Texas does have desert. About 10% of the state is desert, specifically the Chihuahan desert, the largest one in North America. I'm a 6th generation native of the Hill Country, and its very far from desert as you said. Primarily oak and juniper woodlands and grasslands. Surprised you picked the Hill Country as "the closest to a desert" when the Llano Estacado and Permian basin are much more arid and devoid of trees and other vegetation.
I agree with everything else you said. Texas has bad PR, and a hostile gov that hates everyone here, especially their own base.
this is pretty my family's view on this stuff (except some of the grandparents but theres not much to do but wait there). Texas has some very loud people that are all kinds of *ists and *phobics but the majority of people are much more along the lines of "the fuck that got to do with me". I'll skip the more political bits (bc its off topic here) but I bet if we could get rid of America's two party system Texas would instantly tell both parties to fuck all the way off.
also, Texas is not a desert. this is unrelated but its a common misconception. the closest we have to a desert is hill country which is in central Texas and is not a desert.
save