Paradoxes
I do not hide the fact that I don't support our governor, Rick Perry. He was recently elected to an unprecedented fourth term here in Texas, proof that our slipshod educational system is finally taking its toll.
Today the Dallas Morning News printed excerpts of Perry's inaugural address given during the inaugural celebration, which sadly was pared down to only one gala ball.
In his inaugural address Perry stressed the challenges presented by our state's budget shortfall but said Texas will support "the frail, the young, the elderly and those who suffer abuse." He said his final budget will protect those whose "needs are greater than the resources at their disposal."
Here is where Perry and his speechwriters need to pause and look up "paradox" in the dictionary because, despite his dedication to our state's poor, huddled masses, he proposes to cut public school funding and remedial reading programs, eliminate funding for teacher merit pay, cut financial aid, close community colleges, decrease overall Medicaid spending, close facilities for the mentally disabled, withhold community-based treatments for the mentally ill, cut child abuse prevention funds and vocational rehabilitation programs for the deaf, blind and disabled, and eliminate legal services for the poor.
Last I checked kids in public schools and remedial reading programs are the young. College students seeking financial aid are the very definition of those whose needs are greater than their resources. Children who have been subjected to physical and mental abuse are by definition "those who suffer abuse." Blind, deaf and mentally disabled citizens are part of our state's "frail" population.
Believe it or not, I am not a bleeding heart liberal. I find it hard to accept that a convicted murderer serving a life sentence has access to better health care and educational resources than many of the kids in my neighborhood. I'm not sure that an illegal immigrant should be able to go to nearby Parkland for free medical care but my friend Achlee can't afford prenatal checkups.
But I also find it interesting that our state's $203 million Emerging Technology Fund, which invests in high-tech start ups, awards a large percentage of those funds to Perry's campaign donors. Or that we spend hundreds of millions to pretty up our highways. Or that we allocated tens of millions to a Superbowl "trust fund."
Maybe it's simply that our politicians are out of touch. Maybe those who flippantly approve these cuts should be forced to send their kids to the public schools in their districts. Maybe they should be forced to sit in Parkland's ER for a day before getting treated for chest pains. Perhaps they should have to tell their son that despite his good grades he can only go to a local community college (unless you live in Odessa or west of Fort Worth).
I wish I had a solution. I wish someone had a solution. I certainly don't think Rick Perry does.
Today the Dallas Morning News printed excerpts of Perry's inaugural address given during the inaugural celebration, which sadly was pared down to only one gala ball.
In his inaugural address Perry stressed the challenges presented by our state's budget shortfall but said Texas will support "the frail, the young, the elderly and those who suffer abuse." He said his final budget will protect those whose "needs are greater than the resources at their disposal."
Here is where Perry and his speechwriters need to pause and look up "paradox" in the dictionary because, despite his dedication to our state's poor, huddled masses, he proposes to cut public school funding and remedial reading programs, eliminate funding for teacher merit pay, cut financial aid, close community colleges, decrease overall Medicaid spending, close facilities for the mentally disabled, withhold community-based treatments for the mentally ill, cut child abuse prevention funds and vocational rehabilitation programs for the deaf, blind and disabled, and eliminate legal services for the poor.
Last I checked kids in public schools and remedial reading programs are the young. College students seeking financial aid are the very definition of those whose needs are greater than their resources. Children who have been subjected to physical and mental abuse are by definition "those who suffer abuse." Blind, deaf and mentally disabled citizens are part of our state's "frail" population.
Believe it or not, I am not a bleeding heart liberal. I find it hard to accept that a convicted murderer serving a life sentence has access to better health care and educational resources than many of the kids in my neighborhood. I'm not sure that an illegal immigrant should be able to go to nearby Parkland for free medical care but my friend Achlee can't afford prenatal checkups.
But I also find it interesting that our state's $203 million Emerging Technology Fund, which invests in high-tech start ups, awards a large percentage of those funds to Perry's campaign donors. Or that we spend hundreds of millions to pretty up our highways. Or that we allocated tens of millions to a Superbowl "trust fund."
Maybe it's simply that our politicians are out of touch. Maybe those who flippantly approve these cuts should be forced to send their kids to the public schools in their districts. Maybe they should be forced to sit in Parkland's ER for a day before getting treated for chest pains. Perhaps they should have to tell their son that despite his good grades he can only go to a local community college (unless you live in Odessa or west of Fort Worth).
I wish I had a solution. I wish someone had a solution. I certainly don't think Rick Perry does.
posted by Romine Family at 9:02 AM
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