A front page article in the Dallas Morning News today states that "Texas spews more greenhouse gases than any other state in the nation - and by a wide margin." The reason is simple, we burn a lot of coal to generate electrical power. And, Governor Perry wants to build an additional 16 coal burning power plants around DFW.
According to the American Lung Association the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth are some of the most ozone-polluted areas in the Nation. Ozone is a severe respiratory irritant that can aggravate asthma and cause other respiratory problems, including permanent lung damage. It is particularly bad for children.
There is a bright side to this, the article states that coal is popular as a fuel because it is so cheap. So, all the other states can eat our dust, at least those down wind, while we save a ton of money on electricity. Finally, I can stop turning my lights off when I leave the room.
Unfortunately, the Federal Government keeps track of these kinds of things and their studies show this isn't the case. It turns out that Texans pay some of the highest electricity rates in the nation. What? How can this be? Our Governor is promoting coal burning electrical generation plants and the Legislature is OK with it. They support endangering our children's and our health so that we can have cheap energy. Don't we have a government that can REGULATE THE POWER COMPANIES?
Evidently not.
Now we know why utilities in Texas are being acquired, there are not any other states where the utility companies can charge what ever they choose, as long as they don't appear greedy. Robber barons never had it so good.
When asked what the Governor and Legislature do in Texas we appear to have a very short list: stamp the word God on anything that doesn't move and betray the public trust.
But we can add a lot of other items to the list. The Texas Governor and Legislators:
- do NOT properly regulate power companies, thereby endangering citizens health.
- do NOT work to ensure that our children that are at risk are protected. With the budget cuts Texas can't even identify those at risk.
- do NOT adequately fund public schools.
- do NOT ensure that our elderly are protected as they get older and become more vulnerable.
- do NOT protect the environment.
- do NOT guarantee our transportation infrastructure will remain part of the public trust.
- do NOT represent the PEOPLE of Texas.
Texans, ask yourselves if it isn't time for a change. The Republicans don't share our values, they just say they do. For me, that isn't good enough, I want a government that will work for me and my family. Right now they don't work for any of us - except those that have and,
"To those that have more will be given." This appears to be the one verse in the Bible they take to heart.
Join the Democrats and let's take back our government.
http://democrat.meetup.com/858/
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