No, not an economic one.
My own.
I've just had yet another surgery on my vertebrae, nerve paths, and intervertebral foramina. I have enough metal in me to build a 737, let alone beep at security. I survived a pulmonary embolism late last year, after a previous 5 hour surgery to conduct fusions and laminectomies.
But that's not what depresses me.
It's Texas politics.
A wild-eyed racist nutcase, with a bad hair-dye job and far to the right of our already far right politicians,Dan Patrick, just won the run-off for the Republican candidate for Lt Governor of Texas. Yes, David Dewhurst, long-time office holder and very wealthy man from the previous right edge of the Establishment Republican party lost. To a nutcase.
The Lt Governor of Texas is actually more powerful than the governor, as has been written about many times. Whoever wins this election will work directly with the right-wingnut legislature on new laws, controlling the work of the Texas Senate and controlling the budgeting process as a leader of the Legislative Budget Board.
For governor, we have Greg Abbott running, a slimy snake who recently served as attorney general of Texas.
An odd result, but along the same lines, Ralph Hall (R) 91 yo incumbent lost to John Ratcliffe, a former US Attorney. Ratcliffe, pleasantly, works with such fine people as John Ashcroft and David Ayers in his law firm.
All the stations reporting the various races keep repeating "Texas takes a right turn." How the hell do you turn right from the deep right?
In other words, Texas has a far right government already. And this November, barring a minor miracle, it is going to tilt far, far, far right.
I guess I'll call that FFFR-wing from now on.
The only way to avoid that is if enough people get out of their houses and vote for Wendy Davis (D) for governor and Leticia van De Putte (D) for lieutenant governor.
In Texas, governor and lt governor are elected separately. It is possible, but not likely, that they'll split the offices between Republicans and Democrats. That would be.... interesting, given the current political climate in our nation.
So, I'm depressed. "ANIMO!", me gritas! "Courage! Get up and work!" Well, did you read that intro part? Ain't gonna happen this year.
Even though Democrats very likely outnumber Republicans by a good deal in this state, Republicans, especially as the Tea Party has showed so far this year, turn out to vote.
It looks like we'll have FFFR-wing nutjobs in government for another four years. Depressing.