Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Sunday's massive Palestinian protest organized by Socialists

Thousands demonstrated outside the Texas Capitol and downtown Austin Sunday afternoon in support of a ceasefire in Gaza and opposing U.S. and Texas foreign aid to Israel.

That last part sounds like more of a Libertarian goal, but the protest did not appear at all like something from the Ron Paul camp. Nor did it look like other anti-Israel rallies held in the past in Central Texas, aside from the usual black-and-white fishnet keffiyeh head scarves and red and green Palestinian separatist flags. 

Smoke bombs, bused-in protesters, and misuse of the term "genocide" were the handiwork that all pointed to collaboration with the opposite side of the political spectrum.

If you guessed Antifa you were correct. Also spotted were Democratic Socialists of America protesters. Despite the fact that a Palestinian state would all but ban the "justice" and sexual expression the radical Left champions, the Palestinian cause fits the bill of the "anti-colonial" push popular with the liberals of late. However, a large number of Democratic public officials strongly support Israeli statehood and its territorial claims as an ally of the U.S.

Monday, November 6, 2023

Round Rock ISD and the astounding, invisible tax hike

Is it a simple calcuation, or the ol' ball and cup trick?

The Round Rock ISD is banking on the fact that statewide tax relief and recent changes to how "Robin Hood" is handled will mask a local tax hike on the ballot Tuesday:

This is according to Don Zimmerman, longtime tax reform advocate, former Austin Council member, and executive director of the Travis County Taxpayers Union (TCTU). The ballot language, he said, is so problematic the organization is preparing to file a lawsuit -- only to find that state courts no longer hear ballot language complaints prior to an election!