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Would anyone remember Texas in 9,000 years? And what would they remember us for? I close out the week with a reflection [[link removed]] on seizing, and squandering, opportunities.

Here is the Texas Minute for Friday, March 25, 2022.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Since Joe Biden couldn’t deliver on a winter of “severe illness and death,” he is now promising [[link removed]] a spring of starvation and shortages.

Stolen elections have consequences. Liberal Austin Drops City COVID Rules, Even As Texas’ Statewide ‘Emergency’ Continues As cities across the country begin repealing their restrictive COVID-19 policies, one of the most liberal regions in Texas is also winding down its pandemic orders. As Katy Drollinger reports [[link removed]], this stands in contrast to the ongoing “emergency declaration” made by Gov. Greg Abbott and re-upped on March 13.

State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R-Royse City) sent Abbott a letter [[link removed]] earlier this month calling on him to lift the COVID state of emergency and officially recognize the end of the pandemic in Texas.

“What started as ‘15 days to slow the spread,’ has turned into 24 months of unprecedented government regulations, a massive transfer of wealth from small businesses to mega-corporations, families separated from loved ones, and fear permeating every thought and action,” wrote Slaton.

As regions historically governed by progressive Democrats, like Austin and Travis County, begin ending COVID restrictions, the governor will have to decide [[link removed]] if keeping the COVID-19 emergency declaration in place still benefits the state of Texas and its citizens. 10-Year Incumbent Pushed To Runoff After a decade in the Texas House, State Rep. Phil Stephenson (R–Wharton) finds himself in a fight for his political life. Sydnie Henry reports [[link removed]] Stephenson was forced into a runoff for the GOP nomination to retain the House District 85 seat.

After receiving just 40 percent of the vote in the March 1 primary, Stephenson faces former Waller County Commissioner Stan Kitzman in the May 24 runoff.

With strong conservative stances on social issues such as abortion, critical race theory [[link removed]], and school choice, Stephenson’s ultimate failure has been fiscal policy as evidenced by a career rating [[link removed]] of “F” from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. Texas Right to Life gave him a 100 in the most recent legislative session, while the Young Conservatives of Texas gave Stephenson a score [[link removed]] of 65. Fredericksburg Parents Winning Library Fight At a school board meeting this week, Fredericksburg Independent School District officials unanimously agreed to implement new policies for expediting the removal of sexually explicit books in school libraries. As Erin Anderson reports [[link removed]], this action came after intense effort by local parents.

“The kids won,” said Fredericksburg ISD parent Tara Petsch, crediting Superintendent Joe Rodriguez with championing changes to district policies that citizens had requested. “We’ve never asked for book banning. We’ve never asked for book burning. We’ve asked for book boundaries. … We want age-appropriate books in our children’s libraries.”

The district’s assistant superintendent announced some books, which had been challenged as inappropriate, would be taken out of libraries after an administrative review found they were “pervasively vulgar, not educationally suitable, and in some cases, sexually explicit.”

The local Gillespie County Democratic Party had run an ad in the local paper referring to parents who raised concerns about porn in schools as “a few extremists,” with the party taking the position that no checks were needed by parents or community members.

Democrats won’t be happy until all children – that is, those not butchered in the womb – are treated as the property of the state. Headline: Fighting Back At 5:30 p.m. today, join Brandon Waltens on The Headline [[link removed]], where he will be joined by senior journalist Erin Anderson to talk about parents fighting back against pornography in their school districts.

Tim Hardin from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility also joins the show to talk about the legislature’s expected $25 billion surplus and how lawmakers could use it to eliminate property taxes. HD 93 Runoff Candidates Discuss Platforms At the Fort Worth Republican Women’s forum, former Southlake Mayor Laura Hill and citizen activist Nate Schatzline discussed fiscal policy and education as they compete for the open seat. Sydnie Henry has the details [[link removed]]. OPPORTUNITIES

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Social Media Manager: [[link removed]] Texas Scorecard exists to advance self-governance in the Lone Star state and beyond. An effective social media manager will be a key driver in our effort to dominate the media in Texas and become a world-class model of purpose-driven journalism.

Scorecard Fellowship [[link removed]]: This is a comprehensive, 3-month program designed for Texans 18 to 25 with an interest in public policy, effective civic engagement, political accountability, and Texas history. This paid program offers three tracks: writing, research, and administration. Friday Reflection:

Seizing – Or Squandering – Opportunities [[link removed]]

by Michael Quinn Sullivan

Read in Browser [[link removed]]

Listen to the Reflections Podcast [[link removed]]

In 9,500 years, will anyone remember the United States? Will the name "Texas" mean anything? As I stood on the upper layer of ruins at Tel Megiddo in northern Israel, I thought a lot about seizing – and squandering – opportunities.

Even today, it is easy to understand why Megiddo was so economically and militarily important for seven millennia. Anyone traveling north and south through this region of the Mediterranean would pass through this valley. It sat at the natural crossroads of the ancient world.

Never heard of Megiddo? Yes, you have. We know of Megiddo by its Greek name, through the writings of John in the New Testament Book of Revelation. We know it as Armageddon.

No matter what one thinks of eschatology and biblical prophecy, Megiddo tells us a lot about the opportunities we have if we seize them.

The city was occupied for some 7,000 years. Let that sink in. From the archeological record, we know Megiddo was a thriving hub of commerce and a military outpost before written history.

As an archeological site, it is without equal – layer upon layer testifies to people taking advantage of their geography to influence the world.

Megiddo was in a valley that made for easy travel. One could literally touch the corners of the ancient world merely by living in Megiddo. All of the important roads came through Meggido, and those who lived there drew immense power from controlling the junction.

As individuals, we each have such opportunities. Each of us is placed somewhere in which we interact, directly or indirectly, with thousands of people. Where are you? Are we using our position to its fullest potential? Maybe it’s an actual geographic position, or maybe it’s a profession, certain skills, accumulated wealth, or even simply a series of relationships. How are we influencing the world around us from our respective positions?

For a variety of reasons, Texas sits at a critical cultural and political junction for conservatives in America. And yet, Texans have grown frustrated with a series of "do-the-bare-minimum" legislative sessions in a GOP-dominated state. All roads to a better, brighter future for our republic could run through the Lone Star State, yet lawmakers squander this opportunity time and again.

Megiddo’s influence and importance eventually waned. The geopolitical reality of the Iron Age, the rise of the Roman Empire, all marched by and Megiddo fell away – it was uninhabited by around 500 B.C. But thanks to 7,000 years of preeminence, its name and legacy have lived on as a literary tool and a rhetorical device. (Meggido’s place in future history, of course, is a different discussion.)

I choose not to believe Texas is entering a period of decline. I believe rejuvenation is possible. I know it is needed. You and I must decide what we will do to make Texas count, and ensure the Lone Star State continues as a force for good influencing the world.

Should the Lord tarry another 7,000 years, will we be remembered for squandering our place, or seizing opportunities? What we do every day, and what we do next, will be the answer to that question.

Quote-Unquote

“History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.”

– Dwight Eisenhower​

Today in History

On March 25, 1774, the British parliament passed the first of what became known as the Coercive Acts – punitive legislation designed to force the colonies into submission. This first act, the Boston Port Act, was in retaliation for the Boston Tea Party four months earlier. It closed the harbor and required residents to repay the cost of the tea.

Over the next several months, local merchants wanted to simply pay the money and appease the king, but the citizens wouldn’t allow it. Rather than isolate the liberty-minded colonists in Boston, the act rallied other colonies to the cause of American independence.

Your Federal & State Lawmakers

The districts displayed here should reflect those recently redrawn by the Legislature. Though the new lines do not take representational effect until 2023, they will appear on the 2022 ballot. Please note that your incumbent legislator and/or district numbers may have changed.

U.S. Senator [[link removed]]

John Cornyn - R

(202) 224-2934

U.S. Senator [[link removed]]

Ted Cruz - R

(202) 224-5922

Governor of Texas [[link removed]]

Greg Abbott - R

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor [[link removed]]

Dan Patrick - R

(512) 463-0001

Attorney General [[link removed]]

Ken Paxton – R

(512) 463-2100

Comptroller [[link removed]]

Glenn Hegar – R

(512) 463-4600

Land Commissioner [[link removed]]

George Bush – R

(512) 463-5001

Commissioner of Agriculture [[link removed]]

Sid Miller – R

(512) 463-7476

Railroad Commissioners [[link removed]]

Wayne Christian – R

Christy Craddick – R

Jim Wright – R

(512) 463-7158

U.S. House [[link removed]], District

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Texas Senate [[link removed]], District

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Texas House [[link removed]], District

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Speaker of the Texas House

Dade Phelan (R)

(512) 463-1000

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Produced by Michael Quinn Sullivan and Brandon Waltens, the Texas Minute is a quick look at the news and info of the day we find interesting, and hope you do as well. It is delivered weekday mornings (though we'll take the occasional break for holidays and whatnot).

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