I Figured It Out

Texas (and the country) has a huge deficit when it comes to educational funding. We just don’t have the money. Thousands of teaching jobs were cut last year and the ones who did keep their jobs have to deal with higher student ratios in their classrooms. So we have more kids in each room, fewer teachers and, don’t panic, the STARR test.

I figured out how to solve the problem. Well, part of the problem anyway.

This chart shows the salary of Superintendents in several districts of Texas. Keep in mind these figures are for the smaller districts (See the numbers under “Enrollment”? That really is the number of students enrolled in the entire district. We’re talking 1A.)



I didn’t know surperintendents were paid according to how many students were in their district. Why is that? They don’t actually have to deal with any of them. It’s not like they’re trying to teach in a classroom of 25. Why do they get paid for number of students but not the teachers?

But I digress.

Tesseracts and Moats (or “Why You Should Vote for Me as the Next Governor of Texas”)

This weekend I finally had a chance to go home and visit my parents and let me tell you, it was so nice to be out of the city. I have tried it for 2 months and it has been confirmed that no, I am NOT a city dweller. At least not this city and not long term. But I digress. As I drove across my state several thoughts crossed my mind.

Thought One: I figured out that one of the main problems facing Texas is that it's just so damn big. No, I didn't say too big, there's just so much of it. The problem is we decided to build a interstate/highway system instead of incorporating a tesseract system between cities. If you don't know what a tesseract is, stop reading this and go find a copy of A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle and read that. No seriously her book is way more important than this post, I'll be here. Read it? Good. I think we can all agree that tesseracts are the way to go. At least in Texas. I can't think of any New England states who would care.

I realize that what she's describing in the book is more of a wormhole and not actually a pure mathematical representation of a four dimensional cube. Take it up with Madeleine. It's still a great book and a great idea. 


 
Thought Two: I was lucky enough to drive through the first rain I've seen in about 3 months and it was lovely! This is why I belong in the country, I love just sitting (or driving) in nature, just looking at a lot of green stuff and trees and skies that are an awesome mix of blues and grays and the smell of rain. I miss that. I need that. Sitting (or driving) though miles and miles of suburban sprawl as far as the eye can see just doesn't do it for me. Shucks. 

But the rain, the rain was so nice. However it does lead me to my Third Thought:

 
Dear Driver Who Slows Down During a Light Drizzle,

Stop it. What are you doing? The speed limit did not go down 20 miles just because it started to sprinkle. It's not even a thunderstorm. Most of the water on my windshield is what you are casting off in my direction. You have three options: Stay at home during inclement weather, learn to drive in it, or get to work on my tesseract idea. Now kindly move over so I can pass you.

Sincerely,
Me

 
Some Happy Thoughts from the weekend include:

I love my parents. They constantly overwhelm me with love and support and I am very blessed and thankful to be their daughter.

Eating Chicken Bryan at Carabba's renews my hope in mankind's ability to do things right.

Weather that dips below 90 degrees (or you know, even 100 is nice too) will change your outlook on life.
 

Ironically on the drive back I was surrounded on almost all sides by skies full of smoke. Not a good ending to my nice weekend. Not a good day for a lot of people. What can you do in times like these? Pray. Then roll up your sleeves and get to work.

So to anyone who reads this please be careful, enjoy what you love, and drive with common sense.
 

You may also want to start digging a moat around your house. 
 

Please Note This Post Has Interactive Links (you should click on them)

Get ready to take offense.

Now that our Brilliant Governor has proclaimed his intentions to be the next Commander in Chief I thought we should take a look at how much he has done for our state during his reign. Since he is so much more eloquent than I let's reference his official website shall we?

"As Americans, we believe freedom is a gift from God, and government’s prime function is to defend it.  We don’t see the role of government as a nanny state, and we recognize there is no government money that wasn’t once earned through the sweat and toil of private citizens."


Ah freedom, let's jump right on that band wagon. I agree with Governor Perry, the government's money once belonged to it's citizens. The question remains however, why are the lower classes, those who earn "through the sweat and toil" taxed more than those who sit in penthouses? (If you doubt it check out page 102 of this report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy). As for the trickle down theory, has anyone felt any drips lately? Certainly not the elderly, who are suffering under the present "leadership". Certainly not teachers, who will have a hard time finding help from the current administration. We seem to have more than one kind of drought to deal with.

That’s why we object to an Administration that sees its role as spending our children’s inheritance on failed economic theories that have given us record debt and left far too many unemployed, threatening not only our economy, but our security. 


I love a good game of pin the tail on the Donkey, it seems the Governor does too. But let's take the blindfold off for a second. There now. Where's the ass?

And yes we all know about his call for a day of prayer and fasting. But golly his timing was spot on! How magnanimous of him to set aside his political aspirations and focus on humbling himself before G-d.

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 


(In case you didn't catch  that last reference, it was Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew Chapter 6 in, you know, the Bible)

And I will work every day to make Washington, D.C. as inconsequential in your lives as I can.


I'm sure you will Rick, by redecorating the White House. It's going to be so pretty. I look forward to more national coverage of all your decor decisions on E!

The change we seek will never emanate out of Washington…it must come from the windswept prairies of Middle America…the farms and factories across this great land…the hearts and minds of God-fearing Americans who will not accept a future that is less than our past…who will not be consigned a fate of less freedom in exchange for more government.

I completely and totally agree. That's why I figured out a while ago that a government that wants to keep out of people's personal business should also be one that doesn't get a say in whether or not a woman should or should not have an abortion. Because I'm pretty sure that's about as personal as you can get. NEWSFLASH: Even G-d knows that those choices come from the heart not the state. Whether you agree with it or not isn't the issue. If you want to take a stand against abortion then join an organization that counsels young mothers, or better yet, mentors young fathers. Passing laws to prevent abortion or homosexuality is about as effective as giving Tamiflu to a person who's already got the flu.

Hint: it's still there.

(Please note that I am not trying to suggest that women who have abortions or homosexuals are the same as sick people or diseased in any way. It's just an analogy.)

Over ten years, we have followed this recipe of fiscal restraint to produce the strongest economy in the nation. While millions of jobs have been lost over the last decade nationwide, hundreds of thousands of jobs have been added in Texas. Texas is home to one in 12 Americans, and yet since June of 2009, we have created more than four in ten American jobs.




Wait, hasn't Perry been in office since 2000? So unemployment went up, then down again, and now it's back up during his time there. So what does he have to do with whether or not Texans have jobs? But it's true, we're better off than most. Except for the thousands of teachers and other ISD employees who were cut.

Gov. Rick Perry has said that the best way to balance the budget is to make cuts instead of increasing taxes for already strapped families. He has said that the budget hole can be overcome by setting priorities, such as school districts doing more with less or by sharing services.

There's a fine line between more with less and just less with less. We'll see how this year goes.

And please let's not forget the sweeping textbook changes that were made in 2010 under Perry. Because free enterprise sounds much better than capitalism and kids really don't need to learn about the importance of Thomas Jefferson. Now every student in Texas and thousands throughout the nation will be learning the good American value of "putting a spin on it".

We will not sit back and accept our current misery…because a great country requires a better direction…because a renewed nation requires a new president.  That’s why, with faith in God, the support of my family, and an unwavering belief in the goodness of America, I am a candidate for President of the United States.

Just a few months ago, our Governor suggested that we secede the Union. Perhaps if he can just gain control of the government he so obviously hates, distrusts, and finds useless, we won't have to.

If you vote for Perry you're only doing it because you hate Obama, or you're against homosexuality and abortion, or maybe because he prayed in public the other day. Certainly not because you believe in education,
or you're against corruption, or because you think the middle and lower classes deserve a fighting chance. I'm not saying any other candidate will do a better job. Being President means that you get blamed for everything, whether it's war, natural disaster relief, or debt. Even if the problems were handed to you by another administration. He is a politician just like all the rest. Please, before you vote, look at what he's done in our state and think about what it could mean for our nation if he gets into Office.