I do not dislike Austin, Cap Metro, or TexDot. To the contrary, these enteties furnish me with some very neat grist for my insatiable satire mill, and for this I give thanks.
When I was writing my syndicated column, "39 and Holding", Bill Clinton who hails from Arkansas gave me the fodder for many of my weekly observations.
According to the latest information, Austin, Texas is "not the center of the civilized universe", as wittness the fun and games time they are having by installing unnecssary "stop" lights to discourage "urban sprawl" by making the drive time from the suburbs into Austin longer. We urban sprawlers can figure out ways to beat this system quicker than a cat can blink it's eyes. This also goes for their toll roads. Thanks to TexDot and their infinite wisdom have actually reduced our daily round trip drive time some twenty minutes and we do not use their toll roads.
A few years ago a guy by the name of Bill Clinton gave me many opportunities to use when I was writing a weekly column. Now I get another golden oportunity to use the Austin and Texas road budgets, wow!
The Austin city council has apparently never heard of a balanced budget, so they subscribe to the tax and spend school of thought and if that's not enough of squandering the publics money they have to pump in Cap Metro and a few more "toll roads" to round up the meld.
The Outstanding Public Debt as of 02 Sep 2007 is:
This is one of those times that I write about something that combines sadness with anger at stupid greed. I am extremely saddened at the recent loss of the coal miners and their rescuers, and my heart and prayers go out to their families and friends.
My anger is aimed in two directions, one is the greed of the mine owners who are using basiclly the same techonology that the earliest miners used; "Dig a cave and dig out the minerals."
It does not take a rocket scientist mentality to use a computer and come up with a far safer and better method of mining than is now practiced.
I am never ceased to be amazed at the Austin City government.
A perfect example of my mazement is featured on todays (Sunday) edition of the Statesman's Front page, Section B, headlined "Fee for repaving may grow".
Now at first glance, that, within itself, is nothing to get the populace's shorts in a bind, but reading the accompying article should give them pause to wonder.
Where does the fault lay in the current mortgage failure debacle?
The answer is neither short nor sweet, theres enough fault to go around.
The real culprit has been with us since we have been keeping records, and the culprit's identity is "greed", pure and simple.
There are the greedy money lenders, banks, mortgage companies, savings and loan companies and credit unions, all with profit motivation as their goal no matter what the end result is.
There are the home builders who want to build more and bigger homes at a higher price.
Why are we so surprised that the City Of Austin runs its nick nack store like any other governmental business...at a loss...with tax payer money...and with unethical and possibly illegal contracts.
Why is it not already shut down???
Prediction...the city council and the mayor will hire a consultant to study the issue at our expense and report the obvious...SHUT IT DOWN!!!!!
Lets talk product competition. I still remember Bridgstone tires. I, of more recent times, remember pet food that killed or maimed our family pets. I still watch carefully the ingredients used in my toothpaste and other drugs sold over the counter. I have great grandchildren and I use caution when purchasing anything that could possible hurt them or cause death or illness for these little ones.
I will not purchase fresh fish at the market or fresh vegetables who's source is not known to me. This is just common sense.
A few days ago I posted a blog to the effect that "My Head Hurts" having to do with the complete fiscal irresponsibility of our present federal government.
I tried to point out the inequities is the fiscal approach used by these bureaucrats in the handling of your and my tax dollars. I thought I'd let this soak in for awhile but I got slam dunked by Rep. Jim Oberstar (D) Minn, who among his other titles is Chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
Heres the sickening story. This is bureaucratic "tax and spend" fiscal thought process at it's very best.
