Seven Years an American & Texas vs. France
“Where liberty is, there is my country.” —Benjamin Franklin
Seven years ago today, I became an American citizen in San Antonio, Texas.
It’s hard to believe it has been 7 years already. Yet it was many more years before that I had that dream of immigrating to America and becoming an American citizen (the latter has always been part of the dream). Why, you ask? The principles on which the United States was founded are principles I believe, adhere to, and cherish.
Many of these principles, European countries once shared but have since turned away from, becoming ballooning welfare states that restrict their citizens’ rights while taxing them to the point of exhaustion to pay for unsustainable “social models.”
Don’t go there, America. Keep doing you, Texas.
I work in public policy/politics, and people often ask me how I got into this field, given that I’m from France. The more important question is why.
When I was still in France, I set my mind to work in public policy once I would immigrate to the United States—specifically at a think tank (we didn’t have anything like the Heritage Foundation there, and I was fascinated by what brainpower and ideas could accomplish). So why? To help preserve what made America the greatest country in the world. And where to do it better than in Texas? (This is a rhetorical question 😊 I’ve written about this before).
The principles on which the United States of America and the state of Texas are founded—respect for life, property, liberty, equality before the law, and a government limited to protecting these rights—shape their policies and culture. With this culture come specific values: self-responsibility, hard work, achievement, patriotism.
The result? Opportunities abound here. People are not only allowed to dream, but they are also encouraged to do so and act upon these because they can reach their dreams with dedication in an environment that doesn’t slow them down by placing roadblocks in front of them and/or taxing most of what they earn (been there, done that in France).
When I’m not happy with where I am in life, I remind myself of how much I have been able to accomplish in the 15 years I have been in the United States and how blessed I am to live here—and I want to keep it that way.
Let’s take a very quick look at the Texas Model compared to the so-called French social model in terms of economic achievement.
Texas is the state that creates the most jobs in the United States. In 2025, Texas’ unemployment rate was 4.3%—a percentage that my native country, France, hasn’t seen in decades (see 3rd figure). In fact, the lowest I’ve seen in my lifetime was 7ish %.
Texas’ growth in 2024 was 3.95% (compared to 1.2% for France). Texas’ economy will soon surpass France’s economy. Even the French admit it.
According to a recent French article, “France is still ahead of Texas but maybe not for long.” Texas’ GDP per capita is already at $88,000, compared to France’s $46,000.
The article explains that Texas “has been standing out for several years for its swift economic growth, so much so that it became the new El Dorado for many companies. … The dynamism of Texas ... is undeniable and is confirmed year after year.”
Although the article says that Texas hasn’t caught up with California or France quite yet, it describes the Lone Star State as “one of the bastions and the best example of conservative policies in the United States.”
Beyond energy and fewer regulations, it’s Texas’ incredibly favorable taxation (no individual or business state income tax, only the federal income tax) that allowed it to become the most attractive state in the United States for businesses, including Californian ones. Its pro-business environment was reinforced in 2025 when the [state] Constitution was amended to prohibit the imposition of a death tax or a tax on capital gains from both real estate and movable property.
Different policies, different results. Texas Model vs France’s “modèle social” (que personne ne nous envie – IYKYK).
Texas has accomplished much more in 2025, which will be the subject of a separate article. Everyone wants to come to Texas, and native Texans don’t want to leave Texas. Maybe because it is the quintessential land for achievement?
Some French people had told me, “I bet you’ll be back in two years.” Ahah! No.
Seven years an American, thirteen years a Texan, and fifteen years living in the United States. Texas is home. It’s time to take the final step in this journey to become American.
“Where liberty is, there is my country”.
(Attributed to) Benjamin Franklin
God, Texas, and America 🇺🇲
(To be continued.)