Recently, The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has begun telling folks where they should live and when they retire, but the question is why?

Why do Texans need our Department of Agriculture to tell us were to live when in the latter years of life?

Apparently, this program bestows a city or a county with an official TDA stamp of approval that indicates a particular town has been seen fit by state government to settle after retiring. Does the state of Texas really think we need their say-so or approval before deciding where to live? At this rate, how long will it be before the state of Texas begins certifying cities best fitted for young professionals or the regions where Texans should open businesses?

In principal, government should not “certify” where people should live, but even giving this program the benefit of the doubt begs the question: why is TDA administering this program?

The criteria for becoming a “Certified Retirement Community” ranges from crime statistics all they way to if the community has a valid performing arts program that is worthy of seeing. Based on the criteria alone, there is no reason to why TDA should spearhead such a program while the Department of Tourism would seem a better fit. Based on the TDA website, the department is supposed to focus on consumer protection, production of agriculture, healthy living and economic development. There is nothing about granting special statuses to Texas communities seemingly catering to the retired.

At the very least, the Texas Department of Agriculture needs to re-examine its priorities; but if government truly thinks it needs to tell us where to live, we have greater problems altogether.

RELATED POSTS