An Open Letter to Texans,

I have had the good fortune to live in14 different states in my 53 years and in 1993, I finally settled in the most wonderful of all of these United States, Texas.

I have come to love and adore everything about Texas and I am proud to now call myself a Texan. I can’t begin to express how much pride I have to reside in a state that was once its’ own Republic.

We have the same problems that are experienced by other states, but Texans have an innate understanding that we are different. There is that wisdom that comes from independence and just plain old horse sense that there’s nothing we can’t be better at or that there isn’t any problem or issue we can’t overcome. It is a sense of pride that citizens from the other states sometimes call arrogance and conceit. We know it’s just jealousy.

Yet, in the last few years, we have allowed the mediocrity that is so commonplace in the rest of the country, to become prevalent in our state.

I remember a time when being a Texan meant that our children were better educated and we were proud of it. I remember when the ownership of land was sacred and inviolate and we were proud of it. I remember a time when we were proud of the accomplishments of the State and Federal politicians who represented us. I actually remember a time when the needs of the people were more important to our State Representatives, State Senators, U.S. Congressmen, and U.S. Senators, than their holding office.

I see our U.S. Congressmen and Senators working less than 100 days a year and I see the spending ungodly amounts of money to stay in office.

The only thing constructive I’ve seen our U.S. representatives’ do lately is pass an amendment that would allow us lower airfares. That should have been a no-brainer! Yet they acted like it was a major accomplishment.

Our Governor, why did it take 6 years to address the needs of our teachers and the overall state of our education system? Shouldn’t we be teaching our children reading, writing, math, music and science, not how to take a test?

Why should we be forced to breathe coal emissions?

Just imagine your land would be taken away under the laws of “Eminent Domain”. Why doesn’t he care?

We now are faced with 21st century issues. Internationally, war. Nationally, immigration and safety from terrorist acts. Locally, the future of our children, clean air, and rights of property owners. Yet I now see Texans more concerned about defending their party affiliation and the actions of their party, than expressing concern about what is fundamentally right or wrong.

This election tomorrow, and every election, represents the only way that we can be heard as Texans. Forget being a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or an Independent. I would ask of each and every one of you to pause before you vote and ask yourselves some very important questions.

What have they really done for Texans? Do they make you proud to be a Texan? Is it time to make a change?

We have the comfort of knowing one thing for sure. If we vote to throw them out on their butts because we’re fed up with their inept representation, laziness, and corruption and the candidate we elected to replace them with is as bad or worse………there will be plenty of room on the sidewalk for them, as well.

Don’t you think it’s time for us to honor Texas?

See, this is why we've got that whole separation of church and state thing.

"That whole separation of church and state thing" means politicians can't talk about the tenets of their religious faith should they choose?

Wow, I missed that one.

Rick Perry has his base of conservative Christians and they will be sufficient to carry him to re-election. He doesn't care if the rest of us are offended by his religionist views. He gave most Texans the middle finger years ago.

I'm hopeful that we can move past our current dialog of Republican and Democrat. We have some important issues that we need to find common ground on.

Things to Consider Before You Vote:

We have many challenges to face in the coming years, so it is important that we send the right people to Washington. As you head into the voting booth, ask yourself if your candidate is the right person for the following:

1. We are facing economic global competition like we have never faced previously. China alone has 1.3 billion people compared to our mere .3 billion. India has 1.1 billion people—both of these nations have embraced capitalism and technology with fervor. What priorities has your candidate proposed to ensure that we remain competitive?
2. The commitment to build out our Interstate highway system was a stroke of genius in the late 50’s and helped to make the US The United States is now at the very beginning process of shifting from the Baby Boom generation of 77 million to the Baby Bust generation of 33 million. This is the largest demographic shift in the Western world since the bubonic plague and will impact every aspect of our economic lives. Our pool of available workers will be short 44 million people—this in an era when we have 4.4% unemployment and a robust economy that is creating a million new jobs annually. Where will we get the workers so that our economy can continue to expand? How has your candidate addressed this looming problem?
3. the most dynamic economy on the planet. What can we do make sure our transportation network again leads the globe in the 21st century? What priorities need to be made so that we lead the world in the distribution of data in the Information age? Has your candidate led the discussion on these important matters?
4. What reforms in education has your candidate proposed to prepare our students for the global economy they will step into? How will our children and grandchildren compete in this Information age so they can have their piece of the American dream? How is your candidate intending to address these questions?
5. The relative small size of the US population as compared to China and India means that the US will need to be the most efficient and productive nation in the world to retain its leadership position. We will need every neighborhood and every group of Americans with a shoulder to the wheel—we can no longer “afford” to leave rural and urban core communities behind. It’s not just a moral imperative, but an economic one. So I ask you, what has your candidate proposed to mitigate the gap between the rich and the poor? How does your candidate propose we get every community fully participating in the economy?
6. Is your candidate forward leaning with an eye to the future or are they waxing fondly for days gone by and simpler times? If the latter, is that the most effective way to prepare the nation for the tests we are surely to face?

I believe the United States will again rise to the occasion and we will overcome the problems mentioned above. However, we need acknowledge that the challenges exist and we need to get to work on laying the building blocks for our future success. Part of leadership is setting priorities. There are only 24 hours in the day and this holds true for Congress as well. We need to make certain that we are using our time and placing our effort in those initiatives that will provide a better future for all Americans, not only today but for generations to come.

Respectfully,

Joe Reasbeck
Republican
Write-in candidate
District 22
www.joereasbeck.com

I apologize for the disjointed previous post. My 15 month old son Nate took it upon himself to do some editing by banging on the keyboard. Nothing like children to humble you. Here's the intended post:

Things to Consider Before You Vote:

We have many challenges to face in the coming years, so it is important that we send the right people to Washington. As you head into the voting booth, ask yourself if your candidate is the right person for the following:

1. The United States is now at the very beginning process of shifting from the Baby Boom generation of 77 million to the Baby Bust generation of 33 million. This is the largest demographic shift in the Western world since the bubonic plague and will impact every aspect of our economic lives. Our pool of available workers will be short 44 million people—this in an era when we have 4.4% unemployment and a robust economy that is creating a million new jobs annually. Where will we get the workers so that our economy can continue to expand? How has your candidate addressed this looming problem?
2. We are facing economic global competition like we have never faced previously. China alone has 1.3 billion people compared to our mere .3 billion. India has 1.1 billion people—both of these nations have embraced capitalism and technology with fervor. What priorities has your candidate proposed to ensure that we remain competitive?
3. The commitment to build out our Interstate highway system was a stroke of genius in the late 50’s and helped to make the US the most dynamic economy on the planet. What can we do make sure our transportation network again leads the globe in the 21st century? What priorities need to be made so that we lead the world in the distribution of data in the Information age? Has your candidate led the discussion on these important matters?
4. What reforms in education has your candidate proposed to prepare our students for the global economy they will step into? How will our children and grandchildren compete in this Information age so they can have their piece of the American dream? How is your candidate intending to address these questions?
5. The relative small size of the US population as compared to China and India means that the US will need to be the most efficient and productive nation in the world to retain its leadership position. We will need every neighborhood and every group of Americans with a shoulder to the wheel—we can no longer “afford” to leave rural and urban core communities behind. It’s not just a moral imperative, but an economic one. So I ask you, what has your candidate proposed to mitigate the gap between the rich and the poor? How does your candidate propose we get every community fully participating in the economy?
6. Is your candidate forward leaning with an eye to the future or are they waxing fondly for days gone by and simpler times? If the latter, is that the most effective way to prepare the nation for the tests we are surely to face?

I believe the United States will again rise to the occasion and we will overcome the problems mentioned above. However, we need acknowledge that the challenges exist and we need to get to work on laying the building blocks for our future success. Part of leadership is setting priorities. There are only 24 hours in the day and this holds true for Congress as well. We need to make certain that we are using our time and placing our effort in those initiatives that will provide a better future for all Americans, not only today but for generations to come.

Respectfully,

Joe Reasbeck
Republican
Write-in candidate
District 22
www.joereasbeck.com

As a non-Christian (UU, to be specific), I have to say, I'm glad to learn that my ticket to hell is nonstop. I'd really hate to encounter Gov. Perry somewhere en route; it would soooo embarrass him...

Are there any Texas Democrats out there who haven't already voted? If so, do it tomorrow, for the very life of our great state and our great nation.

Steve - this fellow UU agrees. Perry's arrogance and self-righteousness are surely more likely to send him to the fiery furnance than my sins would commit me to join him.