Good morning,

Today I reflect on the addictive nature of power, and the justifications used to seek it.

But first, here is the Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Friday, March 19, 2021
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• The House adjourned for the week on Thursday without taking action on the Senate’s plan to order a repricing of electricity after last month’s winter storms. Immediately after, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick took aim at Gov. Greg Abbott for not pressing the issue. Jeramy Kitchen has the details.
      
• The Senate hurriedly drafted and passed legislation on Monday ordering the Public Utilities Commission and Energy Reliability Council of Texas to “reprice” downward the cost of electricity from February’s winter storm. Critics, like House Speaker Dade Phelan, say the Senate’s action would undermine the electricity market. The massive price increase levied by the PUC and ERCOT will be finalized today unless drastic action is taken.
     
• “Will there be ramifications if we reprice? Yes. There are going to be ramifications no matter what happens. We have a lot of work to do on behalf of the ratepayers,” responded Patrick.
      
• Patrick wants Abbott to either order a price change using powers presumed under the governor’s emergency declarations, or send notice that the February prices set by ERCOT and the PUC are under investigation. That would essentially provide more time for the House to act.

• You can catch Brandon Waltens live on The Headline at 11 a.m. this morning, as he discusses how last month’s winter storms are affecting the temperature inside the Capitol. The podcast and video archive will be available in the early afternoon.

• A bill filed by State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R-Royse City) would allow school districts to opt-out of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness tests, or STAAR tests. Joshua Pierce has the details.
   
• Long criticized by classroom parents and teachers due to the weight placed on the results among other concerns, nearly half the members of the Texas House demanded that STAAR testing be canceled entirely for the 2020-2021 school year.

• As the 2021 election season ramps up, Dallas City Council member Paula Blackmon is walking back her support of the “Defund the Police” movement. Despite a very public embrace of the “defund” efforts in Dallas, reports Robert Montoya, the incumbent is now claiming her record is being distorted.

Y’All Answered

Yesterday we asked why people are still wearing masks, intentionally excluding “I don’t wear a mask.” Slightly more than half (51.4%) said they wore one because it was required; 31.3 percent said they wore it to make others feel more comfortable; and the remaining 17.4 percent said they wore a mask to protect their health.

• “I've not been wearing a mask... If I do wear one it's because a location I want to go to or need to go 'requires' one.” – Rachel Golden
      
• “I don't wear the mask to make other people comfortable....I wear it to shut them up and not have to endure the ugly looks!” – Adonna Dugat
      
• “I  don't wear a mask unless I am required just to get groceries.” – Sarge Pederson
        
• “The Apostle Paul tells us that, although we have liberties in certain areas, we should relinquish those liberties to honor those who have lesser faith.  The wearing of masks is similar, whereas I do not believe that masks do anything to reduce the spread of the Corona Virus, I will wear a mask in the presence of those who believe it will in order to appease them and help them feel more at ease around me.” – Arthur Potter

Friday Reflection

No private sin is quite so publicly ensnaring as the quiet promise of political access. It trips up the most sure-footed activist, and silences even the boldest advocate of liberty.

The fourth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel records the specific temptations dangled in front of Jesus by Satan. I categorize them as pairings of comfort and ease, safety and power, and vanity and prestige.

For example, we read that Jesus was taken to a “very high mountain” where Satan showed Him “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” It was there Satan said, “All these I will give you, if you fall down and worship me.”

Jesus immediately respond, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

Too many in politics – politicians and citizens alike – have taken the deal, justifying it with all the alleged good they could theoretically achieve.

I hear elected officials constantly tell me they must make compromises with the devil so that they can “do good things.” I bet Jesus could have justified saying “yes” just like that. I know I could; I’ve heard variations of it an uncountable number of times.

And it’s not just the politicians.

Not long ago a well-known Christian conservative told me he was going against his base of supporters – and even “sacrificing” his own conscience – by endorsing a corrupt member of Austin’s corps of cronies. He claimed by taking such an action he’d demonstrate an ability to maintain relationships with elected officials. His rationale? So he could be an insider, and therefore get good things done down the road.

Once one starts worshiping at the altar of political access, those “good things” used as the initial justification happen less and less. Can’t lose that access! And, in their final evolution, that agreeable access-seeker is found to be working against the principles he once so loudly espoused.

Like any addictive substance, satisfying the need for access becomes an all-consuming need to which anything will be sacrificed.

Over the years, a sad number of activists have become addicted to the access afforded to them by being friendly with those in power. Rather than risk alienation, they move from citizen-leader to political-sycophant. Where they once boldly spoke truth to power, they end up defending governing malfeasance.

This is one of the reasons why Jesus said no. He knew He had access to a power far greater than earthly princes. He knew where such a compromise would lead.

The same is even more true for each of us. The access we should crave is to God, not the powers and principalities of the world.

As citizens in a self-governing republic we must reject the “access” model of politics, holding each other accountable by speaking honestly in the face of these temptations. By operating as a community of citizens, we can begin to reclaim our government.