State Legislators say Texas lags behind other states in health, education, environment ... (Plains: school, taxes)

[elnina]

... in some instances pretty much on the bottom...

State Legislators Release Grim Statistics On Texas Versus Other States

[blkgiraffe]

And the biggest shock is none of this is shocking.

[Trainwreck20]

and releases the most carbon dioxide and hazardous waste of any state.

“So in the future if we have these same numbers, we won’t be able to compete with other states.”

This one always galls me....yeah, we have a lot of CO2 and waste....we also produce all the products that other states consume. You think that because you live in NH or MN that the plastic on your computer or the gas in your car did not cause any emissions during creation? It sure did......but that doesn't mean we 'caused' the waste or GHGs, the demand caused pollution.

If you look at pollution or waste from industry in Texas, especially smaller industry, you will find that Texas produces a pretty small amount per unit of product compared to many other states. The larger industry is actually pretty standardized at the EPA level, with the exception of CA. Even at that level, the state of Texas has some additional requirements. States with relatively low levels of industry, especially in a specific area, can get away with low regulation and high per unit waste because it isn't even a blip on the national scale.

[Trainwreck20]

Ah, further down, I have to agree with this:

He says the report cherry picks statistics to make Texas seem worse off than it is, and therefore justify more taxes and spending.

“It is much more appropriate to compare Texas to, let’s say, California than to compare Texas to Delaware or Vermont. And that is exactly what the ‘Texas on the Brink’ people are doing when they simply show national statewide rankings.”

[War Beagle]

I clicked on the article knowing that he would be complaining about the level of school funding and I wasn't wrong. I don't understand why it is so hard to comprehend that dumb and/or lazy kids will do poorly and smart and/or motivated kids will do well. Money has little to do with it, as made evident by Chinese and Indian kids smoking American kids in math and science testing.

[High_Plains_Retired]

I quit reading the article at it's first sentence: "A group of progressive lawmakers releases the report every other year, during the legislative session."

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

I quit reading the article at it's first sentence: "A group of progressive lawmakers releases the report every other year, during the legislative session."

War Beagle wrote: I clicked on the article knowing that he would be complaining about the level of school funding and I wasn't wrong. I don't understand why it is so hard to comprehend that dumb and/or lazy kids will do poorly and smart and/or motivated kids will do well. Money has little to do with it, as made evident by Chinese and Indian kids smoking American kids in math and science testing.

EXACTLY RIGHT to both of you!

[thenewtexan]

We have the best economy in the country. This makes no sense. We have the power to turn this around. Yet, we keep voting for Perry. He has attracted the tools to fix the problems but the tools sit there idle.

[UTHORNS96]

Lol, not sure why this surprises anybody.

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by elnina

... in some instances pretty much on the bottom...

State Legislators Release Grim Statistics On Texas Versus Other States

I agree. These statistics are grim. I'm concerned that no one will want to move here anymore.