'Pit of hell' comment reveals GOP agenda

Houston Chronicle ^ | March 16, 2003 | MOLLY BETH MALCOLM

[Cincinatus' Wife]

State Rep. Debbie Riddle, a Houston Republican, came under fire last week for suggesting that our state's commitment to providing all Texas children with a quality education is a concept from communist Russia, or, to use her words, "straight out of the pit of hell."

Specifically, The El Paso Times reported that after a hearing of the House Border Affairs Committee, of which she is a member, Riddle said: "Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education, free medical care, free whatever? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell." While Riddle's comments are outrageous, they also reveal the Republican's true agenda in Texas. Riddle's comments amount to more than an individual politician foolishly showcasing her ignorance. Unfortunately, they are an accurate portrayal of the approach that many Republicans bring to the budget crisis facing Texas. Republicans proposed abolishing the state's public school finance system. Their plan would cut state funding for nine out of every 10 Texas school children without any alternative method to replace it. Republicans have proposed a voucher program that would divert taxpayer dollars to private schools and drain money out of public schools.

Republicans are contemplating slashing a program that provides low-cost health insurance to half a million children from working families. The Republican cuts would leave 250,000 children out of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Furthermore, Texas will forfeit $1 billion in federal funds from Washington, D.C., if the Republicans have their way. Republicans have proposed cutting treatment for the mentally ill and mentally retarded. The $287.5 million cut will result in the closing of state hospitals, hundreds of layoffs and thousands of Texans going without mental health treatment.

Republicans have proposed increasing tuition at our state colleges and universities. What Republican leaders are calling "tuition deregulation" would result in middle-class families being unable to afford college education for their children.

Republicans have proposed kicking 25,000 of our senior citizens out of nursing homes. Hundreds of thousands of elderly or disabled people who live at home would lose their medication as well.

One Republican even suggested eliminating the 12th grade in order to balance the budget! Democrats want to balance the budget, but we oppose balancing the budget on the backs of children, the elderly and working families.

Republicans appear willing to put cuts ahead of people. Riddle may sound like an extremist, but her views reflect the proposals of many Republican legislators. What makes the Republican cuts so alarming is that there are enough Republicans like Riddle in the House and Senate to pass these types of draconian cuts.

There's a reason Republicans haven't controlled the legislature for 130 years. Perhaps after the Republican cuts are enacted, the voters of Texas will decide they shouldn't control it for another 130 years.

Malcolm is chairwoman of the Texas Democratic Party.

[Dog Gone]

This was just another salvo by the Houston Chronicle this morning. They also ran a column against expanding the Katy Freeway, and an editorial blasting Bush on Iraq.

What a sorry newspaper.

[DanZ]

Thank you for correcting my mistakes. You forgot to correct my spelling of "caryy". I hope I did not ruffle your feathers too much by pointng out the obvious, America in the past century has been the "PAX ROMANA" without any imperious motivations. Everyone wants peace (Conservative, Libertarian as in my case or goose stepping Socialist Liberals). Some are willing to die for it. Others are willing to kill to prevent it.

[ladylib]

The idea of eliminating 12th grade has come up in my state also. The head of the NJEA is very upset about it.

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

"Both sides need to lose the word "free education"."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

My wonderful wife and I have educated ( homeschooled..)our two children... from day one...to the present. And it hasn't cost the taxpayer's of the two states that we've lived in, one red cent.

Most certainly there has been a cost to my wife and I...in real dollars and in opportunities lost. But the results are immeasureable, in terms of dollars and cents.

FWIW...

[sweetliberty]

Why do I get the feeling there is more to this story than the Rat is telling?

[sweetliberty]

"that "for the sake of our children" spin has been a laughingstock for at least 4 or 5 years on talk radio"

It is pretty hard to take concern for children seriously from the same people who support killing them as a matter of convenience.

[sweetliberty]

"I guess only greedy democrats get to decide what is fair."

You're getting it.

[Blake#1]

I believe Massachusetts had "public education" in the 1860's. Francis Amassa Walker was their first Superintendent of education.

[lodwick]

Pit of hell bttt

[sweetliberty]

"The fact that this dolt mentioned that the comments were made after "a hearing of the House Border Affairs Committee" leads me to believe that someone was advocating educating illegals to which the Republican House member disagreed"

That was my thought too. These Rats think we are obliged to give out everything for free to anybody and that illegals are entitled to the same rights as citizens. Gotta keep those Rat voters pouring in.

[voodoo economics worked]

Money does not go to education it goes to teachers unions,teachers want a full years pay for a half years worth of work.

[sweetliberty]

"That way if Texans really want the program, they can donate to it."

You're actually suggesting that they do something that requires them to put their money where their mouth is. You're forgetting that Rats operate on their own mouths but other peoples' money.

[demkicker]

"My wonderful wife and I have educated ( homeschooled..)our two children... from day one...to the present. And it hasn't cost the taxpayer's of the two states that we've lived in, one red cent."

Good for you!

Do you not resent paying such high taxes to support the so-called public school "free education"? I certainly do...

[backhoe]

It is pretty hard to take concern for children seriously from the same people who support killing them as a matter of convenience.

Excellent and irrefutable point.

For whatever it's worth, local talk radio around here seems to have a leading edge on changes in public opinion... I'll hear someone refute the current accepted wisdom on PC subjects, and about a year later will notice more mainstream voices swinging over to similar views.

[dalereed]

"I believe Massachusetts had "public education" in the 1860's"

And Massachusetts is still the most liberal/socialist state!

The only cure for public education is it's total destruction!

[Mygirlsmom]

A friend of mine is on this program and she tried to convince me to sign up a couple years ago. ("It's VERY affordable.")..... She now is switching over to the plan I am on. Go figure.

The difference between PRICE and COST is huge - most people don't take that into consideration, much less understand the concept.

[Carry_Okie]

Riddle's comments amount to more than an individual politician foolishly showcasing her ignorance. It is the Houston Chronicle that is ignorant here. The charge that the United States Department of Education has adopted the Soviet education system is correct. That transformation occurred during the Reagan Administration and is documented by his former Undersecretary of Education in Charlotte Iserbyt's book, The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America.

American public education began at the turn of the (I assume "Twentieth") Century?

In the 1890s, Horace Mann and John Dewey brought the Prussian educational system to America with the explicit goal of readying this nation for socialism. It's documented by John Taylor Gatto's book, The Underground History of American Education.

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

"Do you not resent paying such high taxes to support the so-called public school "free education"? I certainly do..."

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

I grow very weary of paying taxes that fund most of what government does these days. I grow more disgusted by the day....at the waste, the disregard, and the fraud that has been and continues to be brought against the tax-paying citizens of my country.

Of course I would resent paying 2 cents on the dollar if it was just thrown down a rat hole with near zero accountability....it's just worse when the government's take is 40-50% of my total income.

[Aric2000]

She is right though, free this and free that come straight out of the communist manifesto.

Once you convince people that they have a godgiven right to things, you can turn a country socialist in no time, and socialism and communism go hand in hand.

Free education was a way for the communists to get a foothold in this country, and they have done it very very well, and when someone states the truth, they freak out.

THe education system in this country is indeed straight from the pits of hell, it is time to get rid of free education, that actually traps our children into government dependency, it is time to get rid of free healthcare through government programs, so that healthcare becomes affordable again, and the average person can afford it.

THe government plays in things that it has no reason to, why? It's all about power over each individual citizen.

Nothing is free, and free education and free healthcare are not free, you give up your freedoms, every time you depend on the government for ANYTHING!!!