“In God We Trust” is engraved above the dais in both the House and Senate chambers. But the motto should be that of the Average Joe’s team in “Dodgeball:” “Aim Low.”
It's a shame. Elections in Texas are decided by the 3% of eligible Texas voters who participate in the Republican primaries. It's a dying breed, but the Democrats have not figured out how to overcome that in 30 years.
I recall as a child hearing an agriculture agent at a checkpoint in Arkansas ask my father if we were carrying any of a list of produce. I always laughed later at the man's drawl pronouncing "okrie, sweet taters," etc.
My guess is that there are persons in neighboring states who are not legally in the U.S. and who travel to Texas. Are we going to have checkpoints on Interstates 10, 20, and 35, as well as the myriad of smaller roads and highways? Surely, DPS should "protect" us from the Cambodian family or the Nigerian couple living in Shreveport or Clovis. 😕
Very salient comment, as usual, David. The point is, your observation is real and practical, but the entire multi-billion dollar Operation Lone Star / criminal penalties / New Mexico fencing is just performative.
If the state had ever wanted to do anything about unregulated developments and their unscrupulous developers, it would have started years ago at the colonias on the border. Las Milpas, south of McAllen, for many years had more than ten thousand residents dealing with open sewers, privvies, no running water and often no electricity. But the poor, mostly immigrants, could cobble together their monthly payment for the land they bought. Colonias are still centers of deprivation and disadvantage from El Paso to Brownsville, and nobody in Austin gives a jolly good goddamn.
A good history lesson, Jim. The Lege tried to solve the problem by authorizing bonds to retrofit some colonies with water. But we still allow crappy developments in unincorporated areas because the Lege will not give counties authority to protect those areas. There are colonies in, for instance, eastern Travis County.
If I failed to tell you before, your have outlined what a group of elected autocrats can do to a will do if not stopped. Abbott, like Trump would be supreme ruler, Patrick is a cruel court jester, and Paxton, (the corrupt AG who must be held to account), not only for my home State, but also for the sake of the of the states who join him in endless, taxpayer funded, lawsuit designed to steal people’s civil rights!
One final thought for my friend,your coverage is complete and concise, as only an insider could provide. Thank you.
I've given up hope on the Ledge and just have to wait until the white dinosaurs die off in a Democrat inspired comet crash.
It's a shame. Elections in Texas are decided by the 3% of eligible Texas voters who participate in the Republican primaries. It's a dying breed, but the Democrats have not figured out how to overcome that in 30 years.
This⬆️
I recall as a child hearing an agriculture agent at a checkpoint in Arkansas ask my father if we were carrying any of a list of produce. I always laughed later at the man's drawl pronouncing "okrie, sweet taters," etc.
My guess is that there are persons in neighboring states who are not legally in the U.S. and who travel to Texas. Are we going to have checkpoints on Interstates 10, 20, and 35, as well as the myriad of smaller roads and highways? Surely, DPS should "protect" us from the Cambodian family or the Nigerian couple living in Shreveport or Clovis. 😕
Very salient comment, as usual, David. The point is, your observation is real and practical, but the entire multi-billion dollar Operation Lone Star / criminal penalties / New Mexico fencing is just performative.
If the state had ever wanted to do anything about unregulated developments and their unscrupulous developers, it would have started years ago at the colonias on the border. Las Milpas, south of McAllen, for many years had more than ten thousand residents dealing with open sewers, privvies, no running water and often no electricity. But the poor, mostly immigrants, could cobble together their monthly payment for the land they bought. Colonias are still centers of deprivation and disadvantage from El Paso to Brownsville, and nobody in Austin gives a jolly good goddamn.
A good history lesson, Jim. The Lege tried to solve the problem by authorizing bonds to retrofit some colonies with water. But we still allow crappy developments in unincorporated areas because the Lege will not give counties authority to protect those areas. There are colonies in, for instance, eastern Travis County.
Arnosky Family Farm has an ofrenda
every year in its blue barn outside Blanco . At night they sponsor a Marigold dance.
I am doing an ofrenda for my home this year. I am very excited about it. I just learned that an ofrenda can also honor dogs (https://embarkvet.com/resources/dogs-day-of-the-dead/) and I will do that.
If I failed to tell you before, your have outlined what a group of elected autocrats can do to a will do if not stopped. Abbott, like Trump would be supreme ruler, Patrick is a cruel court jester, and Paxton, (the corrupt AG who must be held to account), not only for my home State, but also for the sake of the of the states who join him in endless, taxpayer funded, lawsuit designed to steal people’s civil rights!
One final thought for my friend,your coverage is complete and concise, as only an insider could provide. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words and for your support and readership, CD!