It's Good To Be a Texan

I just heard on the radio (and read online) about a remarkable study by the Brookings Institute. The Institute ranked the major and medium-sized cities in the nation as far as how well they are performing economically in our current recession. Five of the top six were Texas cities. My current abode San Antonio was the #1 city in the United States as far as economic performance. #3 was Austin, #4 was Houston, #5 was Dallas and #6 was McAllen (a city down near the Texas/Mexico border). (Oh, #2 was Oklahoma City). While we have felt some effects of the recession, I have to say that it has been pretty mild down here. Texas' unemployment rate is 2-4% lower than that of the rest of the nation.

So, why does Texas perform so well? I think it is a mix of factors. First of all, we have a fairly conservative state government (Texas actually turned down some stimulus money because we didn't like the strings that were attached). Texas is one of four states that has no income tax. Therefore, our state's financial well being is not nearly as tied to fluctuating employment as other states. The cost of living down here is nice. We have a pretty balanced economy in this state, lots of energy, government work, as well as having a very pro-business environment. Our border with Mexico helps; NAFTA has probably benefited Texas more than any other state. Liberals could learn a lot from a well run, fiscally conservative state, but they probably won't.


ABOVE: Dez lives in San Antonio, the highest economically performing city in the nation

San Antonio is sort of a perfect microcosm of why the state as a whole is doing so well. SA has a great mix of government work and private sector. Lots of military, but the city also does a fantastic job of bringing in businesses. I was listening to a radio interview with Judge Nelson Wolff (a former mayor of SA and now a county judge), and he explained why San Antonio was so successful and why places like California will never learn their lesson. But the best part of the interview? Wolff was on the phone from Las Vegas, where he just busted out of an Omaha tournament. "I played like a donkey," he said. At least half of the interview was about his poker playing prowess (or lack thereof), even though he was supposed to be calling in to discuss this study.