Why Texas Is the New Golden State (As if We Needed More Evidence)

 

shutterstock_174277178Over dinner yesterday evening with an entrepreneur in the medical devices business, I learned yet another lesson in the difference between the Golden and the Lone Star states.

One of his new products requires silicon chips, the entrepreneur explained, and, because he was able to purchase a small plant that had already received the necessary permits, he’s able to produce the chips right here in California.

For now.

But as his business grows?

“Getting the permits we’d need to license a new facility here in California would take two years,” the entrepreneur said. “Getting permits in Texas would take six weeks.”

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  1. Wiley Inactive
    Wiley
    @Wiley

    Go Texas!

    • #1
  2. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Yet another example.

    Peter, your true home is the Lone Star State.

    • #2
  3. Casey Inactive
    Casey
    @Casey

    What are these permits and why are they necessary at all?

    Without having a comparison 6 weeks sounds like a long time.

    • #3
  4. Marion Evans Inactive
    Marion Evans
    @MarionEvans

    Texas is good for business and taxes but California,… well it’s California.

    • #4
  5. Michael Farrow Inactive
    Michael Farrow
    @MichaelFarrow

    We don’t need yer stink’n chip plant! We got yer Facebook and Twitter!

    • #5
  6. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    And so many other things would be better here if the governor of Texas (and other states) declared the right to enforce the ignored and maligned tenth amendment.  We need a Marbury for the states to assert their own power to read the Constitution.

    Yeah, just barely on topic, but I really want this idea to catch on.

    • #6
  7. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    It’s like Rick Perry always said: “Texas is open for business.” He would have been a great president.

    • #7
  8. M.D. Wenzel Inactive
    M.D. Wenzel
    @MDWenzel

    It’s amazing to see all of the growth here in Dallas. Construction cranes in every direction as far as the eye can see.  I do worry that all the people following jobs here from blue states will eventually change the politics. California was once a state that elected Reagan as governor, and look at it now.

    • #8
  9. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    M.D. Wenzel:It’s amazing to see all of the growth here in Dallas. Construction cranes in every direction as far as the eye can see. I do worry that all the people following jobs here from blue states will eventually change the politics. California was once a state that elected Reagan as governor, and look at it now.

    I hear there’s a movement afoot to turn Texas into a blue state. Most people laugh and say it could never happen. After the last 20 years, I hardly ever say that anymore. And look what they did to Colorado, a former red state.

    owl stoned

    • #9
  10. Schwaibold Inactive
    Schwaibold
    @Schwaibold

    My parents moved us from Bergen County, NJ to Texas when I was 11, and I took to the Lone Star State like a hog to persimmons. Now I’m happy as a clam at high tide.

    The Dallas-Fort Worth area is great…except in the summer, when it’s hotter than blue blazes. Oh, and the winters can get colder than a cast iron commode. Things are also kind of spread out; my daily commute’s so long I have to grease the wagon twice before I hit the main road.

    If you do visit Texas, you must learn the language. I’d tell all y’all some more, but I’m fixin’ to start fixin’ dinner.

    I still have family back in New Jersey….bless their heart.

    • #10
  11. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Schwaibold: Oh, and the winters can get colder than a cast iron commode.

    Average low temp in Dallas in January: 34

    Average low temp in Minneapolis in January: 7

    Y’all are soft.

    • #11
  12. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    James Lileks:

    Schwaibold: Oh, and the winters can get colder than a cast iron commode.

    Average low temp in Dallas in January: 34

    Average low temp in Minneapolis in January: 7

    Y’all are soft.

    Ha! I am 3 or 4 hours south of Dallas, where it’s much hotter. The year we moved here from Chicago (average daily winter temp: -21 with the Wind Chill Factor), my aunt called me. She asked where my husband was, and I said he was outside mowing the lawn. It was 40 degrees outside. She gasped and said, “You get him inside raht nayow! He’ll freeze to death!” And she was perfectly serious.

    • #12
  13. Schwaibold Inactive
    Schwaibold
    @Schwaibold

    James Lileks:

    Schwaibold: Oh, and the winters can get colder than a cast iron commode.

    Average low temp in Dallas in January: 34

    Average low temp in Minneapolis in January: 7

    Y’all are soft.

    I guess all the 100+ degree days this summer softened me up. Soft as a two minute egg.

    • #13
  14. CuriousKevmo Inactive
    CuriousKevmo
    @CuriousKevmo

    I keep hearing this but, it is VERY easy to argue that the Blue model works because all visible signs are that California is just fine.  It’s still something like the 5th or 6th biggest economy in the world.  Jobs are plentiful, I have over a dozen open roles for high paid positions that I cannot fill.  I just sold my house for over twice what I paid for it 10 years ago.

    I keep thinking it can’t last, but it does, it just keeps going and going and going.  I remember a news story back when Mr. Perry was running for President and mentioning how much better Texas was for business;  as the story wound to a close the newscasters just had a good little chuckle at Mr. Perry’s expense because from here in the bay area everything is peachy.

    I know these things can change quickly but right now it’s hard to imagine this place doing anything but getting darker and darker blue.

    As someone that is trying to build a home, I can see all the regs and hurdles, but it still seems to work.

    • #14
  15. EB Thatcher
    EB
    @EB

    M.D. Wenzel:It’s amazing to see all of the growth here in Dallas. Construction cranes in every direction as far as the eye can see. I do worry that all the people following jobs here from blue states will eventually change the politics. California was once a state that elected Reagan as governor, and look at it now.

    Years ago, I heard Meldrim Thompson (3-term Governor of New Hampshire in the 70’s) speak.  He said that people from Massachusetts moved to NH because of the state’s low taxes and then started asking and voting for services and benefits that would require high taxes to fund.

    • #15
  16. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    EB:

    M.D. Wenzel:It’s amazing to see all of the growth here in Dallas. Construction cranes in every direction as far as the eye can see. I do worry that all the people following jobs here from blue states will eventually change the politics. California was once a state that elected Reagan as governor, and look at it now.

    Years ago, I heard Meldrim Thompson (3-term Governor of New Hampshire in the 70’s) speak. He said that people from Massachusetts moved to NH because of the state’s low taxes and then started asking and voting for services and benefits that would require high taxes to fund.

    Yep. And Austin has a ton of California transplants thanks to Dell. They came here and drove housing prices through the stratosphere, then Dell moved most of its operations to Atlanta. We still have the high real estate prices.

    • #16
  17. Simon Templar Member
    Simon Templar
    @

    RightAngles:It’s like Rick Perry always said: “Texas is open for business.” He would have been a great president.

    I think so too unfortunately, The Debate.

    • #17
  18. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Simon Templar:

    RightAngles:It’s like Rick Perry always said: “Texas is open for business.” He would have been a great president.

    I think so too unfortunately, The Debate.

    Too much importance is given to the debates, and they had way too many. If we went by who the best debater was, we’d have Newt Gingrich for pete’s sake. Perry had had back surgery and was on pain medication. It was a travesty.

    • #18
  19. Simon Templar Member
    Simon Templar
    @

    RightAngles:

    Simon Templar:

    RightAngles:It’s like Rick Perry always said: “Texas is open for business.” He would have been a great president.

    I think so too unfortunately, The Debate.

    Too much importance is given to the debates, and they had way too many. If we went by who the best debater was, we’d have Newt Gingrich for pete’s sake. Perry had had back surgery and was on pain medication. It was a travesty.

    We are in violent agreement.

    • #19
  20. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Simon Templar:

    RightAngles:

    Simon Templar:

    RightAngles:It’s like Rick Perry always said: “Texas is open for business.” He would have been a great president.

    I think so too unfortunately, The Debate.

    Too much importance is given to the debates, and they had way too many. If we went by who the best debater was, we’d have Newt Gingrich for pete’s sake. Perry had had back surgery and was on pain medication. It was a travesty.

    We are in violent agreement.

    Everything about you is violent. I like that in a person.

    • #20
  21. Israel P. Inactive
    Israel P.
    @IsraelP

    RightAngles: Perry had had back surgery and was on pain medication. It was a travesty.

    When I first heard the “back surgery / medication” story, I wondered what the discussion was beforehand within the campaign. Was anyone saying “Governor, maybe you should skip this one?”

    If so what were the counter-arguments that temporarily won the day?

    Or was everyone hesitant even to pose the question.

    • #21
  22. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    Be careful what you wish for, Texans (and fans of Texas). Remember what lots of Californians moving in did to Oregon, Washington, and Colorado.

    • #22
  23. iWe Coolidge
    iWe
    @iWe

    CuriousKevmo: I keep thinking it can’t last, but [California] does, it just keeps going and going and going.

    This is due most of all to the illegal immigrants. First world countries do very well when they have a third-world work force available. The black/gray market in California not only keeps the economy going, but it makes life much easier for knowledge workers.

    A lot can be accomplished by high-value creative types when menial tasks are handled by low-cost immigrants.

    I used to live in the UK, which has similar benefits: 5-8 hour/day au pairs can be had for $60/week + room and board. Result? Higher productivity for the rest of us.

    • #23
  24. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    I fear Texas isn’t the replacement, it’s the delay.  California is suffering the costs most directly, yet can’t change.  Doesn’t seem to want to.   California is our future, and Chicago and Detroit ghettos the lot of  a giant under class.

    • #24
  25. Joe P Member
    Joe P
    @JoeP

    EB:

    M.D. Wenzel:It’s amazing to see all of the growth here in Dallas. Construction cranes in every direction as far as the eye can see. I do worry that all the people following jobs here from blue states will eventually change the politics. California was once a state that elected Reagan as governor, and look at it now.

    Years ago, I heard Meldrim Thompson (3-term Governor of New Hampshire in the 70’s) speak. He said that people from Massachusetts moved to NH because of the state’s low taxes and then started asking and voting for services and benefits that would require high taxes to fund.

    I would be less worried about that happening in Texas, because Texas is Texas.

    That is, Texas is a distinct and faraway place compared to most blue states, and everyone knows it’s a red state. You can’t move there without knowing what you’re getting in to and accepting it. Contrast that with New Hampshire, with a large amount of its population in commuting distance of the Boston Metropolitan Area. You can move to New Hampshire from Massachusetts and still keep your same job and social circle if you’re willing to spend a little bit more time in traffic. Thus, you’re less likely to have your prior beliefs challenged to any appreciable degree.

    • #25
  26. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    EB: Years ago, I heard Meldrim Thompson (3-term Governor of New Hampshire in the 70’s) speak. He said that people from Massachusetts moved to NH because of the state’s low taxes and then started asking and voting for services and benefits that would require high taxes to fund.

    Which reminds me:

    To folks from Blue States who believe in Anthroprogenic Global Warming:

    The weather here is Texas is awful. It’s hotter than the hinges of Hades. This is the state about which General Billy Sherman said, “If I owned Hell and Texas, I’d rent out Texas and live in Hell.” It is humid, too. Hot, sticky, and humid, especially on the Gulf Coast. According to Al Gore, John Kerry, Barrack Obama it is only going to get hotter and nastier. So don’t come here. You will hate it.

    As for those of you who are climate skeptics?

    A Texas winter beats a Michigan winter all hollow, and makes the Texas summer endurable. Besides everything is air conditioned, and thanks to George Mitchell (of blessed memory) and fracking, energy is cheap.  Besides, we know the Earth is cooling, thanks to the sunspot cycle, and that means Texas will get more temperate.

    (That should bring the right sort to Texas.)

    Seawriter

    • #26
  27. ctlaw Coolidge
    ctlaw
    @ctlaw

    Michael Farrow:We don’t need yer stink’n chip plant! We got yer Facebook and Twitter!

    Do you really have them?

    • #27
  28. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    James Lileks:

    Schwaibold: Oh, and the winters can get colder than a cast iron commode.

    Average low temp in Dallas in January: 34

    Average low temp in Minneapolis in January: 7

    Y’all are soft.

    You’ve got more options for dealing with cold than with heat. Creampuff. Try six weeks of 110+ and one of them with no airconditioning at all. None.

    • #28
  29. Songwriter Inactive
    Songwriter
    @user_19450

    James Lileks:

    Schwaibold: Oh, and the winters can get colder than a cast iron commode.

    Average low temp in Dallas in January: 34

    Average low temp in Minneapolis in January: 7

    Y’all are soft.

    The average annual temperature in Texas is quite mild.  But that’s because the extremes balance one another out.  I’m not saying Dallas is colder than Minneapolis. (I’m not sure that even Antarctica can claim that distinction.) But the extreme temps in Dallas make the average temps deceiving. My wife was pregnant with our 2nd child in the middle of  an ice storm that shut Dallas down for a couple of weeks. Then six months later, our son was born in the middle of a record-breaking heat wave.

    PS – Appreciate that you used “y’all” correctly!

    • #29
  30. Quake Voter Inactive
    Quake Voter
    @QuakeVoter

    We can’t let this pregnant post lie stillborn on page one, can we?

    So here goes.

    iWe, your post at #23 reads like a perfect synthesis of Kaelism and Calhounism.  Cannot think of a set of condescending and destructive views which stikes a sharper knife deeper into a republic of independent citizens.  Forgive me if I missed the irony or the world weary acceptance.

    The attempt to fix the blame for the demographic changes which are turning red states blue on the exodus of blue state businesses and white collar workers seems misplaced in most instances.  Yes, there are specific cases like the southern county suburbs in NH, but I suspect many of the open border or open borderish persuasion simply don’t want to face the republic killing consequences of their preferences.

    And, lastly, we should start to realize that the blue state model works for many.  GOP and conservative rhetoric which equates left-of-center policies with Detroit is likewise an evasion from many other factors which account for urban dystopias  (which can stop short of the “full Derb”).   Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York south of Greene County et al. are all deep blue and very successful by their own values (not mine).

    On to page two…

    • #30
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