“It doesn’t matter who we elect.” It’s a phrase we’ve all heard on multiple occasions. And it’s one I despise. Because I’ve seen what happens when we elect intelligent public servants whose focus is truly on the public good. I’ve also seen what happens when we elect self-serving demagogues and ideologues.

“It doesn’t matter who we elect” is the modern political battle cry of the ignorant and lazy. Because the ignorant believe the pronouncements of those who sow the misinformation and deception intended to cause a large part of our huddled masses to vote against their economic self interest by keeping their focus on side issues like guns and abortion and prayer in schools. And the lazy prefer to take the easy way out when presented with an alternative that allows them to avoid doing the research necessary to cast an intelligent vote.

Which brings us to today’s educational reality in Texas. For the first time in my considerable memory, we will spend less per student on public education than we did the year before. And we are spending less by a considerable amount. Already ranked 41st in the nation in per pupil spending, we are taking our commitment downward by a full $538, which is a 5.7% drop.

Yeah, I know other states are making cuts in education too, but most of those cutting their commitment as much as we are didn’t start as close to the bottom as we did. Nationally, the per-student average is $11,463, a modest increase of $158 or roughly 1.5% over last year. Comparatively, Texas is now spending $8,908, or less than 78% of the national average. A $2,500 gap for each and every student is huge.

Unless we, the citizens of Texas, decide to turn this around now, this is the beginning of the end of the "Texas exceptionalism" economic bullshit. Without an educated populace, we will begin a rapid deterioration that we may never find the means to reverse.

Lewisville City Council members were told at the February 4th Council retreat that Stage 2 mandatory water restrictions would likely be implemented this coming April. Residents should keep this in mind when making their Spring nursery purchases for their lawns and gardens.

The City of Lewisville has no water rights of its own in area lakes, but instead must purchase water from Dallas Water Utilities, which owns the water rights to the City's namesake Lewisville Lake. Part of that water contract requires that if Dallas requests it, Lewisville must implement Stage 2 restrictions.

Lewisville has two primary sources of water, both from DWU: drawing raw water from Lewisville Lake to treat in the city's own water treatment plant, which is rated for a treatment capacity of 20 million gallons per day (MGD), or treated water from Dallas, which is subscribed to at a capacity of 9 MGD, for a total capacity of 29 MGD.

In 2011, Lewisville reached and temporarily exceeded its supply capacity to provide water, hitting a peak in August of 29.9 MGD, which was met partially by drawing down elevated storage. Lewisville's pumping system has a daily capacity of 39 MGD, which is what it could pump with current equipment if supply was increased.

Parker County District Judge Trey Loftin (R) ordered a homeowner whose water well was contaminated with methane to pay Range Resources $4.2 million for exercising their first amendment right to video tape the methane burning out of a water hose attached to the well head's vent.

Yet another tough-talking Republican with a gay scandal. The staunch anti-immigration sheriff turned out to have a Mexican national as a lover, whom he threatened to have deported if he revealed their relationship.

Random works of art turn up in libraries. (Very cool)

Wow - in Austin, don't get caught babysitting while white. Cops there overreacted in a pretty big way to a white grandfather walking his black granddaughter home. Someone called the police and reported a kidnapping. Unfortunately, they didn't use a lot of discretion in investigating the complaint. Be sure to read the followups, because they're instructive in how people recall things under intense stress. When 6 police cars roll up on you, snatch away your grand daughter, and roughly cuff you, will you remember that the officer's hand hovered over his taser, or will you remember that he pulled it on you? Maybe the real suspicion here was babysitting while male?

Santorum leads the pack among Texas Republicans.

Dallas Morning News says Rick Perry has been phoning it in since returning to Texas after his failed Presidential campaign.

More squatters kicked out of a $380,000 Flower Mound home.

No idea if this is real or not, but these Japanese scrolls are pretty amusing.

Local volunteers are helping to monitor water quality in creeks and streams. Here is how you could become involved. You can also join the Lewisville Texan Journal clean stream team for Keep Lewisville Beautiful, and join us the next time we do a creek cleanup.

(Left to right: Mr. Eyad Saloum, Speech Contest Chair; Ms. Lauren Park, 3rd Place Winner; Mr. Durwin Green, 2nd Place Winner; and Ms. Haddy Badjie, 1st Place Winner)

THE ROTARY FOUR-WAY TEST
Of the things we think, say or do:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?