“Money! There isn’t enough! Not enough to fund education! Not enough to fund Medicaid! What will happen to the kids?! Or the old people?! Are we turning our back on the future or not taking care of our past?! What is wrong with the Texas Legislature?! Don’t they care about us anymore? Why?! Whyyyyyyyy?!!!!!”
This is a direct quote from a stressed out average Texan who watches the news and sees the word “CUTS” or “REDUCED”, and quickly grabs a sign and rushes to the capitol to protest. No joke though! Walking into work (I work at the capitol by the way), I see masses of people protesting or marching to stop the budget adjustments that the current Texas legislature has to make. And I really do feel for them. I understand why teachers are concerned. I mean, hell! $8 Billion less to pay for schools! There’s already a ton of new kids crowding classrooms as it is, and I can hardly imagine the same classroom with $8 billion less of everything. I also completely understand the outrage that disabled and elderly have against the cuts on Medicaid. I love old people! They love me! We’re a happy family! I feel bad that they’re losing their nursing homes, or care centers. I really do! I am even more empathetic for the college guys! Me! You! All the Longhorns who have to pay to go to this great school! Grants are gonna be cut. I already got that email that basically said I should get either 5 jobs to support myself, or throw myself into debt. It’s not like I’m, NOT gonna be effected by this budget.
But, instead of being pissed or calling my representative and causing havoc, I am peacefully writing this blog. Heck, I’m even smiling as I listen to the soothing voice of John Mayer. I’m not sweating wondering where my next meal will come from, I’m not applying for a million scholarships. I’m chill. Why?
BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OK!!!
Yes, the bill (House Bill 01 now Senate Bill 01) is tough. I will not debate that. It cuts everything it can cut from. Education, health and human services, my grants, etc. But, what do you want them to do? How do you want them to balance the budget? If you can’t fix the problem, don’t complain about the solution! If we don’t balance our budget for the upcoming years, then we’ll really be in a rut like California is! And we’re Texas, better than Cali.
And yeah, I’ve heard of the rainy day fund. And yeah, we could technically use it. But, it’s not a rainy day. It’s just a cloudy day. We’re already using almost $4 billion from it. Using more would be like opening your umbrella when you see some clouds. What if something worse happens and we already used our umbrella? What then? We’d get all wet! (That's what she said)
The last thing I’m gonna say, is Chill the heck out people! We hear of our grandparents going through hard times during the Great Depression, and you know what we do?! We look up to them. These are hard times. We’re in a coupla wars, we’re in deep money trouble, and a whole lotta other problems. When we’re older and our kids and grand kids ask us how we got through hard times what will we say? We complained? We cried? Or we conquered?
-Emmanuel Delfin
Senior Political Analyst
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