February 2, 2023

There Is No Freedom Without Public Education

By Glenn

The authors of the Texas Constitution supported public education.  They wrote: “A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.”

Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton are, however, falling in lock step behind Washington Republicans.  This radical group of politicians has been angry ever since the Presidency of George Hebert Walker Bush.  Bush The Elder reached a compromise with Democrats to reverse the Ronald Reagan’s deficits and debt.

This compromise was so hated by radical Republicans that George W. Bush renounced his own father to gain power.  “W”, who was wrong about almost everything during his presidency, adopted the mean spirited politics of Newt Gingrich. 

Gingrich cast Democrats as anti-American socialists out to destroy America.  It was Gingrich, however, that wanted to starve American institutions on the vine.  He knew Americans loved socialist programs like Social Security, Medicare, the Veterans’ health care system and Public Education.

Gingrich championed tax cuts for millionaire and billionaires.  This decline in tax revenue would starve essential service of funds, forcing cuts.  Once the programs broke, Gingrich planned on turning them over to Wall Street bankers to make a profit.

Luckily, Democrats fought back.  Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama raised taxes on the wealthiest earners and cut taxes for working families.  These progressive tax reforms solidified Social Security, Medicare and the Veterans’ health care system at the federal level.  There is still a long way to go, but these programs are better off today than under the Gingrich scheme.

In Texas liberals are having a harder time resisting the urge to privatize public services.  The most vulnerable among us are suffering. 

For example, Child Protective Services should watch out for children in foster care.  Chronic under funding threatens their ability to protect and serve Texas orphans.  The Texas Tribune reported that a Federal Judge “admonished the state for not making children aware of their rights and for not taking adequate action over reports of abuse.”

Abbot and Patrick want to follow this failed model for Public Schools.  They want to defund public schools by giving our taxes to religious and for-profit schools. Abbott and Patrick see Texas Public Education as a beast that must be starved.

This reckless attitude is in direct violation of the Texas Constitution.  If the January 6 attack on American democracy taught us anything, it should be that Republicans have no respect for the rule of law or the constitution.  They are conservatives who destroy—Destructocons

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