Once again you get right to the point of particular interest is what has happened with Democratic legislatures of today. While I understand the frustration of fighting uphill battles, fight is what they must do. If you and other old guys of politics need to act as mentors do so! Their actions are not just blocked by one singular group, the Republicans with GOP operatives are backed by numerous well funded, special interest groups with innocent sounding names.
Trust me, they are as caring as bags of baby Rattlesnakes
They will not stop, until they achieve their desired goals!
Keep up the good work, great writing and pictures as always my friend!
The health care thing is the most astonishing of all our shortcomings. Medicaid money is already going out of the state, and ends up in other states that have expanded it. We are basically shipping away billions of our tax dollars every year because our government's leadership refuses to help the poor, for whatever reason. And Greg Abbott talks about improved mental health services to prevent gun violence and ignores the fact that we are last in the nation in terms of mental health care. Anyway, keep up the good work, Deece. In this moment, your informed opinion and analyses are critical.
Thanks, Jim. The other consequence of refusing to invest in Medicaid (besides the lack of mental health services) is the collapse of our rural health care infrastructure, where communities are losing their health care resources.Of course, the irony is that those communities continue to elect their tormentors.
Fascinating insight from someone returning to Texas state legislature. I've watched closer this session than I have in the past and I have been impressed with several of the Harris County area reps. I moved here in 1986 and the switch to GOP as a state was fairly fresh I believe. I volunteered with Mothers Against Greg Abbott last election and there wasn't much national democratic support. It was local groups linking together to cover the state. I guess we look like a lost cause but I wonder.
The enigma is that, on the broad policy debates that roil the Legislature, they are enacting policies that most Texans disapprove (e.g., total ban on abortion). The majorities in the House and Senate are playing to the most extreme (and tiny) parts of the GOP primary electorate. Groups like Mothers Against Greg Abbott are important because they are getting the word out to the sensible, middle-of-the-road voters who make up the majority. It's making a difference, slowly but surely. How do we know it's working? Because the GOP is getting more panicky about voter suppression — Harris County is a good example.
All very good, and true, points. I don't see any signs of giving up in the grassroots groups. And, for all the times college students were going to be the votes that counted, they really have come through on the major elections. (Proof, in the vein of your offering? Trying to close polling places on college campuses.)
Still: Ken Paxton, corrupt and indicted and all, got reelected. (Yes, and now impeached but the jury [sorry/not sorry] is still out on how that will work out. School vouchers are still being pushed, unpopular legislation did pass, and local elections had the same dismal turnout earlier this year despite trying to get the word out about Christian Nationalism and local school board, book banning take overs. If people don't get involved voting in the local elections, the same slow, patient process behind the SCOTUS take-over will follow the same successful trajectory, but faster since no lifetime appointments involved.
Texas seems behind other states like Georgia and our standings in education and healthcare results are reflective of that.
Once again you get right to the point of particular interest is what has happened with Democratic legislatures of today. While I understand the frustration of fighting uphill battles, fight is what they must do. If you and other old guys of politics need to act as mentors do so! Their actions are not just blocked by one singular group, the Republicans with GOP operatives are backed by numerous well funded, special interest groups with innocent sounding names.
Trust me, they are as caring as bags of baby Rattlesnakes
They will not stop, until they achieve their desired goals!
Keep up the good work, great writing and pictures as always my friend!
CD, thank you for your support!
The health care thing is the most astonishing of all our shortcomings. Medicaid money is already going out of the state, and ends up in other states that have expanded it. We are basically shipping away billions of our tax dollars every year because our government's leadership refuses to help the poor, for whatever reason. And Greg Abbott talks about improved mental health services to prevent gun violence and ignores the fact that we are last in the nation in terms of mental health care. Anyway, keep up the good work, Deece. In this moment, your informed opinion and analyses are critical.
Thanks, Jim. The other consequence of refusing to invest in Medicaid (besides the lack of mental health services) is the collapse of our rural health care infrastructure, where communities are losing their health care resources.Of course, the irony is that those communities continue to elect their tormentors.
Fascinating insight from someone returning to Texas state legislature. I've watched closer this session than I have in the past and I have been impressed with several of the Harris County area reps. I moved here in 1986 and the switch to GOP as a state was fairly fresh I believe. I volunteered with Mothers Against Greg Abbott last election and there wasn't much national democratic support. It was local groups linking together to cover the state. I guess we look like a lost cause but I wonder.
The enigma is that, on the broad policy debates that roil the Legislature, they are enacting policies that most Texans disapprove (e.g., total ban on abortion). The majorities in the House and Senate are playing to the most extreme (and tiny) parts of the GOP primary electorate. Groups like Mothers Against Greg Abbott are important because they are getting the word out to the sensible, middle-of-the-road voters who make up the majority. It's making a difference, slowly but surely. How do we know it's working? Because the GOP is getting more panicky about voter suppression — Harris County is a good example.
All very good, and true, points. I don't see any signs of giving up in the grassroots groups. And, for all the times college students were going to be the votes that counted, they really have come through on the major elections. (Proof, in the vein of your offering? Trying to close polling places on college campuses.)
Still: Ken Paxton, corrupt and indicted and all, got reelected. (Yes, and now impeached but the jury [sorry/not sorry] is still out on how that will work out. School vouchers are still being pushed, unpopular legislation did pass, and local elections had the same dismal turnout earlier this year despite trying to get the word out about Christian Nationalism and local school board, book banning take overs. If people don't get involved voting in the local elections, the same slow, patient process behind the SCOTUS take-over will follow the same successful trajectory, but faster since no lifetime appointments involved.
Texas seems behind other states like Georgia and our standings in education and healthcare results are reflective of that.