Author relates his history and love for Texas and America with a plea to people to end the culture wars, the secession movement, and attacks against libraries with a particular indictment of Kendall county officials for their lack of knowledge of what the county libraries do.
Hatred, bigotry, political polarization, and distrust are huge problems that must be solved if we are to remain a democracy. We need all people to fix it. Extremism in on the rise and increasing in Texas. The writer provides possible ways of fighting extremism and ending hatred.
The average temperature across the U.S. in July 2023 was 2.1 degrees above normal, “with July 2023 ranking as the 11th-hottest July in the 129-year climate record.” NOAA also said that “July 3, 4 and 5 all consecutively broke records as the Earth’s hottest day since scientists began recording in 1979.” Despite warming temperatures, “Leading energy companies are intent on…expanding fossil fuel production and insisting that there is no alternative. While governments will need to lead the way to making significant adjustments to mitigate climate change, we can all make personal changes to reduce our environmental impact.
The United States is playing Russian Roulette with our debt and our fiscal future. The current national debt is a whopping $32 trillion, almost 100% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We must raise revenue from 19% to 21% of GDP by eliminating most deductions, exclusions, preferences, and credits. We must bring spending down (currently 23% of GDP) to revenue over the next 10 years by freezing domestic and defense spending, reforming healthcare, and putting Social Security on a solid footing by reducing benefits to the top 25% of earners.
The Texas Legislature closed its regular session this year without passing measures that would make voting in Texas easier. Texas ranks 46th in “ease of voting,” according to a study in the “Election Law Journal.” Four ways to address are" online voter registration, no-excuse absentee voting, mail-in ballot application simplification, and accept more kinds of photo IDs.
SB. 990 would eliminate the very popular countywide voting program, which allows a voter to vote at any polling place in the county in which they’re registered. HB 2127 would bar cities and counties from regulating entire industries and professions already controlled by eight state codes (Agriculture, Business & Commerce, Finance, Insurance, Labor, Natural Resources, Occupations, and Property). It's another blatant attack on the power of cities and counties to govern their own residents.
The bill protects our military readiness and military operations at Joint Base San Antonio--Camp Bullis, which is essential to protect the nation. These local control provisions are necessary to accomplish the mission to protect Camp Bullis. Residents of City of Boerne (CoB) and City of Fair Oaks Ranch (FOR) have a municipal election on the horizon. Early voting starts this Monday. Election Day is Saturday, May 6.
KCDP is active in the community! Click inside to see some of the different ways that we are involved and making a positive difference.
The mid-term election on Tuesday, November 8 will be here before you know it. If you’re eligible, apply today to vote by mail.
The 2022 Texas Democratic Convention in Dallas was a gathering of future-focused Democrats sharing their vision of how to create a stronger Texas. Click inside for some of the best quotes.