I :loveya: The Houston Chronicle: Governor Perry Smackdown

[Richardo]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/3332258

Perry's order on spending says more about own failings than about school districts'

Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

The movie critic A.H. Weiler once remarked that nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself. Few things bring that observation to mind with more alacrity than Gov. Rick Perry's order on school spending.

Having failed to lead state government toward fulfillment of its first duty — to provide an adequate and equitable system of public schools — the governor ordered the Texas Education Agency to see to it that school districts spend 65 percent of their budget on classroom instruction. The attorney general apparently forgot to inform Perry that the executive powers of Texas governors border on the nonexistent.

<snip>

Perry's order is particularly highhanded at a time when school energy costs are going through the poorly maintained schoolhouse roof. If Perry wants schools to cut back or end school bus service to meet the budget goal, let him say so.

The problem with school funding is not waste. The problem is that the state pays only 40 percent of public education's cost. In Houston, the state covers a ridiculous 12 percent, yet Perry wishes to dictate how 100 percent of the money will be apportioned — one of the most grotesque unfunded mandates since the term came into use.

<snip>

Gov. Perry's order serves two useful purposes. It demonstrates his indifference to the plight of public education, and it draws a bold diagram of how desperate that plight grows in Texas' leadership vacuum.

:applause:

[losdiablosgato]

1. My brother is a rethug and he hates Gov Goodhair

He says, "Perry is a $5 brain with $50 hair mountd on it."

[orwell]

2. WHo Cares

WHo needs "edumacation?" Dumb people vote dumb people into office. The looting and pillaging continue unabated. With free Fed money, everyone's a real estate millionaire!

And of course a bull market in dumb people means:

Army recruitment finally increases just in time for Mayhem for Mullahs (Iran)
Voodoo doodoo economics is taught at the finest universities
JEB! 08
Intelligent design gets its own HGTV time slot
Republicans hold permanent majority status
More tax cuts for Cheney and Co
All environmental regulations scrapped
Free guns given away at Baptist religious services
Gas is $45 a gallon
Regis is the new CBS news anchor

Just think of all the fun ahead!

[Richardo]

3. The dumb party's secret weapon: straight ticket voting

"Shoot, ah cain vote agin' them tax-lovin' spendocrats with one button? Yee dawgies!" :eyes:

[GCP]

4. Smackdown

That was a hell of an editorial. The Houston Chronicle deserves major props for this.
Shrub has a lot more to answer for than merely ruining the US balance of payments, he also ruined the Texas education system when he was "governor".