It’s time to fight back

Let’s get this out of the way: The singular act of redistricting early in Texas is the grossest example of deafness by Texas legislators I’ve ever witnessed. We have so many other things that need attention independent of this that to lock it together with flood aid is nothing less than a disgusting violation of the public trust.

Balch Springs

Mesquite is divided into an Eastern (District 107) and Western (District 113) districts. While I’m generally not a fan of splitting up the city, it’s true that life on either side of 635 does tend to have it’s differences. However, why are we still pretending that Balch Springs isn’t part of that life. Balch Springs students attend Mesquite ISD schools in both districts 107 and 113. The segregation of their vote into a district with South Dallas does not represent what life is actually like in that area. Balch Springs life is deeply intertwined with Mesquite. Having lived in both cities, I know this first hand.

Garland and Rowlett

Why is the northern part of District 113 including areas of Garland and Rowlett? This again serves no sensible purpose. Drawing the line of 113 at the Northern border of Mesquite would serve the area best. The only purpose I can see for including that area of Garland is to dilute their vote, and including Rowlett to compensate for the swing in vote 113 sees by including them. It effectively silences Garland’s voice.

They Fear Our Demographic

In my lifetime I’ve always known Mesquite and Balch Springs as a fairly diverse area. By that I mean over the last 40 some years we generally have a population of around 30% Hispanic, 30% Caucasian, 30% Black, and 10% Asian. While there are the occasional racist, since I was in school 30 years ago we mostly consider those issues behind us. Social issues gravitate around economic factors instead. If the State would get its head out of it’s ass, perhaps it could learn a few things. Our borders are not your political play things, and while I love and respect all my neighbors, I have no interest in being the dumping ground of silenced minorities. We all deserve better.

The List: How we fight back

The halls of power have decided they shall pick us instead of allowing for fair and normal voting. Please, everyone, continue voting and making your voice heard. However, since the courts keep eroding our ability to trust that system, it time to turn up the court of public opinion. The only way to do that effectively is by affecting their wallets. More specifically, property values. I’ll be writing a more detailed article on how this method will be effective, but the short version is that we must refuse to do business with, occupy the property of, or purchase the property of any person involved with the political misbehavior we are seeing, and we must uphold that commitment for the next 7-10 years. We must also make this commitment extend to any person doing business with the misbehaving party, or occupying their property, or purchasing their property.

What does this look like in practice?

We must refuse to be employed by, provide services to, enter any premises owned by, do business with, or purchase the property of any person listed below. This commitment must remain in effect for at least 7 years, attaching to property even if it’s sold to another party. If a listed person held interest in it, even if only in part, that business or property is effectively ex-communicated for 7 years past either it’s sale OR 7 years after the removal of that person from the list.

I’ll be posting the list along with a map of properties and list of businesses affected. The list will be fluid of course, and we should all communicate on it’s contents. However, to start, I’ll be listing every Texas legislator who voted for redistricting, any politician involved with bringing the matter to the legislature ahead of or locked with flood aid, and any politician involved with forcing the priority upon Texas. I believe this currently means:

Butler Snow LLP
Paul Bettencourt
Brian Birdwell
Donna Campbell
Brandon Creighton
Pete Flores
Brent Hagenbuch
Bob Hall
Kelly Hancock
Adam Hinojosa
Joan Huffman
Bryan Hughes
Phil King
Lois W. Kolkhorst
Mayes Middleton
Robert Nichols
Tan Parker
Angela Paxton
Charles Perry
Charles Schwertner
Kevin SparksDaniel Alders
Trent Ashby
Jeff Barry
Cecil Bell, Jr.
Keith Bell
Greg Bonnen
Brad Buckley
Benjamin Bumgarner
Dustin Burrows
Angie Chen Button
Briscoe Cain
Giovanni Capriglione
David Cook
Tom Craddick
Charles Cunningham
Pat Curry
Drew Darby
Jay Dean
Mano DeAyala
Mark Dorazio
Paul Dyson
Caroline Fairly
James Frank
Gary Gates
Stan Gerdes
Charlie Geren
Ryan Guillen
Sam Harless
Cody Harris
Caroline Harris Davila
Brian Harrison
Richard Hayes
Cole Hefner
Hillary Hickland
Janis Holt
Andy Hopper
Lacey Hull
Todd Hunter
Carrie Isaac
Helen Kerwin
Ken King
Stan Kitzman
Marc LaHood
Stan Lambert
Brooks Landgraf
Jeff Leach
Terri Leo Wilson
Mitch Little
Janie Lopez
AJ Louderback
David Lowe
J.M. Lozano
John Lujan
Shelley Luther
Don McLaughlin, Jr.
John McQueeney
Will Metcalf
Morgan Meyer
Brent Money
Matt Morgan
Candy Noble
Mike Olcott
Tom Oliverson
Angelia Orr
Jared Patterson
Dennis Paul
Dade Phelan
Katrina Pierson
Keresa Richardson
Nate Schatzline
Mike Schofield
Alan Schoolcraft
Matt Shaheen
Joanne Shofner
Shelby Slawson
John Smithee
David Spiller
Valoree Swanson
Carl H. Tepper
Tony Tinderholt
Steve Toth
Ellen Troxclair
Gary VanDeaver
Cody Vasut
Denise Villalobos
Wes Virdell
Trey Wharton
Terry M. Wilson

Donald J Trump
Greg Abbott