After attending a meeting with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) at the Capitol regarding the unacceptable roadwork performed on FM 1826, it became crystal clear to many of the attendees that we need a new agency that is more in tune with community needs.

Believing the hype pushed by the governor and legislators is much the same as buying a used-car from "Honest" Harry’s used car lot.

These days it seems harder to judge friend or foe.

Apparently Gov. Rick Perry and his special tolling interests are going to try to force toll roads on Texans even though it's been documented that they aren't needed.

Information and knowledge is power!

Hays County voters sent a clear message to pro-toll, pro-road bond profiteers by voting "No" on Road Bond Proposition 1, which would have made many special interest parasites much more wealthy, homeowners much poorer, and the beautiful Hill Country environment much less attractive.

"To toll or not to toll?" — that's not much of a question.

Gov. Rick "39-percent" Perry has spent years pushing toll roads for wealthy special interests, much like one of those not-too-slick snake oil salesmen that used to get run out of towns throughout Texas. This session, he again went before the state Senate and House to preach the toll agenda. More or less, Perry repeatedly says that without toll roads Texas won't be building any more roadways any time soon.

The Bush administration's exploits in Washington are negatively affecting various state governments, and nowhere is this observed more clearly than in Texas, the President's self-proclaimed home state. Currently, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was re-elected by a mere 39 percent of total votes, is forging ahead with a power play, a la George Walker Bush, that will "shock and awe" most Texans. It will also endanger their civil rights and liberties.

Recently, people have been buzzing about the almost ancient 2/11/2004 Washington Times editorial by Tony Blankley titled, "George W. Bush — grand strategist," and depending on individual perspective, it seems that many are referring to it with some confusion, exaltation, excitement, skepticism, and/or trepidation depending on how they view George Walker Bush and his presidency.

"The great minds of Texas," as the governor likes to call his special committee cronies, have tossed away more taxpayer dollars on an "innovative" plan that would privatize the Social Security Program. Too bad that, like many of their other plans, it was initiated by the poor judgment of special interests who salivated at the thought of a new resource for unlimited income.

That's quite a disguise for toll roads, isn't it? "Managed Lanes" sounds quite similar to "managed care," only there's no "caring" in most of the Texas Department of Transportation's road plans. TxDOT may be a lot of things, but it's certainly not community-friendly.