Where has all the money gone?

Why should you vote?

Question: What do the following states have in common?

1 Alaska, 2 Virginia, 3 Maryland, 4 New Mexico, 5 Hawaii, 6 North Dakota, 7 Wyoming, 8 Connecticut, 9 Alabama, 10 South Dakota, 11 West Virginia, 12 Massachusetts, 13 Maine, 14 Montana, 15 Missouri, 16 Tennessee, 17 Mississippi, 18 Kentucky, 19 Pennsylvania, 20 Rhode Island, 21 Oklahoma, 22 New York, 23 Vermont, 24 Arizona, 25 Louisiana, 26 Washington, 27 South Carolina, 28 Arkansas, 29 Florida, 30 Kansas, 31 Nebraska, 32 Iowa, 33 Colorado, 34 California, 35 North Carolina, 36 Idaho, 37 Ohio, 38 New Jersey, 39 Delaware

Answer: Every single one of these States got more money per person in Federal funds than Texas did in 2004.

Now you know why Texas doesn't have any money for roads, except for toll roads sold to Spain, schools, child services or, elder care. These are fundamentals of a society and we Texans are shouldering an unnecessary burden. Texas ranks number 23 in tax burden per person and number 40 total Federal spend. For every dollar we send to Washington we get back only 98 cents. Compare that to New Mexico at $1.91 or Alaska at $1.80 returned for every dollar spent.

When you vote send a messsage.

Democrats believe that our children are our future and a good education for all is fundamental to a strong society. We also believe that those that are most vulnerable should be protected from abuse, our kids and older Texans certainly need those protections and the government needs the power to guarantee them.

Don't let our elected public officials continue to play us for fools. When you vote send a message, vote Democratic.

Memorial Day Message

As I get older Memorial Day becomes more important to me. When I was young it was a time when schools were out for the summer and public pools opened. Growing up as a child of the 60's and 70's Memorial Day became wrapped around my feelings for the Vietnam War, Nixon and the draft.

Serving in the military gave me another perspective, that of men who choose to follow orders, not because the cause is just or the order well intentioned, those decisions belong to others. These men serve a higher cause, the protection of the United States, it's Constitution and the form of government it establishes.

Our military is made up of men and women willing to sacrafice their life to ensure that, right or wrong, our government will be here for another generation. Generation after generation trying to make America and the world a better place.

Memorial Day is a time to remember the men and women who paid the ultimite price to give us this opportunity. Without such men the world would be a much poorer place.

Rick Morey