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.