SOS in Texas, Let's Fire Teachers and Cops

The state of Texas has a budget shortfall. So the solution is obvious; let's get rid of our most important services. I heard two guys arguing on the radio this morning about whether we should put off buying new text books or start laying off teachers. Yeah, I'm sure those are the only options available, oh and don't forget we could start letting criminals out of jail. Am I the only one getting tired of this crap. From 2001-2011 Texas education spending increased fro $45 billion to $75 billion dollars (66%), health and human services more than doubled from $29 to $59 billion. No other area of the budget was even close. Now, consider a couple of points:

• First, on the education side, we spent $30 billion more last year than we did a decade ago and by all accounts got a worse result. Maybe the problem isn't how much money we have, but how effectively we use it. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says they spend more than any state in the country, yet consistently are among the worst performing. Maybe the problem is that the people who oversee education are too concerned with things other than math, reading, and history. You know, things like diversity, cultural tolerance, and save the planet, earth day nonsense. I don't need or want schools teaching my kids morals or values, I'll handle that, just teach them to read damn it!
• The second thing is this: Why has health and human services spending doubled in ten years? Has the population doubled? Has anything else doubled? No, welfare spending has doubled because some politicians need to buy votes and others are afraid to oppose them. Keep in mind this happened under a Republican governor and legislature. The people who work and pay taxes can't keep supporting the ones who don't because, as we can see, that second group gets bigger every year. The free ride has to stop at some point and if that offends some people, well that's just tough. Everyone is going to have to take responsibility for themselves and their families. If you can't afford to take care of your kids, then stop having so damn many. People are quick to blames this on illegal immigration and that's absolutely part of the problem. But, there are plenty of native born Americans and Texans that are content to sit on their butt and accept government assistance and I'm tired of footing the bill.

I give Texas government some credit because we're in a lot better shape than most states, but politicians everywhere need to grow a pair because, right now, I see only a handful of elected officials in the entire country with the stones to face this problem; and that's not near enough.