I can’t swear that the photo here is authentic, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
Of course, strange stuff like this is regional within the U.S. This is not something you’d find in New England. But the culture of places like Texas, and the laws that support it, are far different.
To put it simply, Texas is open. As of 2021, Texas law no longer requires people to have a license to carry (LTC) in order to carry a handgun in most public places. Additionally, Texas has no laws restricting open containers (of alcohol). This means that you can drive around (steering with your knees) with a gun in one hand and an open can of ice-cold beer in the other.
Though this is something that delights Texans to no end, it probably wouldn’t provide the same buzz to the people of Connecticut or Massachusetts.
In addition, Texas is known for a great number of other unseemly anomalies. The state is the death penalty capital of the nation; it’s has been responsible for the most executions over recent years by far, with 593 since 1977 as of mid-February 2025 compared with 448 in the other 49 states combined. Texas has also recently opened the door to massive redistricting, in an attempt to ensure that Republicans have a huge and unfair/illegal majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Many Americans think of Texas as “a good place to avoid,” and it’s not hard to understand why.
I join those who say that the human race has evolved to be tribal and selfish. We are largely indifferent to the needs of others, and the capitalist society we’ve built has only served to reenforce this.
As Tom Waits observed, “We’re monkeys with money and guns.”
Now, are there some extremely decent and kind people spread around the globe? Of course. But they tend not to be the billionaires who make all the important decisions as to the how our culture will conduct itself.
Well, never is a long time, as they say.
Yet imagine this scenario, which is quite possible:
Trump is impeached and removed. Almost immediately, there is an incredible outpouring of information on an additional set of crimes committed by Trump and his administration. Simultaneously, the U.S. morphs into a social democracy, and its people enjoy quality education, access to healthcare, and prosperity, not unlike those in Northern Europe and elsewhere around the globe.
Yes, there will always be Republicans promising mass deportations and whatever else appeals to a dwindling MAGA base, but I would think they will have one hell of a hard time winning a national election.
The GOP can say the American economy is skyrocketing. But then there’s that nasty little piece of reality that people can’t afford groceries and are suffering financially more generally.
Or they can day that people are suffering financially, but it’s Biden’s fault. Oops. Biden left office 588 days ago.
Or they can say that the war in Iran has driven up gas prices, but that will turn immediately because we’ve won the war. Yikes. What can we say about all these bombs?
Or they can say that all the racial hatred and divisiveness is Obama’s fault. No, that’s problematic, since he’s been gone for almost 10 years.
Trump supporters may not be too sharp, but even they are having trouble accepting all this crap.
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