. . . . .and of course TEXAS -
[ TEXAS. Gov. Rick Perry brags that he's made the lone star state "corporate-friendly." Here's what that friendliness buys you: While Texas' unemployment rate is not as bad as most states (it ranks a so-so 22nd), the wage structure here is deliberately worker-hostile -- average hourly pay is the 44th lowest in the country. Texas is, however, at or near the top when it comes to the poverty rate, the percentage of people with no health insurance, the income gap between rich and poor, the most regressive tax system, the cost of electric bills, and the rate of high school dropouts. ]

added to "TEXAN" and "Texas Matters"

This is why I hate my state leaders but I love my state for its unpredictable weather and refuse to move. I may be considered a liberal around here but in other parts of the country my views would be seen as libertarian and in others they would be seen as "True Conservative" this is why the labels mean nothing. Most Texans would not stand for what the governor does but most Texans I know avoid politics like the plague. We've become lazy and complacent and I can't think of any damn good excuses for it now. I'm happy I found at least a few politically minded by coming here even if I don't agree with everything said at least it gives me another view point on the matter.

Jim Hightower and the late great Molly Ivins are the two true populist voices that have come out of Texas in the last 3 decades. Jim has always called out the worst perpetrators of destruction of the working class and is someone who does not get enough notice in this right wing slanted media atmosphere in which we live. He was one of the first journalists to make the Koch name known as one of the biggest threats to our democratic system as we've known it. Thank you for bringing him to light in this post, ClassicalGas.

Thanks for posting this, ClassicalGas. I saw this on my AlterNet round-up this morning and I also get the the newsletter "The Hightower Lowdown." This is scary. I'm witnessing this right here in WI. We are trying to fight as hard as we can against this. I don't want WI to be a plutocracy. We are hoping the recall efforts stave off the Koch Suckers takeover. Walker is looking to redistrict the state BEFORE the recalls! That would be in the courts in a heartbeat if he tried that maneuver. But he's not below trying anything to consolidate his power.

I'd say Christie is the posterboy for class warfare, but his fat ass only fits on billboards.

He needs to stop blaming teachers and look at the 'state approved' schools and the contracts the private owners have with the state that rake in $25,000 per student in taxpayer money.
($25k was figure in 1994 when I went to one of the 3 Widsor schools in NJ)

One of the co-owners of these "non profit" schools was my principle, his principles salary alone was $250,000 a year, vice principle (his wife) $150,000 a year and that was just the tip of the cronyism.
Students were told on the first day that as long as they didn't bring drugs or weapons to school they would pass.

Talk about overpaid babysitters, they have a contract with the state to take in all the special ed misfits and problem children and they tell the students to their faces they don't have to do any work.

If this new breed of republican crusaders were really interested in cutting back on waste they would start with the goverment contracts with, and special considerations for, private businesses.

Florida, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and of course Wisconsin.... like the plague...it's spreading.

"and they consume a whole lot more of our tax dollars than those they're dissing. Gov. Christie, for example, siphons $175,000 a year from the public treasury in salary -- far more than any of those "greedy" teachers in his state."

$175,000 a year... that we *know* of.

Hey ClassicalGas, Great article....

'Oh' a good post thanks.

I agree that those are not just the tea-party people, we can't blame it all on them. Yes these are our leaders that the people voted in office. I hope everyone that voted for these leaders will no better next time, and really research them out. Learn all you can about them before you vote for anyone. And please don't get me started on Gov Chris Christie. He hate worker same as Scott walker.

This article is well worth reading. I would also encourage you to subscribe to The Hightower Lowdown. He stays on top of it!