4.6 million Texans live in poverty. That was 18.5 percent in 2011. Over one third of them are Hispanics.
The poorest twenty percent pay almost 13% of their income in taxes. The top one percent? 3.2.
The richest five percent in Texas make an average of $255,800 a year. It’s 14.3 times higher than the bottom twenty percent who make just $17,900.
The average income is $53,200. But it’s probably not that impressive when it takes two to earn it.
Texas was 43rd in both income inequality
And it’s polluted.
Ranked first in carbon dioxide emissions.
Fourth in the amount of toxic releases into its water.
Ranked fourth in the release of carcinogens into the air. Fifth in their release into the water.
First in the generation of toxic waste
Sixth in energy consumption but thirty-second in efficiency.
But it’s not all bad.
First in executions, and fourth in the rate of incarcerations.
It also is the state where its governor touts the lack of industrial regulation within days of a chemical explosion that killed many. Yes, come to Texas, where, like the West Fertilizer Co., you'll receive only the most minimal fines for decades of flagrantly ignoring regulations, rarely be inspected, and when you cause an explosion killing 15, the governor won't see it as a sign that maybe a few more inspections would have been a good thing.
The poorest twenty percent pay almost 13% of their income in taxes. The top one percent? 3.2.
The richest five percent in Texas make an average of $255,800 a year. It’s 14.3 times higher than the bottom twenty percent who make just $17,900.
The average income is $53,200. But it’s probably not that impressive when it takes two to earn it.
Texas was 43rd in both income inequality
And it’s polluted.
Ranked first in carbon dioxide emissions.
Fourth in the amount of toxic releases into its water.
Ranked fourth in the release of carcinogens into the air. Fifth in their release into the water.
First in the generation of toxic waste
Sixth in energy consumption but thirty-second in efficiency.
But it’s not all bad.
First in executions, and fourth in the rate of incarcerations.
It also is the state where its governor touts the lack of industrial regulation within days of a chemical explosion that killed many. Yes, come to Texas, where, like the West Fertilizer Co., you'll receive only the most minimal fines for decades of flagrantly ignoring regulations, rarely be inspected, and when you cause an explosion killing 15, the governor won't see it as a sign that maybe a few more inspections would have been a good thing.
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