A rightie wants to compare Texas to Maryland and says the following...

[LaydeeBug]

Rightie says this:
Texas has a lower crime rate, better roads, their economy is more than double the national average, construction is booming and they don't want entitlements.
I wish leadership in Maryland had half of intelligence Texas leadership has. That way the government would at least break even and stop stealing my money.

(stop quote)

Texas has a lower crime rate than Maryland? Better roads? Can someone please help? This can't be true.

Ok, and thanks.

[cali]

1. here's a start

http://washingtonexaminer.com/maryland-boasts-record-low-crime-rates/article/2506405

just go to google and type in Maryland crime rate 2012, then do the same for TX. You might also compare high school graduation, health and unemployment rates.

[baldguy]

7. Using actual facts to respond to RW stupidity? That's not fair!

[JaneQPublic]

15. Another: Maryland No. 1 State for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

So says the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

http://www.gazette.net/article/20120629/OPINION/706299945/1014/christian-s-johansson-us-chamber-recognizes-maryland-s-success&template=gazette

[JaneQPublic]

16. And another: Maryland Schools No. 1 for 5th Consecutive Year

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/01/10/maryland-schools-ranked-number-one-in-nation/

[bunnies]

2. "half of intelligence"

'nuff said.

[blm]

3. Bush and Allbaugh sent a TON of OUR tax dollars to Texas.

It should be a garden of Eden by now.

[RandiFan1290]

4. cool story

[hobbit709]

5. TX used to have some of the best roads in the country-not since Shrub and Goodhair.

Economy is doing fairly well for the 1% but wages for the 99% are shit. Construction may be booming but I don't know anyone that can afford the housing. I earned my VA benefits and SS, so screw him and his "entitlements" crap. Lower crime rate-I doubt it.

The problem with trying to refute an RWer is that it's like trying to teach a pig to sing. It only wastes your time and annoys the pig.

[JoePhilly]

6. Having lived in both states at various times, I pick Maryland.

[DanTex]

8. Don't know what "their economy is more than double" means, but in terms of per capita GDP

Maryland is $51,724
National Average is $47,482
Texas is $45,940

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_GDP

[mercuryblues]

9. this article gives you a few stats

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-06-27/news/bs-ed-states-economy-20110624_1_texas-lawmakers-maryland-economy-brendan-Madigan

Finally, the crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants in Maryland is the 12th highest in the nation, compared to Texas' crime rate, which is the eighth highest.

[FarCenter]

10. Are Baltimore's slums better than Houston's?

Is the Hill Country nicer than the Eastern Shore?

Statewide averages don't mean much to an individual.

[1-Old-Man]

11. I have spent a good bit of time in both Texas and Maryland, the "Rightie" is a fucking idiot.

[deutsey]

12. I'm from Maryland and have lived here most of my life

I can't say what Texas is like (I've only been to San Antonio), but I'm happy here in Maryland.

Doubt I would've been if Ehrlich had defeated O'Malley. I think he would've done to Maryland what Walker's done to Wisconsin.

[SwissTony]

13. Why Maryland?

I'm not American, so my ignorance will be obvious.

I know where Texas is but I had to look at a map to find Maryland. So, my question is the following: even if his "facts" are true (which they do not appear to be), why make THIS comparison? What's he trying to prove? Does he think Maryland is in some sense a "bad" state and he can make Texas look good by this comparison?

[deutsey]

18. I'm wondering if the right winger wasn't trying to smear O'Malley

He's our governor here in Maryland and is hinting that he may run for president in 2016.

[LaydeeBug]

24. Oh he is. He is indeed. nt

[hootinholler]

27. More likely he heard the smears

The Rs have been doing some pre-emptive smearing of that evil taxing liberal. I view this as a good sign in that O'Malley is gaining national notice.

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. There's nothing like better roads to make me want to move somewhere else.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

26. There MIGHT Be Another Reason Why The Roads Are Better

I live in Ohio, and I can tell you that the number one destroyer of paved roads is.................SNOW.

Maryland gets snow in the wintertime. Texas doesn't. But I'm sure this dolt thinks geographical differences are the result of right-wing policy.

[Recursion]

17. I've lived in both. I have fond feelings towards both. MD is definitely richer

But the roads on the eastern shore are pretty atrocious; I don't really know how you measure "better roads".

[Tommy_Carcetti]

19. Other than a layover at DFW, I can't say I've been to Texas.

I was, however, born and raised in Maryland.

And I can speak from personal experience that Maryland has top notch, well-funded and well-equipped public schools. Roads in most areas are well-maintained. The state has done a good job balancing new growth with protection of natural areas. Thanks to Governor O'Malley's leadership, the state weathered the recession far better than most with a lower employment rate than the national average.

And while Texas appears to enjoy executing people as a sport (with the occasional "oops" when it turns out someone wrongfully convicted was killed by the state), Maryland recently moved to abolish the death penalty, which suggests sanity on their lawmaker's part.

Maryland's not ideal, and I'm sure there are some good selling points for Texas as well (milder winters, for example), but anyone who thinks Maryland is a bad place to live has their head up their ass.

Although I live in Florida now for the weather and climate, if I could magically trade for Maryland's political leadership and system of state funding, I'd do so in a heartbeat.

[JaneQPublic]

20. "Maryland Ranked Richest State in the U.S."

According to the data from the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, TX is two categories lower than MD.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2206395/Maryland-ranked-richest-state-U-S--Mississippi-place-poorest.html#ixzz2S8yUnGL4

[n2doc]

21. Texas has one of the highest poverty rates in the US

Maryland, not so much. And I'll bet MD's economy is doing just fine with all the government work.

TX spends most of its budget subsidizing businesses to relocate there. Not on its schools and roads.

[LaydeeBug]

23. Guys, this is awesome, and thank you so much for all of your help.

This particular righty witness yesterday's shakedown. lol

[JaneQPublic]

25. Am. Soc. of Civil Engineers: MD roads slightly better than TX roads.

The below interactive map by the American Society of Civil Engineers shows that while neither stated received a stellar grade for roads, MD earned a C- while TX earned a D.

That said, MD's overall infrastructure grade was a C- to TX's grade of C.

Check it out here:

http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/states/

[JaneQPublic]

28. One more: On rankings of "Best-Educated States"

In a U.S. Census Bureau survey, Maryland ranked No. 2 behind Mass. for the largest percentage of adults over age 25 with college degrees.

Texas didn't make this listing of the the Top 10 states:

http://247wallst.com/2012/10/15/164232/print/