In times of austerity when Conservatives are continuously attempting to stifle support for programs to help those who have been unemployed for a very long time, observing Conservative Republican State Representative Joe Crabb spend $48,000 dollars, more than any other state representative in Texas is a complete disregard for the middle class. Of course Conservatives can always justify irresponsible fiscal policies with rhetoric that generally go unchallenged by the local or national media.
The phrase “transparency is the best disinfectant” is usually used to mean that if we are allowed to see all that politicians are doing, our potential disgust for any financial or other shenanigans would deter politicians from doing wrong. Unfortunately this assumes a populace that is educated, not easily indoctrinated, or gullible. A large percentage of the Republican and “Independent” base fails on all accounts given the effectiveness of the Right Wing echo chamber that include Fox News and talk radio.
The Right Wing Echo Chamber has been so effective in distorting reality that makes up into down, left into right, and false into true. The listeners can be convinced that an inheritance tax is a death tax and that the inheritor who likely had little to do with the wealth creation is inherently entitled to the totality of said wealth. They do not rationalize that the country’s societal structures as a whole is what provided the wherewithal to have allowed such wealth creation. Likewise the listeners are convinced that trickledown economics work even though since its introduction all wealth and income have demonstratively trickled up.
In effect the Republicans have completed the trifecta with their base and a large percentage of Independents. It is incumbent upon Progressives to be the antidote that will make transparency a disinfectant again.
My Book: As I See It: Class Warfare The Only Resort To Right Wing Doom
Book’s Webpage: http://books.egbertowillies.com – Twitter: http://twitter.com/egbertowillies
The Texas Tribune Distance and Politics Affect Lawmakers’ Spending on Travel
By MATT STILES
Published: December 11, 2010
The retiring State Representative Joe Crabb led all members of the Texas House in government-financed travel expenses in the last fiscal year, according to a Texas Tribune review of expense reports.
Expanded coverage of Texas is produced by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit news organization. To join the conversation about this article, go to texastribune.org.
Mr. Crabb, Republican of Atascocita, who has a medium-sized district about three hours from Austin, spent $48,405 — including $12,000 on mileage at a 50-cents-a-mile rate. He did not return phone calls for comment.
The reports, obtained from the state comptroller under the Texas Public Information Act, detail the costs accumulated by House members who must trek hundreds of miles to carry out their duties at the Capitol and around the state, even when the Legislature is not in session. How they choose to pay for these journeys is just as diverse as the state’s vast landscape.
The representatives, who receive a $7,200 annual salary, requested wildly different portions of the $1.7 million that the House dedicated to official travel in the last fiscal year. Fourteen spent more than $30,000; others requested no travel reimbursements, the reports show.
Continued Below
Distance and Politics Affect Lawmakers’ Spending on Travel – NYTimes.com