Big Business or Education... We Can Have Both.

"Some recent studies have also postulated linkage between improperly sited and managed saltwater disposal wells and minor earthquake activity, and the Texas Railroad Commission and legislative leaders are beginning to take concrete steps to address this concern.

But again, these are all issues that come about thanks to the economic growth that is produced by resource abundance, and they sure beat the kinds of challenges Texans and all Americans suffered through during the oil shocks and resource constraints of the 1970's.

This truly is a great time to be a Texan. God Bless Texas."

- David Blackmon, Forbes Magazine 1/9/2014, "Oil & Gas Boom 2014: A Great Time To Be A Texan"

The quote above is from an article touting the economic benefits of the Eagle Ford Shale and the Permian Basin oil reserves.  With the recent increases in production, Texas has risen to a level that would place them at 9th of the world's largest oil producing countries if they seceded.

The problem with this thinking is that it's strictly focusing on how Texas is a success economically, and not looking at the big picture. Texas will never be successful if it is only chasing dollars for the wealthiest of the state and to fill the State Treasury's coffers. Texas needs to change the emphasis on only making money, and change the focus to building a foundation for the future by strengthing our fractured education system. Only by having an educated population will we be able to move away from the technologies of the past and work towards implementing newer and cleaner energy solutions. Texas could lead the way, as a provider of alternative fuels and lead our state into the future as an economic leader, and conversely taking us out of our Stone Age thinking.

One of the biggest problems facing Texas today is our education system. There are numerous thoughts about how to solve the problem of education, and unfortunately for the students and children of Texas none of them seem to match up, and it's leaves the powers that be in a stalemate. The biggest problem currently facing the Texas education system is the way it's funded. The individual school districts are forced to raise money from local taxes, or school districts, to cover their expenses. Unfortunately for many school districts, they are not able to raise enough funds within their district to meet their budgets each year. This is brought about the "Robin Hood" practice, where smaller districts are partially funded by funds from larger more wealthier districts. This system cannot sustain itself. With the ever growing population in Texas, specifically of non-english speaking students, the poorer district bear the burden of these challenges which translate into high costs.

Ultimately I see no way that the school districts can continue, especially with the barrage of de-funding efforts from the legislature at the state capital unless we have some sort of significant tax reform.

all Texans should pay for all the cost of Texas education. This is a state problem and we all need to contribute.  I'm not calling for a state income tax.  What I am calling for is an increase in corporate taxes to help pay for the education of their future employees.  What good is it to cut the taxes of a corporation that moves it's headquarters to Texas, if they can't find any capable employees in the state it is now located in.  Let's giving away the milk for free.  Let's make these companies pay their share for being part of the community.  The taxes collected from their economic successes should partially fund the education of their future CEO's.

Is Texas Gay for Gay Money?

Before I get started: 

In Jennifer Avilez's blog article, "Boosting Texas' Economy by Granting Same-Sex Marriage," she discusses whether or not it will benefit Texas financially to allow gays to marry, she misses the point.

I find it hilarious that in this country we sometimes wait until it's fiscally feasible or beneficial before we do the right thing. To try and examine the psychology of Americans would take way too long so I'm going to just use our author as an example of the mindset of America today. Jennifer is from Austin Texas, she is a young woman who identifies as a liberal, and if I was to guess is possibly of Hispanic heritage. One would say with those characteristics Jennifer might be open to new things and excepting of different cultures, lifestyles, and free from some of the conservative bigotry that we have seen so often in American politics.

I think the first thing the tip to me off that I should not judge a book by its cover was the first sentence in Jennifer's blog, "I believe it does not make sense to regulate gay marriage because they are going to find a way to marry as they please regardless of state limitations." It's almost as if Jennifer feels that there are some back alley gay marriage clubs that are running late into the night, and they're probably running 2-for-1 specials for a gay marriage and abortions at the same time. Jennifer has taken the human component out of the gay marriage debate altogether, a strategic mistake. She has disregarded the fact that as Americans we are given the right by our Constitution to pursue happiness. 

She simply addressed the economical component which has allowed her to come to the conclusion that gay marriage should be legalized in the state of Texas if for no other reason but to bring millions of dollars, even if it's gay dollars to the state economy.

I think I understand what Jennifer is saying. I fear though that she just went about it the wrong way. She's a numbers girl, an accounting major, so she only sees dollar signs. This is why we don't see many accountants writing public policy. If we allowed the bean counters to make all of the socio-economic political decisions, slavery would still be a thing. I must be clear when I say that I myself am not a gay man. I do not want to be accused of just being emotional about this issue. I have looked at this from a human perspective, and I must say that if I was a gay man I would be offended that the only reason that the state that I live in is considering my happiness is because it covets my money

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Jennifer also highlights the gigantic Trojan Horse, gay marriage in Texas causes. By legalizing gay marriage that may bring a lot of gay dollars to the state, and that could be good for the Texas economy, but is Texas ready for the gays? Believe it or not, they are already here. You must remember this is Texas, and even though Austin is a very progressive place there are still many places in this great state where the eyes of Texas are truly upon you, making sure you aren't too different. 

This article also reminded me of the issue in Arizona just a few short months ago when they passed a law that said that a business does not have to service gay individuals if it is against the business owner's religion. This proposed law ultimately legalized discrimination. Can you imagine one of the largest red states in the nation legalizing gay marriage. I can imagine it, and hope for many of my friend's sake it happens sooner rather than later. But I don't think the gay community will except it is a victory if it's only because it's going to bring more money to the coffers of Texas, and it's not based on the simple fact that it is their HUMAN right to be happy.  

Next time I hope Jennifer remembers to consider the human component in these discussions, and not just the dollars and cents.  Some of the biggest problems in this country go unsolved because of the dollars and cents, and not the right's and wrong's.  I look forward to her next article about how the gays can help solve the immigration problem by adopting all of the brown babies!