Please don't buy in on the hype.

There has been some speculation that Texas' governor, Rick Perry, who is planing to announce his candidacy for the presidency later today, could be a good choice.

I strongly disagree.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/12/news/economy/perry_texas_jobs/index.htm?iid=Popular

Quote :

Of course, Texas enjoys advantages that have nothing to do with having
Perry at the helm. Rich in natural resources, the state has been
benefiting from the high price of oil and the expanded interest in
natural gas exploration. Energy employment has soared by 16.8% over the
past year alone.

Texas, however, still faces many challenges on the jobs front. Many
of the positions that have been created are on the lower end of the pay
scale. Some 550,000 workers last year were paid at or below the federal
minimum wage of $7.25, more than double the number making those wages in
2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That's 9.5%
of the Texas workforce, which gives it the highest percentage of
minimum-wage workers in the nation -- a dubious title it shares with
Mississippi....


"We have created jobs, but they are not jobs with
good wages and benefits," said F. Scott McCown, executive director,
Center for Public Policy Priorities, which advocates for low-income
residents....


Going forward, the Lone Star State will have to work
even harder to create jobs. That's because Perry signed a budget in May
that slashes $15 billion in government spending over the next two years.
Also, the federal stimulus funds that poured into the state since 2009
have largely dried up.
The state budget cuts alone could result in the loss of more than 100,000 jobs, many of them in the public sector, Clower said. Thousands of teachers are already feeling the impact of more than $5 billion in cuts to education funding.

And Governor Perry's most recent advice to the citizens of our state?

"Pray"

Ann

I saw him on TV...he's like the male part of, Lisa Kudrow.(from the TV show Friends.)

Quote :

Texas, however, still faces many challenges on the jobs front. Many
of the positions that have been created are on the lower end of the pay
scale. Some 550,000 workers last year were paid at or below the federal
minimum wage of $7.25, more than double the number making those wages in
2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

LOL, this is all self-imposed! Just about every city in Texas is a "sanctuary city," so what do you expect?

I'm not sure what you mean by "sanctuary city." It makes me think of the number of New Orleans residents who settled in Houston and San Antonio after Katrina, but I don't know if that is quite what you meant.

The state has a reputation for being a good place to live, and is still drawing newcomers from pretty much all walks of life, and has generally had an open door policy. Most of them come with jobs already acquired, but the ones who just come do add to the problem, here as anywhere. As a border state, we get many immigrants from Mexico, and I doubt that all of them are here legally.

But the point is that it is not Rick Perry who is creating the jobs that are here; in fact, his recent policies are making the situation worse. As a former teacher with children in the profession, the cutting of education funds has been a major concern.

Off topic, but your current avatar is triggering an old obsession. I am getting the urge to go out for chocolate.
Ann

8/13/2011

Ann..

I saw this and was shocked !....

Cheers..Joe

Joe, I'm afraid I'm not shocked, but concerned. Where did you see the image?

Ann

8/13/2011


Ann..

I read this last night , so I created the poster for
you to see....I thought you would like it..I also read
they are good friends ?

Cheers..Joe

I don't know, Joe. I appreciate the effort. Let's hope it remains speculation.


Ann

8/13/2011


Ann..

Who knows what's real and what's not ? Politics has and
will be a dirty game. I do believe next year will be a nasty political
fight, I do believe they waste so much money running, one day I
read both parties were willing to spend almost a billion dollars just
to get elected, that's disgraceful, even if it's half of that or less,
that money can be used for other good deeds such as helping the
elderly.......

Cheers..Joe

There are two worlds Joe...the uppers, and the lowers. The uppers never do good deeds unless it's a tax write-off, or helps them move up the power ladder.
The lowers, that's our world.

joefrank wrote:

8/13/2011


Ann..

Who knows what's real and what's not ? Politics has and
will be a dirty game. I do believe next year will be a nasty political
fight, I do believe they waste so much money running, one day I
read both parties were willing to spend almost a billion dollars just
to get elected, that's disgraceful, even if it's half of that or less,
that money can be used for other good deeds such as helping the
elderly.......

Cheers..Joe

I know what you mean, Joe. the cost of getting elected keeps escalating, doesn't it? It has become it's own kind of power play, and is totally out of line, as power plays of any kind always are.

We need to add limits on election spending to our list of things to change, don't we?

Ann

I spent a whole day without news and didn't miss a thing. In fact, I felt rather calm and at peace. Turning on the news with everything being rehashed brought me up-to-date fast. It would require abstinence for a much longer period to miss any news.

I'm not buying into any hype, however just the thought of Palin with any candidate is frightening. In that case, I will exercise plant C.

Abe, I agree, but if you were to look further into Rick Perry, you would find that part of the duo pretty frightening, too.

But in one way, it might be a good thing. People might be fooled by Rick Perry, but I think we are pretty well on to Sarah Palin these days.

Ann

Ann,
I'm counting on Redstone Valley being available to read during the turbulent times ahead.

I will do my best to get it there, Abe.

Ann

Fear reigns. People motivated by fear are blank slates for those with their own agendas, whether political or religious. At this point in time it seems that politics is a recipe for power and wealth and not for providing a quality lifestyle for U.S. Citizens.

Those citizens with quality lifestyles have the power and wealth to make sure they are not diminished - and believe they have the right. They will keep in power those that benefit them, not those who benefit the country.

There are sufficient U.S. citizens to vote in representatives and leaders who will at least take the majority of U.S. citizens into consideration. However, they have had a president who is a decent human being in a really difficult leadership position; his inability to work miracles in every avenue of his leadership inheritance will be used against him very well to make him appear lacking in leadership. The very difficulties he inherited will cost him votes from even his supporters. The underlying bigotry in this country will cost a few more votes.