For close to two years, Glenn has been talking nonstop about how everyone needs to move to Texas. (editor's tangent: Seriously, he won't stop talking about it. Every time I see him he tells me how great Texas is and how I need to get out of New York as soon as humanly possible. I mean, we talk about other stuff but it always come back to that. Sometimes he just mocks the New York staff over Skype when we're in the morning meetings. It starts like a joke and then it's all "No, seriously. Move to Texas". Joel gets it the worst. End of tangent). Well, it seems like the rest of the world is catching on to what Glenn's known all along: Texas is a pretty sweet place to live. Shockingly, the BBC is the latest outlet to espouse the virtues of the state with their Top ten reasons so many people are moving to Texas. Did he agree with their points?
Let's start at the top:
1. Jobs
Well, it's hard to argue that Texas is kicking butt when it comes to job creation - but Glenn has been on the record that the #1 reason people should be going to Texas is for the freedom. If you find a job in Texas (which you probably will) that's great, but freedom comes first.
2. It's cheaper
Yup. As the article points out, it's just easier to make your paycheck last and to obtain the things associated with a middle class lifestyle. Glenn agrees.
3. Homes
Cheap land? Can't argue with that.
4. Low taxes
So far so good.
5. Pick your own big city
Lot's of options including Houston, Dallas, and Ft. Worth. Not so much El Paso even though it's pretty big. But that brings us to the biggest disagreement...
6. AUSTIN
Really? Austin, TX is one of the TOP TEN reasons to move to Texas? Stu stuck up for the city and praised it's great food and music scene, but Glenn couldn't believe that the city made the top ten list.
"Liberal progressive hippies that's who love (Austin). People who just want to be weird and they were like 'You know, San Francisco used to be weird, but now it's too big city weird. So I want to go do weird someplace else'. Would you stop wrecking the whole country?" Glenn said.
Ok, moving on...
7. Family-friendly
Agreed, although the BBC article has to specifically point out that San Antonio is home to the largest community of gay parents.
"We have to differentiate?" Glenn asked when he read that.
8. Fewer rules
Freedom. BOOM! Seriously, how is this not the number one reason?
"If that's not the very fabric of this state, we're done," Glenn said.
9. Texans are normal people
Yes, they are - but does that really need to be pointed out and put on the Top Ten list? Glenn took issue with the way that media portrays Texas to the rest of the country and how the cowboy in a ten gallon bucket hat has become the stereotypical Texan. He also took issue with a woman who was quoted as saying "[They] realise that Texans aren't all Bible thumping, gun-toting people." Uh, would it be so bad to live in a place where people had faith and exercised their rights?
10. And they're not going anywhere
The segment ended before they got to number ten on the list: Native Texans stay in Texas. Why? Because it's awesome (source: Glenn Beck every day since he moved to Texas)