Overview of modern liberal and conservative perspectives

“Liberal” and “Conservative” are two words used to describe two political philosophies and platforms that may not be so easy to view and comprehend. It seems that humans maintain a need and desire to label everything and everyone in their lives and certainly this is recognized in Politics, perhaps more so than in other areas of our daily existence.

Immediately, several such labels come to mind, e.g., liberal, conservative, socialist, fascist, to name a few. The terms “Liberal” and “Conservative” are frequently used in politics and within our modern society; however, the context may vary in actual use and definition at any given time. Furthermore, the terms have changed over time periods and/or have been manipulated to promote special interest concerns, desires and legislation.

Texas Tolling Mentality Continues...

In response to "U.S. 290 tollway’s first piece opening in December"

 

Despite the fact that gasoline tax revenue is diverted to other special interests and also that Gov. Perry and the Texas Legislature refuse to permit the increase of the tax to allow for inflation (as they apparently do permit for yearly toll road increases) the primary focus on building roadways is on developing more and more toll roadways, which truly does NOT help with traffic congestion. 

 

This is unconscionable. 

 

Furthermore, there is no regulation for the increase of tolls at any given time and once the toll road is paid for, the tolls usually remain. This is NOT a legacy we want to leave for our children's children. 

 

The ruling GOP cries out against new taxes, but what are tolls if not new taxes? 

 

Even if drivers opt NOT to use the toll roads goods and services will increase accordingly as toll costs will be diverted onto customers. Consequently, 

 

I urge all Texans to avoid using toll roads, but also they should contact legislators to stop tolling insanity.

 

 

In response to “Testing in Public Education”

Bill Hammond continues to show he knows absolutely nothing about public education, but that doesn't stop the Rick Perry puppet from opening his mouth as a self-determined expert.

Bill Hammond, President of the Texas Association of Business, stated that “Concerned parents are being needlessly frightened by school superintendents who are failing to prepare their students. The parents have been told,” Hammond said, “that some of the provisions of the system will make it harder for their sons or daughters to get into a flagship (university) and that simply is not true. Hammond further stated “This has never been about those kids. It’s about those kids who have never been given the opportunity to go beyond high school.”

This was the guy who publicly stated we can save money on education "by increasing class size." Only an idiot would say something like that, especially when so many studies show that increasing class size hinders and impedes learning outcomes. Hammond needs to close his yap when it comes to public education.

Lastly, the STAAR and all other major testing is an insult to our children. They prove nothing about the knowledge children have and add nothing to their success in business and their future. 

 

The State Board of Education (SBOE) should be abolished and we need to develop a School-Based Management approach in developing curriculum and improving learning outcomes.

 

We need intelligent and knowledgeable people to resolves the issues of public education, not special interest puppets.

Texas Leading the Battle for Religious Omnipotence

Simply put, the Tea Party crumpets and the Religious Right zealots are maneuvering for power and control mostly for the next Presidential Election in 2016. They are making strides and already have power and clout in most of the 'red' states. They are trying to get into Washington to eventually make Federal changes in how state may gain more power to take control over our lives.

Here in Texas, Gov. Rick Perry and Attorney General Abbott encourage giving power to the extremists and offer protection to the 2 forces gaining control over our lives. It should be obvious --- but not in Texas --- that the Christian religion has no business in government or in public education, nor in dictating how the majority of us live our lives. I wonder how these good Christians would feel if we pushed Judaism as the powerful religion and political entity?

Let's hope the Supreme Court of the US maintains the true separation of Church and State. If not, we will continue to lose our precious rights and freedoms in favor of one religion surpassing everything and everyone. The last time the Church had so much power it supported the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition.

Still Building Unnecessary Toll Roads

Texas Pushing Through Special Interest 130 and MoPac Toll Roads and More

Toll roads in general are simply ridiculous. They create long term debt and 80 percent off the top of toll collections go to the company that builds and operates the road. They usually create other unforeseen issues, e.g., on 130 motorists are hitting feral hogs at 85 mph.

The 130 toll way is almost as absurd as the proposed MoPac (LOOP 1) "managed care lanes" that are being pushed upon motorists. The problems inherent on MoPac are not being resolved. Instead, TxDOT and toll authorities continue to push for toll roads to make revenue instead of figuring out what will really move traffic along congested areas.

Private road companies like CINTRA will pay states $1 or $2 million or even more up front to ensure that it is considered to build and operate future toll roads. Then, where does that money go to? We don't see a paper trail. Where do TxDOT and legislators put those big dollars? TxDOT "found" $130 MILLION to put into the MoPac managed care lanes while still crying that it has no money to repair roadways, build new ones or build an overpass, say for MoPac and Slaughter Lane or to resolve the decade-long congestion crisis at the Oak Hill ‘Y’ intersection and many other road area issues throughout Texas.

Texans are being scammed all the time and they should be plenty angry at officials. Tweaking lights at intersections at different times of the day would help the flow of traffic, but TxDOT and/or the Department of Safety don't do that. Capital of Texas Highway (360) needs authorities to close the side roads at various lengths of the highway to permit the reasonable flow of traffic; however, they won’t. Instead, they opt to make drivers more angry and frustrated so that they will go along with endless toll road projects Governor Perry and his special interests want.

Projected Electoral College Votes in the 2012 Presidential Election

I developed this map of electoral college votes using an online source that is merely my own opinion on which states will vote GOP or Democrat this November 2012. I could be off a little, but I think this is pretty close as to how the states will vote. While I dislike both parties, I know it would be much worse under the GOP rule than the Democrats on many issues. I already voted and, after very careful consideration of all options, I did vote for Obama.

 

Most of the ruling GOP are pro-Tea Party crumpets and are as far right extremists as you can get. Too many liberals/Democrats are far left extremists and there are very few grounded and/or moderates or centrists left in either party with significant power and clout.

 

I know many may not share my views or give a damn about who wins since whoever does may not be able to provide some relief and jobs for most Americans, but I still am sharing. If you don’t want to read it or if you believe differently, just trash it. I don’t want to debate or argue about it. It will be interesting to see what happens and how close my projection will prove reality-based.

 

 

 

Electoral Votes

 

Obama 322              Romney 216