If you want to understand the Texan world view better, read Texas Monthly, a very well-written monthly magazine on Texas affairs that IMO tries hard not to pull punches while keeping them above the belt.
Cars and trucks aren't limited to Texas editions. Some automakers also offer other state-specific packages. Like the Texas editions they are mostly plastic badges, cheap-ass trim "upgrades", block heaters for northern states, or lift kits and offroad tires for more rural states. Basically the same package you can get anywhere in the country for less because it doesn't mention a specific state.
I’ve never seen another state-specific car model package, though will take on faith there may be others.
Second paragraph: we’re kind of idiots.
Texas education ranking: 43rd
Just want to point out that the first paragraph does offer the likelihood that there are exceptions to the conclusion one could reach by reading the second paragraph.
The third point you make is very sad though it has not always been true. We are certainly in the dumb part of the cycle. With the right leadership and structural changes in state programs we will retake the high ground. I think this is a deep hole that they have dug but luckily there are only 7 more places to fall before our embarrassing situation takes us even lower than the lowest US territory scores.
Maybe we're already there. I'm just hoping for future generations of Texans that there will not be a dead cat bounce at the bottom.
This whole topic and your comment made me think of the phenomenon of rural identity. Basically, a lot of Americans identify as rural even though they are not. It sounds innocent enough but it leads to a lot of anti patterns related to individualistic city planning, where people think that things like public transit aren’t compatible with their rural and individualistic values.
Your whole remark about rural identity makes sense since for at least 40 years new subdivisions and new construction in suburbia has focused on giving residents the idea that they are living in a rural setting even though they easily chunk a rock and hit their neighbor's car. They do this by naming subdivisions as "Blah-blah Ranch Acres", or "Blah-blah Valley" or similar to evoke a feeling of isolation that you wouldn't experience when you step out of your vehicle in the driveway of your "ranchette" and go into your "ranch style" home on your 2 acre lot that had a great scenic view of the community lake until someone bought the lot across the road between you and the lake so that now all you see their two-story monstrosity when you look out the front window.
And like you describe, it does erode support for things like public transit since those in the subdivisions will likely never ride a bus anywhere because the developer was not only not required to include the infrastructure for bus service but they weren't on the hook for any of the infrastructure improvements that the residents needed. As a result, the residents find themselves wasting time sitting in long lines waiting to clear multiple stop signs to get on a service road with a poorly timed traffic signal that will allow them to finally merge into a stream of vehicles on the main highway. You can always leave earlier to beat the crowd as long as you're almost the only one with that idea.
I have spent lots of time laughing at the absurdity.