Get Back to the Basics, Politically
To the Editor:
I have gotten behind in my reading as I have been trying to keep up with the 89th Texas legislature. I have been very frustrated, especially with the Texas House of Representatives. From the selection of the speaker to the adoption of rules nobody read to the lack of attention to issues that are common sense for the well-being of society and the conduct of some House representatives.
Mr. Victor Davis Hanson has written several commentaries for the Daily Signal that address common sense issues. Last month he wrote a commentary titled, “What Would It Take to Destroy the United States?” He reminded readers the ‘stuff’ that makes societies work involve borders, finances, unity, energy, fuel and food. Why is there such opposition to removing criminal illegals, to cutting spending, to unleashing American energy, and protecting hardworking taxpayers? Mr. Hanson’s conclusion: “It seems to me that in the last four years, if you (referring to Biden and his handlers) had an agenda that was designed to hurt the United States, in terms of an influx of 12 million foreigners that were unaudited, an unprotected border, a repression on energy, a desire to print money rather than to cut expenses and save money and go toward a balanced budget, and a way to divide the people—if you wanted to do all that, you couldn’t have done a better job than what we have seen from 2021 to 2025.”
More recently Mr. Davis asks “Why?” The agenda of the Biden administration did not appeal to 51% of the American public. “It was so nihilistic. It was so destructive that we need to know why.” He follows with another commentary titled, “Was the Left Trying to Destroy America?”
Is the Left trying to destroy Texas?
I’d like to know why the Texas House elected to ‘run out the clock’? Texas Scorecard reported: “Despite having months to act, the House spent much of the early session at a crawl, taking frequent long weekends and moving relatively few bills.” It also reported, “House Democrats employed a time-wasting tactic known as “chubbing”—deliberately extending debate on bills to slow progress and kill legislation further down the list.” Is it their goal to destroy Texas?
I was hoping the elected Republicans would be assertive and fight for issues declared in the Republican Party platform. I was hoping the Democrats would negotiate in good faith for tax relief, healthcare choice, protection in private spaces by recognizing the God given genders of male and female, access to affordable power and fuel, and safe environments for children—whether at home, participating in sports events or playing on the streets of their neighborhood. I want to believe all elected representatives have good intentions. But as Thomas Sowell reminds me, “The idea that good intentions produce good results is one of the most seductive and dangerous myths of our time. Incentives drive behavior, not hope or ideals.”
I have recently learned the Texas Sovereignty Act (HB 796) is being attacked behind closed doors and Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) has donated over $20 million to buy influence to advance their corporate agenda that would harm vulnerable Texans and threaten conservative principles by “undermining the constitutional rights of Texans to be compensated for injuries caused by negligent actions of individuals or businesses.” (SB 30/HB 4806).
Democracy requires accountability. Legislators need to focus on what’s best for their constituents not ideals.
I am reminded of the lyrics of a song sung by a Gaither quartet, The Basics of Life: “We’ve turned the page, for a new day has dawned. We’ve re-arranged what is right and what’s wrong. Somehow, we’ve drifted so far from the truth that we can’t get back home. Where are the virtues that once gave us light? Where are the morals that governed our lives? Someday we all will awake and look back just to find what we’ve lost. We need to get back to the basics of life.”
Cindy Rodibaugh Flatonia