Post by Brian Hunt, CPA, CPCU

In the 73rd edition of "Risk, et al...", I'm making the case that the problem with American governance isn't which party wins — it's what happens when one party stops having to compete at all. "The Case for Purple: Monopolies Are Bad for Business. They're Worse for Democracy." uses #California and #Texas as parallel case studies in what one-party dominance actually produces over time — and the results might surprise you regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum. Topics covered include: 🏠 Why #LA issued fewer building permits than #Atlanta — a city half its size ⚡ How #Texas deliberately isolated its power grid from federal oversight — and what that cost in February 2021 🏢 The Fortune 500 plot twist: Texas just edged California in HQ count, but California's companies are still the most profitable, most valuable, and largest employers 🌬️ How two states with opposite governing philosophies arrived at nearly the same place on renewable energy 🏡 The property tax paradox: why "low tax" Texas has the 7th-highest property tax burden in the country 🗳️ Why the US Senate race may be the most important story in Texas politics right now We also visit the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema for a review of "The Invite" — an A24 film featuring Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Edward Norton, and Penélope Cruz that I didn't know what to expect from, and thoroughly enjoyed. 🔗 Link to the full newsletter in the comments below. #RiskManagement #Economics #Texas #Politics #Governance #RisketAl