Posted on 12/03/2012 5:33:04 AM PST by smokingfrog
A New York Times investigation has uncovered a shocking scandal they would have you believe involves big corporations blackmailing your state government and stealing tax dollars that should be spent on public education. This scandal, though not identified as such in the article, is called federalism. It finds its roots in the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Granted, the statistical research The Times provides in the piece is invaluable, but the article is confused as to the conclusions that flow from the numbers. The most glaring statistic is the dollar amount of “gifts” (to use Mitt Romney’s phrase) that Texas doles out to corporate America each year: $19 billion. How could this be? Well, according to Sarah Eckhardt, a Travis County commissioner who has purportedly negotiated with evil giants like Apple and Hewlett-Packard, the poor little government folk simply cannot keep up:
“They dictate their terms, and we’re not really in a position to question their deal terms, we don’t have the sophistication or the resources to negotiate with a company that has the wherewithal the size of a country. We are just no match in negotiating with that.”
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
One good effect of ubamacare is that it might encourage multiple spinoffs from unwieldy sized corporations of small companies of less than 50 people, the global village result. I personally can’t wait. I despise huge corporations almost as much as I despise huge government
From the article:
“The Times story also suggests that by granting businesses tax deductions and incentives, states are forgoing revenue that might be better spent on education. And there is certainly an argument to be made that schools ought to be better funded (Texas’ public education system is especially pitiful).”
Actually, TX does pretty well, all things considered. Their test scores and graduation rates *by racial group* are in the top groups in the nation.
For once I’d like every news organization out there to look at a) how much we’re spending on welfare/foodstamps/housing/etc and b) how much we’re being taxed for it.
With those numbers they could then compare to every other instance of money changing hands in the entire country, and shove every other number up their collective ass.
The same argument can be used against the government unions - who cost us even more (they're the worst of the two evils).
getting in way of the federal government trying to hand out billions to companies for needed kickbacks to democrats
:: Texas’ public education system is especially pitiful ::
The author makes a parenthetical claim without evidence. Must be a member of the Journ-O-List.
You'll NEVER hear the left demanding the freeloaders get their own jobs and support themselves - never.
If you have a job and an income, they see you as a target.
The problem occurs when business get so large they opt for lobbying and gov’t rent-seeking as a means to make money, versus product innovation. This happens less with smaller enterprises, and is one of the reasons anti-trust “works”. Though there are still many ill effects from anti-trust.
I really hate the entrenched thinking of these journalists/liberals.
More revenue for the government = good
More money wasted on education = good
Teachers union dues = campaign contributions. The cash all ends up at the same place - the DNC.
They always have to put in digs about Texas. Truth doesn’t matter.
I do know the lottery was supposed to aid schools but doesn’t look
like it’s working. Now some want casinos to come in. Schools will still lose.
- History of “Jackpot” Deductions From Reserve Since 4/23/06 -
As of May 6, 2009 - there is no money in reserve. Shortage will be
paid from TLC’s operating acct or the school fund monies.
(Sales did not support advertised amount)
8/31/06: Deducted <$96,222> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
9/23/06: Deducted <$667,337> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
4/21/07: Deducted <$997,113> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
(Ironically, the 4/21/07 jackpot went unclaimed)
5/23/07: Deducted <$286,575> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
3/29/08: Deducted <$1,136,033> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
4/12/08: Deducted <$1,642,954> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
5/31/08: Deducted <$207,826> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
10/18/08: Deducted <$536,881> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
11/01/08: Deducted <$1,637,943> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
12/06/08: Deducted <$1,712,747> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
12/24/08: Deducted <$2,431,880> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
04/08/09: Deducted <$1,498,238> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
05/06/09: Deducted <$1,344,791> from Reserve to fund Lotto Texas jackpot
(5/6/09 Ticket never claimed. How do we know there was a winning ticket?)
Lotto Texas Reserve Fund Has Been Depleted
07/31/10: Deducted <$1,188,788> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
08/11/10: Deducted <$2,186,208> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
(8/11/10 Ticket never claimed. How do we know there was a winning ticket?)
08/28/10: Deducted <$2,279,721> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
09/15/10: Deducted <$2,308,335> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
10/30/10: Deducted <$2,325,354> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
12/01/10: Deducted <$2,314,246> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
12/04/10: Deducted <$2,002,687> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
03/09/11: Deducted <$322,607> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
04/20/11: Deducted <$1,676,809> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
06/15/11: Deducted <$2,460,040> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
06/22/11: Deducted <$2,204,182> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
09/07/11: Deducted <$3,571,596> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
12/10/11: Deducted <$3,955,105> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
02/15/12: Deducted <$3,724,195> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
05/12/12: Deducted <$4,179,729> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
05/12/12: Deducted <$2,531,093> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
07/28/12: Deducted <$5,950,396> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
11/07/12: Deducted <$6,870,746> from School fund or TLC operating account to fund
WTH? I guess I don’t understand fancy funding mechanisms (graft schemes).
I thought you simply adjusted the lottery payouts based on the tickets they sold, the money would already be in the account because you don’t spend money you haven’t collected yet... oh wait, hahahaha!
Like the title.
If there were no big corporations that had the capital it requires to mass produce things we need and use, those items would be scarce and expensive.
Sure. It makes all the sense in the world to drive around in a car made by a SMALL BUSINESS and fly in an airliner made by a SMALL BUSINESS and go to a nice little hospital run by a mom and pop doctor and his nurse. Big business gives economies of scale, innovative production and in the final analysis brings prices down to where peons like us can actually afford a product like a car or TV or an Ipad.. Small businesses are what existed until the Industrial Revolution. People really lived large then didn't they?
Time to make the enemy look bad, which can be a good thing if you think about, keep the riff raff out. Who wants to live in Texas?..... (me)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.