Random thoughts

I followed the directions from the coffee shop round table and read the local paper and I must say the Richardson individual sure has some spunk. Not often you find someone taking on the local establishment.

Read the letter from Reeves and I am still trying to decipher its meaning. Stay tuned as I will put on my 'cipher hat' and do some research on some of the input provided.

In the latest update from the State Comptroller's office and the Texas Workforce Commission our area of the state shows an increase in the number of folks now unemployed. Looks like all the growth is in and around the Austin area of our state. This pokes a hole in one of the arguments presented in the letter to the editor from Reeves about area growth. Realize this number could change soon for I understand that Pilgrim's Pride now has some job openings at the processing plants!

On the issue of the immigration raids, if I heard right the spokesman for LULAC was on KLTV news and he said "80% of the workers in the Pilgrim's Pride processing plants were most likely illegal immigrants." The number reported at the coffee shop round table was 50%. Folks, if this is correct and the INS continues to raid and forward these individuals back home this most likely will relieve the so called school overcrowding problem that some seemed to be concerned enough about to spend $36.5 million dollars to try and correct. This also brings up another problem in that who is going to pluck the chickens and get them ready for processing?

Who is a part of the middle class? It has now been reported that Senator Obama and spouse earned$4.2 million in 2007, Senator Clinton and spouse earned $20.4 million in 2007, and Senator McCain earned $405,409.00 in 2007. Evidently Senator McCain does not get to share in his spouse's fortunes due to a
pre-nup agreement (if I had thought of one of those I might have made it into the new middle class). How do you represent someone in the middle class if you are not a part of the middle class? Guess they figure $4.2 million, $20.4 million and $405,000 is middle class. We sure do have a lot more poor and economically disadvantaged than what I anticipated!

It has now been reported that the older we become our contentment grows. Older people learn to be content with what they have. Sounds like good advice in regards to a new PISD school auditorium, etc. So let's all act old and content and say NO to the upcoming bond issue and send the PISD back to the drawing board to come forth with the real needs.

In a recently released survey by Sam Houston State University it states that an average 44-year old female who teaches school earns $47,545.00 a year. This is one of the reasons given for 44% of the teaching corp in Texas to seriously consider quitting. Guess this would be right considering they are no longer part of the NEW middle class. Another was working conditions. If you dig deep into the study you see that working conditions is not defined by the facility in which they work. Working conditions is defined as safety, lack of proper leadership, amount of paper work, and the politics that goes along with the job. One of the key reasons for enjoying the job - summers off.