Texas' Rank-ings

You know, I’m still a neophyte at the nitty-gritties of politics and of the cyber-world, so you hardcore experts will have to bear with me sometimes on my learning curves. But today as I was surfing around for websites of various Democratic clubs around Texas, I came across this bit of information that was published on Jan 31, 2007. It seems that the office staff of State Senator Eliot Shapleigh (D)-El Paso annually gleans our state’s ranking among the other 49 in a variety of categories. I’m telling you, the results are pitiful and I’m embarrassed. I also think that Mr. 39 Percent, our Governor should also be mightily embarrassed. Too embarrassed I would think to even show his well-coiffed head outside his mansion, much less to have designs on national politics. Take a look at some of these beauties that I am sure have not changed much in 11 months. They are ghastly:

1--49th per capita tax revenue raised (OK, so lower tax rates draw people from foreign states. Now I know why we have so many Republicans. But can this possibly explain why we are so lacking in so many things that we get such rank rankings as the rest below?)

2--50th in per capita state
spending (this explains why mental health and mental retardation services are practically nil and/or barbaric when they are obtained and why so many other services are outsourced to private industry. It also explains so many other deficiencies except state executive IQ’s)

3--47th in SAT scores (hmmm. I’m not one to believe that all educational problems can be solved by money, but I know for a fact that teacher training in Texas is not up to par and that politicians and educational administrators in Texas have miles to go before they ever consider teachers as professionals. They consider nail technicians more of professionals than teachers. Could that be part of this problem? Perhaps the tip of the iceberg as it were?)

4--50th in percentage of population over 25 with high school diploma. (I want to see a breakdown on how many are legal/illegal immigrants and from where and just generally more information on this. These people aren't taking the SAT’s before leaving are they?)

5--1st in percentage of uninsured children (no comment needed here, I believe)

6--1st in percentage of population without health insurance (I believe that’s related to #4. Very few jobs paying minimum wage have health insurance benefits)

7—49th in number of women who vote (good God! When I think of all those Republican women who confessed that they voted for who their husbands told them to when I block walked! And when I think of Great-great Aunt Margaret who spent three days in jail for throwing a brick through a storefront window in Picadilly Circle when marching for the right to vote. Sigh)

8—1st in air pollution and toxic chemicals released into water (and you’re letting your politicians let you breathe and drink it. Could this explain #'s 3 and 4?)

9—1st in cancer-causing carcinogens released into the air (I love this one. Carcinogen means cancer-causing. Why do you think Austin wanted to bleed your pocketbook dry to pay for more cancer research? It was either you pay to treat or the state pay for making the industries clean up. Surprise! Guess who lost on that one?)

10—44th in home ownership rate. (two of the biggest lobbyist groups in the state besides the funeral business are home builders and mortgage companies. Who can afford a home these days? You'd think both would be more buyer friendly without screwing you to the wall in 7 years)

11—50th in electric bill affordibility (What’s wrong with that picture?? Texas has more sunshine, more wind, more burning of trash gases out of refineries that could be used than any other state. Makes the head swim)

12—1st in number of executions (well, it depends on where you stand on that issue)

13—1st in number of gun shows (ditto)

Anyway you look at it, it makes a Texan real proud, don’t it? If Perry really does decide to go national, I’m throwing this in his face every chance I get. How about you? After all, it is some serious egg.