Texas is a great place for a lot of reasons — barbecue, no-nonsense people, that 85 mph toll road outside of Austin, and the culture of freedom that pervades everything. But that freedom culture only goes as far our elected officials say it does.
Especially when money is involved. Take Tesla’s fight to sell direct in Texas, for example. The state touts itself as a pro-business, pro-free market state, but as soon as someone fucks with entrenched and lucrative car dealer lobbying — well! Then it has to be snuffed out before it can ruin everything.
I love my state but hate our politicians. Our freedom is paramount right until it threatens their campaign contributors.
Hate to break it to you all, but that’s pretty much how it works in the rest of the country too.
SleestakJak gets the runner-up award for this Texas-specific comment:
Yeah, but for the most part, I love the way we only let them make laws for 6 months every other year.
Let’s be thankful for small favors.
Congrats to both of you, and may you one day hoon your Teslas free of tyrannical government interference!
Contact the author at patrick@jalopnik.com.