I want to share in your optimism - but the level of ignorance in this country has me shaking my head in disbelief.

People in Texas crow loudly about "freedom". People move to Texas for "freedom".

Texas ranks dead last out of 50 states for personal freedom.

My point? All it takes is for someone to say things like "Republicans are the party of law and order", or "Republicans are the party of fiscal responsibility" and, all evidence to the contrary, those words are taken at face value as truth.