Schools Devastated While Governor Parties!

When I was a kid, back in the Eisenhower-JFK days, I occasionally heard a saying that went something like this:  Democrats want to build schools, Republicans want to build jails.  The Dems had, and still have, that rather novel idea that providing an education now prevents crime later. Since the US has the largest prison population of all industrialized nations, it’s obvious which party has been more successful.

You would think the two most important things a civilized society could provide for its youth would be education and health care. Yet in the feast or famine method or running the business of the state of Texas, the Republicans controlling the purse strings always – always! – go after huge cuts in education and health care during the famine cycles.

Is it not also ironic that while the legislature is plotting the destruction of Texas our good Governor Perry plans to add a dozen more cronies to his already bloated staff of 120…after spending $2 million for a party (paid for by his fat cat supporters)? That should make great headlines somewhere: Schools Devastated While Governor Parties!

People are riled up about the current legislature’s proposed cuts to education. We absolutely should be! But don’t be mad at the Republicans, who will likely succeed with this travesty, they are merely doing what Republicans do. Be mad at the people who elected them.

If the people of Texas ever pull their heads out of their “God, Guns and Gays” mentality (and, of course, illegal immigrants), they just might see their ruling political party for what it is.

Fred Gossien

Terlingua