Just think of it as the pendulum swinging from left to right.

I used to believe in this, that things generally "self-correct."
I do not anymore. I hope I am wrong, but it looks like we, as a species, are headed towards a dystopian state of Controllism, in which a small political elite milk the populace, and keep it pacified enough with television, video games, and other entertainment.

I think President Trump was an unexpected and surprising road bump down the road to The Controlled United States of The World.

I Hope that I am wrong.

Let's assume Trump wins again.
I see major swamp draining and possibly Klinton going to prison.
Four more years of Trump trying to clean up the mess we're in.

One reason he can't get things done is because of the one sentence he used. "I'm going to drain the swamp." (something like that)
Now, why do I say that? Because HALF the swamp is filled with worthless P.O.S. RINO's and do nothing republicans. They don't want to loose their "jobs", their pay, their status, their benefits, etc.

Keep in mind TX has worse carry rights than WA. TX is permit to both CC and OC. WA is unlicensed OC.

Saw a 2A state review guide done by the NRA a few years ago when TX was still banning OC and somehow they scored higher than WA on carry...

Yeah.

For those thinking you can flee just remember that the state getting the most CA people moving there isn't WA, it's TX. Fleeing just means the locusts will come after you later to take what you have. Eventually you have to Stand and Fight (Vote).

Hardly a fair comparison.

In both places you still need a carry license for practical purposes. But in TX no wait periods, no threats of bans for anything, no I594 so private sales a-ok, and open carry of big knives and swords okay I believe... and your jury pool if you have an issue is going to be far different than a WA jury pool.

No threat of any AWB bans or mag bans or registrations or mandatory lock up requirements on the horizon of TX. For us WA residents, it's a threat every election cycle. WE dodged a bullet this time.

This to me is the biggest reason for living in a red state like Texas. Low taxes and business friendly environment equals a strong economy, better take home pay, and lower cost of living. Basically I moved to Texas because of a work opportunity providing me the ability to balance my (now lower) living expenses and divorce/alimony obligations.

There is most definitely a night and day difference between Governor Abbot and Governor Inslee in their fundamental approach to personal responsibility vs government control and authority.

It may be true that Texas turns blue in 20-30 years, we will see on that front. Certainly there are very sizable Democratic enclaves in the major cities (Houston, San Antonio, and Austin and to a lesser degree in Dallas/Ft Worth) but the ethic of individual liberty and responsibility remains strong here for the time being.

On the down side, the geography is flat and the weather is shockingly hot and humid in the summer. Praise heaven for air conditioning is all I have to say. So far we are at 35 days over 100 degrees this summer with no signs of slowing down in the forecast.

Late career or retirement I will likely relo to Salt Lake City near the Wasatch Mountains or Wyoming/Montana to be close to skiing and hiking in the mountains (all presuming continued good health and ability). This provides plentiful outdoor recreation, solid gun rights, and beautiful scenery. Without the high heat and humidity of the South.

As far as moving back to Washington. Well... I sorely miss the natural beauty of Washington but in the tech industry I'm thinking the cost of living in King County is not much different from urban California anymore. And if Washington goes for state income tax, there will be no difference at all. So hard to see moving back now that I'm in a red state.

I came here at age 18 in 1979 for work, and it was primarily a conservative state back then, which was a bonus!
Dixie Lee Ray was a democrat but she worked with both parties, things still went south fast....

The governors that destroyed this state with policies are
Booth Gardner
Mike Lowry
Gary Locke
Christine Gregoire
Jay Inslee

We finally got settled into Wa. Some of our neighbors are retiring and moving to Idaho, because they can't afford to retire in Wa. We were hoping to retire here. But between raising cost, politics, and family back in Kansas that will eventually age, we may have to think about moving to Kansas at some point.

Right in lockstep with Detroit.

I moved here 20 years ago from IL - which sucks way worse than WA. However, with the changes I've seen in the last 20 years, rather than retiring here as I planned, I intend to move, most likely to AZ or NV. Want the dry heat and at least for now, politically its OK.

The misses and I are looking at other places. It's unfortunate, as we have both been born and raised here and this has always been home, but it is time for a change. I'm in the unique position that I work remotely, so as long as I have internet access we can settle anywhere.

Just because a state is pro-business does not mean they're pro-workforce. That state has the most low wage jobs in the nation. You'll be competing against a ton of morons who don't know what the fuck their credentials and experience are worth, and are willing to work for just over $11 without OT and shitty benefits. I was constantly competing against people who are too stupid to know any better. Tejas and Commiefornia are very similar in that they're both welfare states. Just different types of welfare. One is a corporate welfare state whereas the other is social welfare. Tejas is the only state where if you get hurt on the job, your employer and their insurance can waive your rights to Worker's Comp. I was rejected after the second time my L4/L5 disc ruptured in less than 6 months after the first time. I had to go back to work. Now my back is all kinds of fucked up. It wasn't exactly great after going back to work since the spinal specialist in Amarillo was one of those Comp milkers who kept me on a regimen of physical therapy that did not fucking work.

Texans are all talk and no action, like Californians. Both states talk a lot about seceding but don't have the balls to go through with it since that'll mean losing their federal funds. Tejas would be an okay state to retire to but not work in. As for myself, I wish to stay away from that state as much as possible. The only real way I'll step foot there is by way of a connecting flight.

Well, I'm a 5th generation Washington. My relatives were settlers in Index. I can't leave my home so I'll fight my ass off to keep it feeling like home.

Molon labe