything. It’s hard to make a positive impact in those circumstances. You also have to balance out the fact that by living there X% of your paycheck will go to that govt via property/sales tax.
On the other hand, where do you move to? There are lots of communities with skyrocketing real estate prices that they blame on remote workers (not sure how legitimate that is), so people are getting priced out of the communities they’ve been in for ages.
In the end, I think it’s impossible to make a complete moral determination either way. The only thing you can do is just try your best at whatever you do. Whatever you do, I’d definitely recommend trying to build a community wherever you are. You might not be able to get the local laws around you to reflect your values, but you can do your best to help those around you.
There is no “should” here. You feel unhappy with current arrangements and would not mind paying expenses to have better life elsewhere, sure, go ahead. It is your life, you do not owe to anyone, live your life. Stay, or leave, It is still (mostly) free country.
