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23 Questions Bret Baier Should Ask Kamala Harris

Bret Baier of Fox News requested people to send him potential questions to ask Kamala Harris when he interviews her today, October 16, 2014. The 23 questions I sent him follow. It will be interesting to see if he asks any. It would be amazing that if he does, she actually gives a non-evasive response.

The 23 Questions


1) During a 2022 interview you claimed the U.S. southern border was “secure.” Was that in fact the case?

2) You have been a vocal supporter of bail reform, advocating for the end of cash bail. Cities that enacted those policies have seen massive increases in crime. Do you still support that stance?

3) The Biden/Harris administration set goals for 50% of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2030. Is that still your position?

4) During your presidential campaign, you endorsed “Medicare for All.” What made you change your mind?

5) You promoted a bail fund that helped release protesters during the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations. George Howard was released on bail with the help of the bail fund. Weeks after his release, Howard was charged with murder in a road-rage incident when he shot and killed a driver on an interstate. Do you now regret promoting that bail fund?

6) You called Jussie Smollett’s alleged attack a “modern-day lynching” before details emerged that the incident was a hoax. As someone who has been a prosecutor, do you believe it is prudent to pass judgment before the facts are known?

7) You once questioned an ICE official by comparing ICE’s actions to the Ku Klux Klan. Do you still believe the comparison is valid? If not, why not?

8 ) You said you were, “the last person in the room” when the decision was made for the Afghanistan withdrawal which resulted in the tragic and unnecessary loss of 13 service members and the abandonment of billions of dollars in military equipment. Do you stand by the decision and believe the withdrawal was done prudently?

9) You criticized voter ID laws, claiming that they suppress voters, particularly minorities. Do you believe that minorities tend to not have government IDs? If so, how did you conclude that?

10) In 2021 and 2022 echoed statements from the administration that inflation was “transitory,” and a temporary result of pandemic-related supply chain disruptions and would quickly subside. And yet, inflation remains and prices remain high. What made you believe that they were transitory?

11) Do you support “packing the Supreme Court” and, if so, if you were elected, would you work to eliminate the filibuster so that you could pack the court?

12) Do you believe that those that have crossed the border into our country illegally and without visas have not committed a crime and are not criminals?

13) As California Attorney General, you defended the state’s death penalty in court. Why then did you not seek the death penalty for the man that murdered San Francisco Police Officer Isaac Espinoza?

14) During your previous presidential campaign, you stated, “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking.” What is your current stance on fracking?

15) While serving as California’s Attorney General, you had a record of enforcing strict drug laws, including prosecuting marijuana-related offenses. In 2014, you laughed when asked about the possibility of legalizing marijuana. Do you now support marijuana legalization? If so, what changed your mind?

16) Why did you claim that you smoked marijuana in college while listening to rap artists Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg when, in fact, those artists had not yet released music when you were in college?

17) When Christine Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, you adamantly stated, “I believe her.” Do you adamantly believe the accusations that your husband slapped a former girlfriend?

18) When Israeli forces entered Rafah in southern Gaza, they uncovered significant Hamas military infrastructure. This included a vast network of tunnels, with many homes and civilian buildings used to hide these tunnel shafts. Additionally, the IDF discovered large stockpiles of weapons, including assault rifles (such as AK-47s), rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and ammunition. They also dismantled rocket launchers that Hamas had hidden in the area. Do you now believe the administration’s request that Israel not enter Rafah was wrong?

19) As of the latest updates, seven Americans are still being held hostage by Hamas. As Hamas serves as a proxy of the Iranian government and is predominantly funded by them, why has your administration not held the Iranian government directly accountable for the hostages and not threatened direct action against the Iranians if the American hostages are not released?

20) Since the October 11, 2023 attack on Israel, the US has seen a marked increase in antisemitism throughout the country, primarily in cities and on college campuses. What specific legal actions can voters expect from your administration to tamper down this increase in racist behavior?

21) The Biden/Harris administration eased several of the sanctions placed against Iran by the Trump administration. One end result was the release of $6 Billion dollars in Iranian assets. Many believe much of this was used to support Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen. If you win the election will you renew sanctions against Iran?

22) The Biden/Harris administration removed the Houthis from the Foreign Terrorist Organization list in February 2021. Since then the Houthis are wreaking havoc on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. As president, what specific actions would you take to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea? Would you place the Houthis back on the terror list? Do you now believe it was a mistake to remove them from the terror list?

23) Do you believe Joe Biden is sufficiently mentally competent to remain in office for the remainder of his term? If so, why do you believe he dropped out of the race? If not, why have you not proceeded with your duties as outlined in the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution to remove him?

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Some day there will be an African American…

Pictures of Pierre Caliste Landry Alexander Twilight Joseph Rainey Hiram Rhodes Revels Lawrence Douglas Wilder Colin Powell Thurgood Marshall Eric Holder Lloyd J. Austin Kamala Harris Barack Obama Robert L. Johnson

The myth of African American Upward Immobility

Introduction

This brief post demonstrates, by example, that African Americans have attained the highest level in both government and industry. It is an argument against the slander of “White Privilege” and shows that the only true barriers faced by African Americans for success is a lack of vision, ambition, will and fortitude.

Some day, there will be an African American mayor in the USA.1

Some day there will be an African American member of a state legislature.2

Some day there will be an African American member of Congress in the USA.3

Some day there will be an African American US Senator.4

Some day there will be an African American state governor.5

Some day there will be an African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the USA.6

Some day there will be an African American member of the Supreme Court in the USA.7

Some day there will be an African American Attorney General in the USA.8

Some day there will be an African American Secretary of Defense in the USA.9

Some day there will be an African American Secretary of State in the USA.10

Some day there will be an African American Vice President of the USA.11

Some day there will be an African American President of the USA.12

Some day there will be an African American billionaire in the USA.13

In fact, there already has been all of these…

Picture of Pierre-Caliste-Landry 1The first African American mayor of a town in the United States was Pierre Caliste Landry, who became the mayor of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, in 1868. Landry, born into slavery in 1841, was emancipated after the Civil War and went on to become a significant political figure during the Reconstruction era. His election as mayor marked a historic moment in U.S. history, as he became the first African American to hold such an office in any town or city in the country.

Economic Circumstances: Poor (Born into slavery)

Household: Single parent (raised by his mother after his father was sold to another plantation)

2The first African American to serve in a state legislature in the United States was Alexander Twilight. He was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1836. Twilight was a minister and educator, and he is recognized as the first African American to serve in a state legislature.

Economic Circumstances: Poor to middle class (Worked from a young age to support his education)

Household: Two-parent household until the death of his father, after which his mother struggled to support the family.

Picture of Joseph Hayne Rainey 3The first African American member of the lower house of Congress (the U.S. House of Representatives) was Joseph Rainey. He was elected as a Republican to represent South Carolina’s 1st congressional district and served from 1870 to 1879.

Economic Circumstances: Middle class (Born into slavery, but his father, who was a barber, was able to purchase freedom for the family)

Household: Two-parent household

Picture of Hiram Rhodes Revels 4The first African American to serve as a U.S. Senator was Hiram Rhodes Revels. He was elected in 1870 during the Reconstruction era to represent the state of Mississippi.

Economic Circumstances: Middle class (Born free to free parents, his father was a Baptist preacher)

Household: Two-parent household

Picture of Lawrence Douglas Wilder 5The first African American state governor in the United States was Lawrence Douglas Wilder. He was elected as the governor of Virginia and served from 1990 to 1994.

Economic Circumstances: Middle class (Born to a working-class family; his parents were both hard-working and instilled the value of education)

Household: Two-parent household

Picture of Colin Powell 6The first African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the USA was General Colin Powell. He served as Chairman from October 1, 1989, to September 30, 1993.

Economic Circumstances: Working class to lower middle class (Born to Jamaican immigrants in Harlem, New York, who worked in low-paying jobs)

Household: Two-parent household

Picture of Thurgood Marshall 7 The first African American member of the U.S. Supreme Court was Thurgood Marshall. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and served on the Supreme Court from 1967 to 1991.

Economic Circumstances: Middle class (His father worked as a railroad porter and his mother was a teacher)

Household: Two-parent household

Picture of Eric Holder 8The first African American Attorney General of the United States was Eric Holder. He served as Attorney General from 2009 to 2015.

Economic Circumstances: Middle class (Born to a Barbadian father who was a real estate broker and a New Jersey-born mother who was a teacher)

Household: Two-parent household

Picture of Lloyd Austin 9The first African American to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Defense is Lloyd J. Austin III.

Economic Circumstances: Working class (Raised in a modest household; his father worked as a postal worker)

Household: Two-parent household

Picture of Colin Powell 10The first African American to serve as Secretary of State in the United States was Colin Powell.

Picture of Kamala Harris 11The first African American Vice President of the United States is Kamala Harris. She was inaugurated on January 20, 2021.

Economic Circumstances: Middle class (Her mother was a scientist and her father was an economist)

Household: Initially two-parent, later single parent (Her parents divorced when she was seven)

Barack Obama 12The first African American President of the United States was Barack Obama.

Economic Circumstances: Middle class (His mother was a student and his father was a government economist)

Household: Single parent (Raised mostly by his mother and grandparents after his parents separated)

Picture of Robert Johnson 13The first African American billionaire in the USA was Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television.

Economic Circumstances: Working class to middle class (One of ten children, his father was a farmer and his mother was a schoolteacher)

Household: Two-parent household

Some Conclusions

The only real barrier for African Americans to be successful in the United States is a lack of vision, focus, ambition and hard work. In virtually every case listed these leaders rose from either extreme poverty or, at best the lower middle class. Further, in most instances, they were raised in two-parent households.

#AfricanAmerican #Congress #Senator #President #VicePresident #Mayor #Governor #Billionaire

African Americans
Government
Success
Upward Mobility
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A Case for Public School Vouchers

Seal of the United States Department of Education with a red X on it
Seal of the United States Department of Education with a red X on it

Public Schools Cater to Exceptional Students

Generally speaking, public schools have morphed from being institutions that serve the many, to institutions that serve the few. On the one extreme by law, and on the other extreme by choice, public schools now cater, primarily, to exceptional students.

By law, schools must expend considerable resources for exceptional students with physical, emotional or mental issues. This is not a bad thing, but it is a real thing. These exceptional students require expensive services that impact school budgets significantly.

On the other side of the spectrum, schools spend considerable amounts of their budgets on gifted exceptional students. This manifests itself in college preparatory classes that typically have smaller class sizes. The benefit for schools in providing these classes is that it encourages wealthy families to move into the school district, increasing housing costs and therefore increasing property taxes which therefore increase the schools’ coffers. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a real thing.

OK, so what’s the problem?

The end result of public schools focusing on exceptional students is twofold. First, those that are not exceptional on either end of the spectrum tend to get left out. There are fewer after school programs (sports, etc.) and fewer elective course offerings such as shop, music, etc. Non-exceptional students graduating from public schools now do not receive the varied education they received just a few decades ago.

Further, as wealthy families move in and drive housing prices up, middle and lower income families get pushed out. The end result for them is having to send their children to less desirable school districts. And in these school districts, even those students gifted academically suffer as there aren’t college prep classes and the overall academic standards tend to be lower.

So what is the alternative?

Most states mandate children be in school and receiving an education until the age of 16. This mandate is inarguably a good thing. However, nowhere is there a mandate that the education be provided by a publicly funded institution. And as Hamlet said in his soliloquy, “”Aye, there’s the rub.”

The vast majority of Americans do not have the financial resources to send their children to private schools. And for those children that do not fall on either end of the “exceptional spectrum,” for the most part they are relegated to what is at best a mediocre education. They are set up to fail in life and are at a significant disadvantage to those that have received an appropriate education.

This is why school vouchers make sense. With money available, a free market would create schools to service a more varied student body. They would specialize and provide a better education more appropriate for individuals rather than more the generic masses. Further, over time, and probably not much time, competition would create much better schools. Essentially everyone, with the possible exception of teachers’ unions, would benefit. And, in fact, many teachers in unions would like be incented to leave and teach in specialized schools which would be more rewarding to them, and where they would provide a better education for their students.

But hey, where’s the money for all of this?

As it turns out the money is already there. The real issue is on how the money is allocated. Let’s start with the Department of Education.

US Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education was established by the Department of Education Organization Act, signed into law by President Jimmy Carter. The department officially began operations on May 4, 1980. The primary aim was to ensure access to education and to improve the quality of education across the nation. It was created to consolidate several federal education programs and to provide a cabinet-level voice for education. It is estimated that approximately $2.1 trillion has been allocated to it since its inception.

Many individuals advocate for the elimination of the Department of Education for several reasons. Critics argue that the federal oversight of education infringes on states’ rights and local control, leading to a one-size-fits-all approach that does not account for regional differences and needs. They believe that local and state governments are better suited to address the specific educational requirements of their communities. Additionally, some opponents view the department as an example of federal overreach and bureaucratic inefficiency, citing its significant budget with perceived limited impact on improving educational outcomes. They propose that eliminating the Department of Education would reduce federal spending and bureaucracy, and potentially lead to more innovative and effective educational policies tailored to local needs.

The current annual budget for the U.S. Department of Education for fiscal year 2024 is $67.4 billion. As of the most recent data, approximately 50.7 million students are enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools (kindergarten through grade 12) in the United States. This figure includes students attending traditional public schools and public charter schools. Therefore, the current the Department of Education is ~ $1,329 per student.

Now let’s look at educational funding by state.

Spending Per Student By State

The average amount spent per pupil for all 50 states is $12,798. The median per pupil for all states is $11,455. At $24,875 per student, New York spends the most and at $7,440, Idaho spends the least. New York is ranked as 14th in academic achievement. Idaho is ranked 32nd.

Adding the average spent per pupil by the Department of Education ($1,329) to the average spent per pupil by all states ($12,798) equals, on average, for each US public student is $14,127. This is on peer with what Illinois spends per student, $14,685. Illinois is ranked 18th overall in terms of academic achievement.

But aren’t private schools ridiculously expensive?

Private School Tuition

The average annual tuition for private schools in the United States in 2024 is approximately $12,832. This average can vary significantly depending on the type of school and the state. For example, private elementary school tuition averages around $11,915 per year, while private high school tuition averages about $16,408 per year​.

The cost can also differ widely by state. Connecticut has the highest average tuition at about $29,433 per year, whereas South Dakota has the lowest at approximately $4,212 per year​.

Additionally, the cost structure can differ between religious and nonsectarian schools. For instance, Catholic schools often have lower tuition rates, with elementary school tuition averaging $4,840 per year and secondary schools about $11,240 per year. Nonsectarian schools tend to have higher tuition rates, averaging $25,700 annually​.

Drum roll, please…

So, as it turns out, there is plenty of money available for each and every child in the United States to receive a high-quality education, more suitably tailored to their needs than that provided by a generalized public school education. There are really only two issues: 1) how the money is allocated, and; 2) how do parents disassemble powerful teacher’s unions that are impeding this reallocation.

It really comes down to choosing whether you want a centralized, bureaucratic agency dictating how education dollars are spent, or if you want more localized and personalized control. Voting certainly has consequences.

Following are some tables of raw data. If you found this essay useful, please share it.

The Raw Data

Spending Per Student by State

StateAvg $ Spend/Student
Alabama9,870
Alaska17,480
Arizona8,275
Arkansas9,915
California13,650
Colorado10,475
Connecticut20,445
Delaware15,235
Florida9,605
Georgia10,955
Hawaii15,415
Idaho7,440
Illinois14,685
Indiana10,785
Iowa10,990
Kansas10,930
Kentucky10,725
Louisiana11,035
Maine15,700
Maryland15,755
Massachusetts20,740
Michigan11,405
Minnesota13,995
Mississippi9,180
Missouri10,260
Montana11,975
Nebraska11,435
Nevada11,675
New Hampshire9,395
New Jersey19,600
New Mexico9,940
New York24,875
North Carolina9,755
North Dakota13,105
Ohio11,945
Oklahoma11,025
Oregon11,475
Pennsylvania17,045
Rhode Island17,400
South Carolina11,885
South Dakota10,375
Tennessee11,620
Texas10,890
Utah9,875
Vermont8,155
Virginia22,045
Washington11,890
West Virginia13,465
Wisconsin10,775
Wyoming13,315
Average12,798
Median11,455

Spending Per Student by State Ranked Lowest to Highest

StateSpending per Student
Idaho7,440
Vermont8,155
Arizona8,275
Mississippi9,180
New Hampshire9,395
Florida9,605
North Carolina9,755
Alabama9,870
Utah9,875
Arkansas9,915
New Mexico9,940
Missouri10,260
South Dakota10,375
Colorado10,475
Kentucky10,725
Wisconsin10,775
Indiana10,785
Texas10,890
Kansas10,930
Georgia10,955
Iowa10,990
Oklahoma11,025
Louisiana11,035
Michigan11,405
Nebraska11,435
Oregon11,475
Tennessee11,620
Nevada11,675
South Carolina11,885
Washington11,890
Ohio11,945
Montana11,975
North Dakota13,105
Wyoming13,315
West Virginia13,465
California13,650
Minnesota13,995
Illinois14,685
Delaware15,235
Hawaii15,415
Maine15,700
Maryland15,755
Pennsylvania17,045
Rhode Island17,400
Alaska17,480
New Jersey19,600
Connecticut20,445
Massachusetts20,740
Virginia22,045
New York24,875

Academic Ranking Per State

RankState
1Massachusetts
2Connecticut
3New Jersey
4Virginia
5New Hampshire
6Maryland
7Delaware
8Nebraska
9Wisconsin
10Vermont
11Maine
12Minnesota
13Pennsylvania
14New York
15Iowa
16Colorado
17South Dakota
18Illinois
19Ohio
20Rhode Island
21North Dakota
22Indiana
23Oregon
24North Dakota
25Missouri
26Montana
27Kansas
28Michigan
29Kentucky
30Georgia
31Arkansas
32Idaho
33West Virginia
34Alaska
35Hawaii
36Utah
37Texas
38Mississippi
39California
40Tennessee
41Florida
42North Carolina
43Oklahoma
44South Carolina
45Alabama
46New Mexico
47Nevada
48Louisiana
49Arizona
50West Virginia
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Rename public schools for Medal of Honor recipients

Picture of the Congressional Medal of Honor
Congressional Medal of Honor

The recent incident in Washington D.C., where pro-Hamas protesters burned the American flag and raised the Palestinian flag, has left me deeply disturbed and worried. I am appalled by their actions and troubled by the apparent lack of awareness among American youth.

While ignorance isn’t easily fixed, I believe that instilling a sense of gratitude for being American from a young age is crucial. One way to achieve this could be by renaming public elementary schools in honor of those who have sacrificed for our country, particularly those awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States, is awarded to armed forces members who have shown exceptional valor and bravery. This award has been given across numerous conflicts, including the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and more recent engagements like the War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In these schools, plaques should prominently display the reasons for the recipient’s award, and, where possible, a bust of the recipient should be included. Before graduating, every student should know the complete story of their school’s namesake.

According to 2021 data, there are 67,408 public elementary schools in the United States. Ideally, schools should be renamed after Medal of Honor recipients who grew up nearby, making the honor more personal and significant for the local community.

The U.S. Department of Education’s budget for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $90 billion. Since its inception in 1979, the Department has received around $3.15 trillion. Given the perceived inefficiency of this spending, I propose reallocating a portion of the Department’s budget to fund the renaming of schools. This initiative would not only honor our heroes but also foster a deeper appreciation of our nation’s values among the youth.

#Education #Patriotism #MedalOfHonor

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In Austin and renting? Read this.

Photo of downtown San Antonio from San Antonio Current

The Hypothesis

To begin, I posit two items: 1) If you’re living in Austin and in hi-tech, you’re younger than me, and; 2) you are likely a lot smarter than me… Having established that you are likely younger and smarter than me, let me also establish that as an end result of being older, there’s a good chance I’m wiser than you. And the purpose of this missive is for me to share some of that wisdom with you.

The Situation

If you live in Austin and are renting your home, you are making someone else wealthy and making yourself poorer. In Austin, average rent is $2,245/month. And with a median price for a home in Austin $624K, even if you want to buy, chances are you’ve been priced out of the market. What’s more, every month it is getting worse.

The Alternative

For about the same you are now paying for rent – at your loss and someone else’s gain – you could be building equity in your own home, enjoying significant tax benefits – which effectively lower your monthly payments – and looking out for the long term. Generally speaking, over the long term, housing is among the best, safest and most predictable investments one may make. And this has been true for over 150 years.

Right now, today, for what you’re paying in rent, you could be paying off a 30-year loan on a $415K home. And that number includes the amount towards principal, interest, tax and insurance (PITI.) 

The scenario depicted assumes a 20% down payment and assumptions about tax and insurance. And depending upon the loan you seek, the down payment can be as little as 5%, 3.5% and even 0%.

US veterans are eligible for 0% down loans. And even if you are not a veteran, you may qualify for a 0% down loan from the USDA, yes the Agricultural Department! In addition, The State of Texas has numerous programs for first-time homebuyers and Texas veterans. And I have partners that can help you determine what you qualify for. Allow me to introduce you to them.

But Where?

San Antonio, TX is now among the country’s top 10 moving destinations, ahead of even Austin and Dallas. And, at only about a 90-minute drive to Austin (heck, it can take two hours to drive from San Jose to San Francisco) San Antonio is near enough to commute to the office a couple of days a week, while being far enough away to avoid the high housing costs and rampant homelessness. And New Braunfels, roughly halfway between the two cities, is served by two international airports and is a truly wonderful place to live.

And while the median cost of a home in Austin is $624K, at $305K, the median cost of a home in San Antonio is less than half. The average cost of of a home in San Antonio at $351K is a little more than half that price. What this means is that you can get an equivalent home for roughly half the price.

What’s more, because of its vibrant downtown, pedestrian-friendly streets and concentration of tech and healthcare jobs, San Antonio is now rated as one of the best cities to buy a home. This is even more so for those who either have children or are planning to.

Stop Procrastinating

Because of increasing interest rates and rapidly rising rental and home prices, each month you delay will make it more difficult and more expensive to buy a home. Stop procrastinating! From now on, every time you write your rent check imagine your landlord getting richer and you getting poorer. 

Be in charge of your finances. Be independent. Be an adult. Be a homeowner. 

Time For Action

Okay, so you’re younger and smarter than me. And now you have my wisdom; it’s time to do something with your smarts and wisdom. Think about the configuration of the ideal home you’d like to have and the minimal home you’d like to have. Think about “must-haves” and “have-to-haves.” Think about the type of neighborhood you’d prefer, urban, suburban, rural and anything in between. Then reach out to me.

We’ll discuss what you’re looking for and, if you’d like, we can then spend a day or two touring neighborhoods and homes to help narrow down what truly suits you. Additionally, I’ll introduce you to loan officers that can help you determine your budget.

After 30+ years in hi-tech I’m semi-retired and doing this because I like doing it. Therefore, there is zero pressure, only coaching and advice. You have absolutely nothing to lose and potentially a lot to gain by us having a conversation.

Help Someone to Help Themself

If you know anyone that might benefit from this essay, please share it. Visit my website: CopaceticTeam.com for a lot of good information about the San Antonio area. NOTE: To get to the “good stuff” you need to register but I promise I won’t SPAM. It is to prevent others from stealing the info I put a lot of time collecting.

Why I Moved to Boerne, TX

Bill@MissionRealtyGroup.com | 408.827.8484

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Why I moved to San Antonio

The Decision to Move

After moving to Silicon Valley from Boston 30 years prior, on February 22, 2021, my wife and I decided to sell our house and leave the once-great state of California. Originally, our plan was to leave in 2025 when both sons were through high school. We’d had it with all of the nonsense (crime, tax, living costs, intolerance-masked-as-wokeness, etc.,) but the covid restrictions and the poor experiences our sons had with the schools put us over the top. We signed with a listing agent and began the process.

We spent the next 90 days or so doing some remodeling. The goal was to maximize the price and minimize the time on market. We listed the house on May 6th and accepted an offer, well over listing price, on May 10. While the remodeling was underway, we took a family trip to San Antonio on April 5th to scout out the area and narrow down neighborhoods we’d seriously consider. More on the San Antonio decision later…

Our California house closed on June 11th and as part of the selling agreement we kept occupancy until July 12. On June 9th my wife and I took another trip to San Antonio and made an offer on a house, which was accepted on June 12th in Boerne, TX. Boerne is in Hill Country about 30 minutes north of San Antonio. We closed and moved into our new Boerne home on July 16th, 72 days after listing our old house and 145 days from making the decision to move.

Downtown Boerne, TX

The moment we (accidently) drove through downtown Boerne we fell in love with it. As we finished seeing the very last house we were going to see for the trip, the home we ultimately bought popped up as “just listed.” We were about 40 – 50 miles away. We immediately jumped in our car and drove over. There were already people inside viewing it and several other groups in line to go in. We made an offer they couldn’t refuse and they accepted it the next day.

Why Texas? Why San Antonio? Why Hill Country?

If not for the schools, taxes, high cost of living, lack of freedoms and politics, we would ideally have relocated to California’s central coast near Paso Robles. Ideally we wanted to be in a place that was warm and on the ocean, and was near a relatively large city. This narrowed our choices to North and South Carolina, Florida and Texas. We also considered Tennessee. 

Texas

But after living with earthquakes, wildfires, mudslides, etc., the better half ruled out hurricane-prone areas. This essentially eliminated all but Tennessee and Texas. There was some appeal for Tennessee, but we felt the cultural adjustment (shock?) might be too much. We therefore began our search in Texas in earnest.

Texas Road Map

We now had to narrow our search even further. Ten years ago Austin would have definitely been in contention. However, its politics are now so similar to the San Francisco Bay area, that it’s become San Francisco’s sister city. We didn’t want to relocate to the same place… 

Dallas was ruled out because its terrain is somewhat featureless. Houston was ruled out for its crime and humidity. We considered Corpus Christi, but it is too subject to natural disasters. San Antonio, with easy access to the coast, but far enough away to avoid hurricanes, is where we focused our search efforts.

San Antonio

San Antonio is the second largest city in Texas behind Houston. It is the seventh largest city in the US, larger than San Jose, CA, which comes in as tenth largest in the US. Founded in the early 1700’s, San Antonio has a lot of history and culture. And while its population is large, it’s more like a big town, or series of towns, than a huge impersonal city, while still having a vibrant downtown and excellent universities.

Hill Country

In California we lived in the Santa Cruz Mountains about halfway between San Jose in Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz on the coast. So we were akin to terrain, trees and privacy.

Front of Santa Cruz Mountains Home
Back of Santa Cruz Mountain Home

We therefore chose to focus our search in the Texas Hill Country just north of San Antonio. It has easy access to a large city, friendly downtowns, terrain, milder temperatures and less humidity. There was plenty to choose from as you can see from the map below. Circled in red is where we focused our search. Anywhere just north of San Antonio between Boerne and San Marcos would have worked.

Area Under Consideration for Relocation

Many now are abandoning Austin and moving westward towards San Antonio to escape the rising crime, rising homelessness, rising costs and silly politics. New Braunfels, between Austin and San Antonio is one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. And with easy access to two international airports, one can get virtually anywhere in the world. We spent a lot of time looking there.

Acclimation

Before meeting each other, both my wife and I had made significant changes in relocation in terms of distance and culture. As such, we anticipated a period where this wouldn’t feel like home for a while. No kidding, really, there was zero adjustment. We felt at home immediately.

Sunrise From Our New Backyard

I can’t say that this will be true for everyone, but for us there was no adjustment period. And as a bonus, each morning we are welcomed to the new day with spectacular sunrises, as you can see above. Texans aren’t “smiley face” nice, but genuinely warm and friendly. We often begin conversations with them by apologizing for moving from California and promising that we didn’t bring California with us.

Culture and Bias

I don’t know why, but Texas gets a bad rap for bias and prejudice. And while I’m sure it exists here like everywhere else, I have yet to see even a hint of it. I’ve seen mixed couples of every ethnic/color (stereo) type and nobody bats an eye. Male/male, female/female: same thing. What I’ve noticed about Texans is that they are very tolerant of almost everything with the notable exception of one – they do not like and do not accept others imposing their opinions or values on them. It is quite refreshing.

Essentially, everyone is welcome here.

I Bought the Company

Ever see one of those ads where the CEO says, “I liked it so much I bought the company?” Well, I did, sort of. I like living here so much that I walked away from my 30+ years in hi-tech and got my real estate license. I genuinely want others to find the contentment I and my family have found here.

If you want to learn more about the thought processes that got us here, or things to consider in making the move, please reach out. I’d be happy to share my experiences and help you anyway I can. Just reach out to me.

The Author and His Better Half

Bill@ReloToTX.com

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62 of 75 Largest US Cities in Financial Ruin

Pic of US dollar bill in flames representing the fiscal insolvency of 62 of the The total cumulative budgetary shortfall for the 62 cities of the 75 largest US Cities

Introduction

Each year Truth in Accounting (TIA) researches and publishes a report on the fiscal health of the 75 largest US cities. This writing is a summary of data presented in a report published by TIA on January 26, 2021: “Financial State of the Cities 2021.”

In addition to the data provided by the TIA report, included is information about the party affiliations of each city’s mayor, and city population data. It is critical to note that the data provided by TIA is pre-coronavirus.

Summary: Financial Soundness of 75 Largest US Cities

Of the 75 cities researched, only 13 of them operated in the black. Of these, 7 were led by democrat mayors and 6 by republican mayors. The total cumulative budgetary shortfall for the 62 cities operating in the red is $354,797, 120,000. This figure is nearly identical to the amount democrats are proposing to add to the Covid relief bill in the form of state bailouts.

There are more than 3 times as many democrat mayors than republicans in the group. However, democrats accounted for almost 30 times the amount of debt. Republicans have a legitimate argument that the state bailout proposal is more political than a means to helping taxpayers recover from the effects of the pandemic. I will leave it to the reader to draw his/her own conclusions.

Local Politics and Fiscal (mis) Management

The party affiliations of the 75 city mayors were 53 democrat, 16 republican and 6 independent. While there are more than 3 times as many democrat mayors than republicans in the group, democrats accounted for almost 30 times the amount of debt than republican led cities.

Party Affiliation# of MayorsCumulative DeficitPopulation Represented % of US
Democrat53($337,302,760,000)44,497,66813.4%
Republican16($11,358,600,000)5,382,7171.62%
Independent6($6,135,760,000)3,533,1811.06%
City deficits by party affiliation with the populations affected and percentage of the total US population.

20 Cities, 9 States, Billions of Debt

There is a complete list of all of the data at the end of this essay. In terms of the fiscal health of the 75 largest US cities, 20 cities in 9 states accounted for 75% of the budget shortfalls of the 75 cities in the study. 17 of these cities are led by democrat mayors, 2 by independents and 1 by a republican. These cities are in states typically considered ‘blue.’

The vast majority of these cities have large, extremely wealthy populations. As mentioned in a previous writing, it is disingenuous for democrats to argue they are the “working man’s party” as, with the exception of three, all have democrat mayors. All are led by democrat governors with the exceptions of Maryland and Massachusetts.

StateShortfallPopulation Affected% of US
CA$19,896,500,00010,303,1423.10%
HI$3,500,000,000341,3020.10%
IL$36,400,000,0002,670,4060.80%
MA$3,100,000,000695,5060.21%
MD$3,800,000,000575,5840.17%
MN$343,700,000749,3800.23%
NY$194,400,000,0008,622,3572.60%
OR$4,400,000,000662,5490.20%
WA$926,700,000776,5550.23%
TOTAL$266,766,900,00025,396,7817.65%
20 cities in nine ‘blue’ states, with a combined population that represents less than 8% of the total US population, had budget shortfalls of almost a quarter of a trillion dollars in 2020.

Hold Your City Leadership Accountable

I knew that many US cities were in financial dire straits. I was shocked, however, by the extent and pervasiveness of the problem. Regardless your personal political affiliation, it is imperative that you take action to hold mayors and city councils accountable. While the voting booth is one course of action, publicly questioning them at public council meetings is more immediate and likely more effective.

Politics is local and your local politicians are spending and wasting your tax dollars foolishly.

Fiscal Health of the 75 Largest US cities, Ranked

For the purposes of this exercise, TIA did the ranking based upon each city’s budget surplus (or shortfall) and divided it by the number of taxpayers funding the budgets. In what I believe was an attempt to remain politically neutral, TIA did not include any mention of the political affiliation of the mayors; this was added by me. I also added population data to demonstrate the personal and social impact of the surpluses and deficits.

RankCitySurplus / TaxpayerTotal SurplusMayorPopulation
1Irvine, CA$4,100$610,900,000DEM298,739
2Washington, D.C$3,400$920,400,000DEM714,153
3Lincoln, NE$3,400$317,100,000DEM293,446
4Stockton, CA$3,000$299,800,000REP314,835
5Charlotte, NC$3,000$765,600,000DEM912,096
6Aurora, CO$2,400$326,500,000REP388,723
7Fresno, CA$2,300$390,300,000REP537,100
8Raleigh, NC$2,200$308,200,000DEM483,579
9Plano, TX$1,400$164,000,000REP285,537
10Tampa, FL$400$173,400,000DEM404,636
11Oklahoma City, OK$100$61,200,000REP669,347
12Wichita, KS$100$15,900,000DEM391,352
13Tulsa, OK$17$1,800,000REP402,742
14Long Beach, CA($100)($20,200,000)DEM456,154
15Minneapolis, MN($200)($22,100,000)DEM439,012
16Arlington, TX($700)($23,300,000)REP400,316
17Colorado Springs, CO($1,000)($125,900,000)REP489,529
18Greensboro, NC($1,100)($87,800,000)DEM301,094
19Corpus Christi, TX($1,100)($101,700,000)IND327,144
20Chula Vista, FL($1,300)($98,400,000)DEM281,838
21Orlando, FL($1,400)($118,400,000)DEM290,520
22Bakersfield, CA($1,400)($170,100,000)DEM389,007
23Fort Wayne, IN($1,600)($134,100,000)DEM276,286
24Henderson, NV($1,700)($178,800,000)DEM341,531
25Las Vegas, NV($1,800)($37,960,000)IND667,501
26Atlanta, GA($1,900)($262,400,000)DEM524,067
27Saint Paul, MN($2,900)($321,600,000)DEM310,368
28Riverside, CA($3,100)($330,700,000)IND334,772
29Louisville, KY($3,200)($537,300,000)DEM615,924
30Toledo, OH($3,200)($285,700,000)DEM268,609
31Columbus, OH($3,300)($982,700,000)DEM913,921
32Cleveland, OH($3,400)($427,400,000)DEM376,599
33Seattle, WA($3,400)($926,700,000)DEM776,555
34San Antonio, TX($3,500)($1,500,000,000)IND1,579,504
35Sacramento, CA($3,700)($607,500,000)DEM525,398
36Virginia Beach, VA($3,900)($574,900,000)REP450,224
37Indianapolis, IN($3,900)($1,100,000,000)DEM887,232
38Los Angeles, CA($4,000)($5,100,000,000)DEM4,085,014
39Memphis, TN($4,300)($810,000,000)DEM651,011
40San Diego, CA($4,700)($2,100,000,000)DEM1,469,490
41Mesa, AZ($4,900)($717,200,000)REP538,146
42El Paso, TX($5,200)($994,600,000)DEM685,434
43Santa Ana, CA($5,400)($571,900,000)DEM333,130
44Albuquerque, NM($5,600)($850,700,000)DEM562,281
45Denver, CO($5,800)($1,500,000,000)DEM749,103
46Detroit, MI($6,100)($1,300,000,000)DEM664,139
47Anaheim, CA($6,200)($696,100,000)REP349,699
48Anchorage, AK($6,400)($665,400,000)IND282,958
49Phoenix, AZ($6,500)($3,100,000,000)DEM1,743,469
50Omaha, NE($7,500)($1,200,000,000)REP479,978
51Austin, TX($7,600)($2,100,000,000)DEM1,011,790
52Tucson, AZ($8,400)($1,300,000,000)DEM554,503
53Lexington, KY($9,200)($821,200,000)REP324,604
54Fort Worth, TX($9,400)($2,400,000,000)REP942,323
55Jacksonville, FL($10,100)($2,800,000,000)REP929,647
56San Jose, CA($10,300)($3,400,000,000)DEM1,036,242
57Kansas City, MO($11,300)($1,700,000,000)DEM501,957
58Houston, TX($11,600)($7,500,000,000)DEM2,378,146
59Boston, MA($12,000)($3,100,000,000)DEM695,506
60Milwaukee, WI($13,500)($2,800,000,000)DEM587,721
61Dallas, TX($13,500)($5,100,000,000)DEM1,400,337
62Miami, FL($14,200)($2,000,000,000)REP478,251
63St. Louis, MO($14,600)($1,300,000,000)DEM294,890
64Cincinnati, OH($15,200)($1,500,000,000)DEM307,266
65Pittsburgh, PA($16,000)($1,600,000,000)DEM299,718
66San Francisco, CA($16,300)($4,600,000,000)DEM883,255
67Oakland, CA($17,000)($2,300,000,000)DEM440,981
68Baltimore, MD($18,000)($3,800,000,000)DEM575,584
69New Orleans, LA($20,000)($2,000,000,000)DEM388,424
70Portland, OR($20,400)($4,400,000,000)DEM662,549
71Nashville, TN($22,000)($4,300,000,000)DEM678,448
72Philadelphia, PA($25,700)($13,600,000,000)DEM1,590,402
73Honolulu, HI($29,600)($3,500,000,000)IND341,302
74Chicago, IL($41,100)($36,400,000,000)DEM2,670,406
75New York City, NY($68,200)($194,400,000,000)DEM8,622,357
75 Largest US cities ranked by fiscal responsibility.

If you found this enlightening or useful, please share it with your family, friends and colleagues.

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California Ranked

Picture of San Francisco homeless encampment

Following is a list, with links to sources of data, of how California compares to the other 49 states. The quality of life has gone down the toilet and the cost of living has gone up since special interest groups, progressives, liberals and democrats took control of the state.

Please share this list.

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Fast-Track Nationwide Concealed Carry

2nd Amendment of the Constitution

Two considerations:

  • Bearing arms is a right given by nature and protected by the Constitution.
  • A license to drive an automobile is a privilege granted by each of the individual states and territories.

Car accident

Introduction

Regardless in which US state or territory it was issued, each US state recognizes each other state’s license to operate motor vehicles. However, in terms of recognizing other states’ licenses to carry concealed weapons, this is simply not the case. In many instances this lack of recognition entraps law-abiding citizens and unwittingly places them in jeopardy of being felons.

Picture of concealed handgun

States with no reciprocity

California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and the District of Columbia will not honor concealed carry permits issued by any other state. And further, each of these states tend be very stingy in the number of permits they issue.

Law abiding citizens with either a concealed carry permit or from a “Constitutional carry” state places him/herself in jeopardy of being arrested and charged with a felony merely for transiting from one state through another.

States with full reciprocity

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and Virginia will honor concealed carry permits issued by any other state. Those in possession of concealed carry permits from these states may travel within of through any of the others without fear of any ethically unjustifiable arrest or indictment.

States with partial reciprocity

Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming each honor their own specific group of permits issued by other states. In essence, within these jurisdictions it is, essentially, “caveat emptor” as permitted carriers must understand often confusing and sometimes contradictory laws permitting concealed carry.

The numbers

  • 8 states and territories with zero reciprocity
  • 19 states with full reciprocity
  • 18 states with limited reciprocity

In essence, eight states, one on the west coast and seven on the northeast coast, are limiting the natural given rights that are protected and guaranteed under the United States Constitution.

An easy way to correct the injustice

Image of Uncle Sam pointing his finger

The 19 states that recognize concealed carry permits from all other states should stop recognizing driver licenses issued by states that do not recognize concealed carry permits issued by them. Drivers from non-reciprocity states should not be permitted to operate motor vehicles in reciprocity states.

There are no God-given rights to operate a motor vehicle. There is, however, a God-given right to self defense be it from individuals or a tyrannical government. It is time to coerce, through legal and ethical means, those who trample on the rights of US citizens to conform to the protections guaranteed by the Constitution.

It’s past time for politicians to protect the Constitution and represent the best interests of their constituents.