In answer to the question which does Ken Paxton hates more poor people or Houston the answer is clearly Democrats. He will do anything / Everything to hurt Democrats.
The reason we haven't fixed the homeless problem is that Capitalism requires that labor see that the consequences of not engaging in "voluntary" indentured servitude would be severe indeed. Homelessness is the equivalent of debtor's prison except that the inmates aren't kept inside.
Of course they aren't that simple, although I do stand by the essence of the statement. Arranging a society in a way that makes it possible for so many to end up in the dire condition of having to live on the street is an indication that it is somehow considered OK for that to happen. While there are people who end up on the street due to addictions or mental illness there are plenty that end up there due to the fact that we have financialized health care and one major illness can destroy a person's ability to afford a place to live.
If it takes $6000 and a clean credit score to rent a place to live then those on the lower rungs of the economy are constantly at risk unless they have resources to fall back on, and the reality is that your social circle usually reflects your socioeconomic position, so you don't have people with the ability to help in your life.
I do not object to any of what you wrote, I think it implies that there is a lot more conscious direction in our social arrangements than there is. Or rather that it is possible to infer that without your necessarily wanting to imply it. That was the basis for my comment.
Big irony - Houston has done a better job than almost any American city in dealing with homelessness, thanks to housing first policies. I’m sure the GOP will find a way to stop that too.
You’re missing the plot. The reason we’re seeing so much overreach from the state legislature is that they know that they CAN lose is everybody votes. Why do you think the legislature gave the state to right to nullify Houston’s elections if they don’t like the results?
The Nixon Administration experimented with a universal income program in one county (in Wisconsin?) that was shut down basically because it was successful... people who quit jobs were those working two or three jobs, and/or turning their energies to other productive activities or furthering their education. However, the very thought that it would serve the "undeserving" poor just went against ingrained assumptions and the program was dropped.
> ... particularly considering that Justice John Devine appears to have a vendetta against Houston and Harris County in particular.
From that link:
> and now faces state district court Judge Christine Vinh Weems, a Democrat, in the November general election.
Holy crap, I think I know her! At least, I remember a "Christine Vinh", one of my brother's friends in HS.
> Devine then praised Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, who championed numerous laws that were aimed at Harris County in the wake of the 2020 elections. Last year, the Texas Supreme Court declined to block a law, authored by Bettencourt, that removed Harris County’s elections administrator position.
I know that name too! Ages ago, he had some anodyne title like "assessor" or something -- property taxes and speeding tickets went to his office, IIRC.
Bettencourt has been around forever. He lost his job as Harris County Tax Assessor when the Country turned blue in 2008. I’m not sure what (presumably wealthy) enclave of Houston he now represents in the Texas legislature, but I assume he keeps getting re-elected primarily based on name recognition. He certainly does fuck-all to represent the majority of Houston residents.
Jeepers. There are currently about 50,000 households throughout the nation, via 150+ guaranteed income pilots, receiving some form of guaranteed basic income right now. According to stats I heard just yesterday, 91% of that money goes to rent, food, or caring for a family member. In other words, it goes right into the local economy. Public benefit. End of story, KEN.
Um, Ken? https://apnews.com/article/texas-ken-paxton-impeachment-perks-travel-cake-97f8ef6ab925785977ff54b796f6c4f9
Paxton is clearly legally untouchable in Texas.
Laws are pretty shitty bullet protection.
it suddenly struck me that in that particular picture, Ken Paxton looks like a schlumpy man from a Roz Chast cartoon, That is all.
Ta, Robyn. Why not both?
In answer to the question which does Ken Paxton hates more poor people or Houston the answer is clearly Democrats. He will do anything / Everything to hurt Democrats.
I thought "poor people [and] Houston" was the same thing as "Democrats"?
Houston should just do it anyway. Abbott set the precedent.
Also, aren't county sheriffs the "highest Constitutional authority" in the country? Just have the sheriff arrest Paxton.
yes!
close enough to 4:20, I suppose. we just got some Strawberry Lemonade that I was salivating to try all day.
huzzah!
FAHR ITZ UPH!
Would just like to add to the comments here that Ken Paxton is a Texas-sized piece of shit. With or without votes. Thank you.
The reason we haven't fixed the homeless problem is that Capitalism requires that labor see that the consequences of not engaging in "voluntary" indentured servitude would be severe indeed. Homelessness is the equivalent of debtor's prison except that the inmates aren't kept inside.
Fuck Ken Paxton and fuck Ted Cruz.
If only things were that simple.
I have no cavil with your final sentence.
Of course they aren't that simple, although I do stand by the essence of the statement. Arranging a society in a way that makes it possible for so many to end up in the dire condition of having to live on the street is an indication that it is somehow considered OK for that to happen. While there are people who end up on the street due to addictions or mental illness there are plenty that end up there due to the fact that we have financialized health care and one major illness can destroy a person's ability to afford a place to live.
If it takes $6000 and a clean credit score to rent a place to live then those on the lower rungs of the economy are constantly at risk unless they have resources to fall back on, and the reality is that your social circle usually reflects your socioeconomic position, so you don't have people with the ability to help in your life.
I do not object to any of what you wrote, I think it implies that there is a lot more conscious direction in our social arrangements than there is. Or rather that it is possible to infer that without your necessarily wanting to imply it. That was the basis for my comment.
Big irony - Houston has done a better job than almost any American city in dealing with homelessness, thanks to housing first policies. I’m sure the GOP will find a way to stop that too.
Looks like they are trying to prove my hypothesis.
Please, tell me again how the Christo-fascist, hick shithole of Texas is about to turn Blue.
I agree it’s unlikely. But the story is a good reminder that Houston is a good place, better than Texas deserves.
100 million women are poised to vote this yer and they ain't voting gop...
You’re missing the plot. The reason we’re seeing so much overreach from the state legislature is that they know that they CAN lose is everybody votes. Why do you think the legislature gave the state to right to nullify Houston’s elections if they don’t like the results?
GOP house members from texas hold their breath until they are blue in the face to bring on the next government shutdown.
The Nixon Administration experimented with a universal income program in one county (in Wisconsin?) that was shut down basically because it was successful... people who quit jobs were those working two or three jobs, and/or turning their energies to other productive activities or furthering their education. However, the very thought that it would serve the "undeserving" poor just went against ingrained assumptions and the program was dropped.
Texass--the one star state which is determined to remain amurriKKKa's BIGGEST SHITHOLE.
Don’t forget Mississippi.
Nah. Mississippi Goddamn can't hold a candle. Only DeathSatan's Floriduhhhhh is close.
> ... particularly considering that Justice John Devine appears to have a vendetta against Houston and Harris County in particular.
From that link:
> and now faces state district court Judge Christine Vinh Weems, a Democrat, in the November general election.
Holy crap, I think I know her! At least, I remember a "Christine Vinh", one of my brother's friends in HS.
> Devine then praised Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, who championed numerous laws that were aimed at Harris County in the wake of the 2020 elections. Last year, the Texas Supreme Court declined to block a law, authored by Bettencourt, that removed Harris County’s elections administrator position.
I know that name too! Ages ago, he had some anodyne title like "assessor" or something -- property taxes and speeding tickets went to his office, IIRC.
Bettencourt has been around forever. He lost his job as Harris County Tax Assessor when the Country turned blue in 2008. I’m not sure what (presumably wealthy) enclave of Houston he now represents in the Texas legislature, but I assume he keeps getting re-elected primarily based on name recognition. He certainly does fuck-all to represent the majority of Houston residents.
Yeah. And confirmed, Judge Weems is my brother's friend from HS. *AND* it turns out she's *also* somehow friends with my *other* brother.
Well, I’ll be voting for her! Not because she’s your brothers’ friend, but because she’s a Democrat. 😁
Jeepers. There are currently about 50,000 households throughout the nation, via 150+ guaranteed income pilots, receiving some form of guaranteed basic income right now. According to stats I heard just yesterday, 91% of that money goes to rent, food, or caring for a family member. In other words, it goes right into the local economy. Public benefit. End of story, KEN.
Trick question, Robyn... the answer is "he actually hates EVERYONE, including himself"
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚-𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚.
Oh, so is he saying he'd be cool with it if it were a truly 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘭 basic income program?
Oh, he'd still be against it, on principle. That principle being poor people need to suffer.