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NationofChange / Op-Ed
Published: Wednesday 7 September 2011
“Here's a particularly revealing stat that the Perry pixies don't want us to see: On his watch as governor, Texas added more minimum wage jobs than all the other 49 states combined.”
Perry Tales: Rick Is Not Who He Says He Is
Presidential wannabe Rick Perry is flitting all around the country — hither, thither and yon — spreading little "Perry Tales" about himself and the many wonders he has worked as governor of Texas.
His top Perry Tale is a creationist story about what he has modestly branded "The Texas Miracle." While the rest of the country is mired in joblessness, says the miracle worker, his state has added 1.2 million jobs during his 10-year tenure.
I've built "a job-creating machine," the governor gushed during one of his recent flits across Iowa, and a Perry PR aide smugly added, "The governor's job creation record speaks for itself."
Actually, it doesn't. Far from having the best unemployment rate in the nation, the Lone Star State ranks a middling 26th, behind New York, Massachusetts and other states whose "liberal" governments he routinely mocks.
Even more damning, Perry's Texas is not creating nearly enough jobs to keep up with its fast-growing population. Those 1.2 million new positions are 629,000 short of the jobs needed just to bring the state's employment level back up to where it was in 2007. Some miracle.
Worse, probe even a millimeter into the million-jobs number that he is sprinkling around like fairy dust, and you'll learn that Perry's jobs are mostly "jobettes" that can't sustain a family. They come with very low pay, no health care or pension, and no employment security, labor rights or upward mobility — many are only part-time and/or temporary positions.
Here's a particularly revealing stat that the Perry pixies don't want us to see: On his watch as governor, Texas added more minimum wage jobs than all the other 49 states combined. More than half a million Texans now work for $7.25 an hour or less. He can brag that he's brought Texans down into a tie with Mississippi for the highest percentage of workers reduced to poverty pay.
Spreading even more fairy dust, Perry claims that his Texas Miracle is the result of him keeping the government out of the private sector's way. But peek behind that ideological curtain, and you'll find this startling fact: During Perry's decade, the greatest job growth by far has come from the public sector, which has more than doubled the number of new jobs created by the private sector.
One out of six employed Texans are now teachers, police officers, highway engineers, military personnel or other government workers — and many of these jobs were created with the federal money that Perry-the-candidate now loudly denounces. Indeed, he's running around ranting about President Obama's stimulus program, but he gladly accepted the third highest amount of stimulus funds taken by the 50 states. There's his miracle.
Interestingly, even his tea-partyish hatred — nay, loathing! — of big government's intrusion into the lives of ordinary citizens turns out to be just another Perry Tale. In fact, there would be no Rick Perry without the steady "intrusion" of government into his life.
Local taxpayers in Haskell County put him through their public school system — for free. He and his family were dry-land cotton farmers, and federal taxpayers helped support them with thousands of dollars in crop subsidies — Perry personally took $80,000 in farm payments.
State and federal taxpayers financed his college education at Texas A&M, even giving him the extracurricular opportunity to be a cheerleader. Upon graduation, he spent four years on the federal payroll as an Air Force transport pilot who never did any combat duty.
Then, in 1984, Perry hit the mother lode of government pay by moving into elected office — squatting there for 27 years and counting. In addition to getting regular paychecks from taxpayers for nearly three decades as a state representative, agriculture commissioner, lieutenant governor and governor, he also receives platinum-level health care coverage and a generous pension from the state, plus $10,000 a month for renting a luxury suburban home, a covey of political and personal aides and even a publicly paid subscription to Food & Wine magazine.
So when this taxpayer-supported lifer flits into your town to declare that he will slash public benefits and make government "as inconsequential as possible," he means in your life, not his.
Perry literally puts the "hype" in hypocrisy. Forget his tall tales and political B.S. — look at what he actually does.
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ABOUT Jim Hightower
National radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the book, Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow, Jim Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.
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By Aviva Shen
21 comments on "Perry Tales: Rick Is Not Who He Says He Is"
September 08, 2011 12:12pm
I wish this truth can come out with the type of intensity that can silence the lies(liars on Conservative radio and TV programs) that will flood the air ways and blacken the skies as we approach the 2012 elections.
September 08, 2011 9:29am
When any candidate wraps himself/herself in the American flag,the bible, panders to right wing Christian extremists, takes pride in creating minimum wage or less than minimum wage jobs, ensuring greater and more widespread poverty -- run, run as fast as you can away from these people.
By the way, the Republican-right wing-Christian-extremists are the American version of the Taliban. The conservative right wing of the Republicans have joined with these extremists to take us back to the days of the robber barons, a time when there were no laws, rules or regulations. And women, people of color had no rights.
Their vision is a dark one, as they wait for the "rapture." Why would any of them care about the environment or anything else if they are simply waiting to die?
FYI: Global warming is a natural phenomenon. It is exacerbated by mankind when the emissions from fossil fuels hit the air that we breathe. The KOCH BROTHERS believe pollution is a good thing because it prevents cancer causing rays from reaching our skin. Their companies produce lots of pollution and they want all laws and regulations to stop so they can pollute as much as they want. No, they are not the only company that wants this.
Any individual who supports the Republican Party, at least this new version of the Republican Party, supports a platform of no laws, rules regulations, rights of any kind. This new Republican Party looks forward to widespread poverty, an uneducated population, in other words this party's aim is to make the United States look like Haiti after the earthquake.
There will be two classes, the rich and the rest. We are well on our way to that reality.
September 08, 2011 12:07pm
I wish this truth can continue to be in the forefront as the 2012 elections approach.
September 08, 2011 9:04am
Hightower is a sour-grapes Democrat who was tossed out of office by Texas voters. He's hardly a reliable or independent voice. ANY job is better than NO job, Jim. And if the Obama administration would keep the illegals on the other side of the border where they belong our unemployment rate in Texas would be a LOT lower. It's hard to put to work uneducated, untrained Mexicans. I realize they will make great Democratic voters on the dole, but they sure as hell don't do anything for the Texas economy. Crawl back under your rock... or maybe it's rocker.
Argumentum ad hominem, typical tactic for someone lacking any real counterpoint. Try a little substance next time.
September 08, 2011 6:26am
Now, that's the Rick Perry I've known all these years living in Texas.
September 07, 2011 9:15pm
Texas is lowest in education, child health care, prenatal care, women's rights, and voter turnout. It is first in minimum wage jobs, executions, and unwanted pregnancies. Some record! While wildfires were burning, Perry was campaigning out of state. Perry hates the government that gave him farm subsidies for years. He loves the Constitution that calls for separation of church and state. ?? Tea baggers are like fundamentalists everywhere. They accept only part of a dogma that pleases them and ignore the rest.
September 07, 2011 3:43pm
Mr. Hightower is a Texas political commentator, not a Chicago/Illinois commentator. He has knowledge of Texas and Mr. Perry and he comments on what he knows. I have no idea if he knew Obama or not, but it is not unlike him to comment on Texans. I'd have to go back and look to see if he comments on other national characters, and he is definitely partisan, but I appreciate his insight into Mr. Perry. I'll leave it to the national pundits and Illinois folks to comment on Mr. Obama.I do share your concerns about Obama, though I voted for his, but I still respect what JH has to say.
September 07, 2011 2:45pm
Where was Mr. Hightower's wonderful care about the nation when we needed to know more about Candidate Obama's background and accomplishments when he was selling slogans? Or was he absolutely convinced that community organization with zero experience in governing anything was a whole lot better background than ten years of running the second largest populous in the country? I am not a fan of Rick Perry at all, but I find this type of highly partisan advocacy for or against anything or anybody, tremendously distasteful. By the way, I voted for Kerry against W., and I honestly hoped that Obama would bring welcome changes, will be transparent, and true to his words and promises. I will respect you more, Mr. Hightower, when you decide to put our current president as well under the microscope. And please don't forget pointing out the benefits he is getting from you and me, either. Once your voice is less partisan and more credible, I will start paying more attention to what you say. Deal?
September 07, 2011 2:43pm
Where was Mr. Hightower's wonderful care about the nation when we needed to know more about Candidate Obama's background and accomplishments when he was selling slogans? Or was he absolutely convinced that community organization with zero experience in governing anything was a whole lot better background than ten years of running the second largest populous in the country? I am not a fan of Rick Perry at all, but I find this type of highly partisan advocacy for or against anything or anybody, tremendously distasteful. By the way, I voted for Kerry against W., and I hoped that Obama would bring welcome changes, will be transparent, and true to his words and promises. I will respect you more, Mr. Hightower, when you decide to put our current president as well under the microscope. Oh, and please don't forget pointing out the benefits he is getting from you and me, either. Once your voice is less partisan and more credible, I will start paying more attention. Deal?
September 07, 2011 2:26pm
I like the bumper sticker I heard about . . .No New Texans. . .
September 07, 2011 2:18pm
Interesting info. And this is shortly after Governor Perry staged a big gathering to pray to and converse with Jesus about the country's financial problems. Another alleged evangelical politico lying to the public. I wonder if he is friends with another like-minded Texan, former U.S. Representative Tom DeLay, recently sentenced to 3 years in prison.
September 07, 2011 1:52pm
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R TX) was at UT
September 07, 2011 1:03pm
"So when this taxpayer-supported lifer flits into your town to declare that he will slash public benefits and make government "as inconsequential as possible," he means in your life, not his."
Isn't that soooooooo republican? Actually, the rethugs, the wealthy and the corporations LOVE government "intrusion" and spending, when it is to their benefit or furthers their interests. But definitely not when it benefits anyone else.
September 07, 2011 12:50pm
With a Laurel and Hardy Hand shake .... I give you our new...... LIAR !
September 07, 2011 12:38pm
Is it a prerequisite that one must have been a cheerleader in school to be elected governor of Texas? Was Ann Richards one? Or is it just the males? (Have to admit to not having much respect for that activity or the people who participate in it.)
September 07, 2011 1:58pm
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison R-TX was a cheerleader at UT...
not sure about Ann Richards, but I do know she was a debater on scholarship and graduating from Baylor University in 1950. She went on to get a teaching certificate at the University of Texas in Austin in 1955.
September 07, 2011 11:59am
Perry.. One scary Tea Vangelical dude
September 07, 2011 11:58am
This is so pathetic Bachman Perry is all GOP Baggers can come up with to run for Pres ? I hear Lots of hot air and talk of same old wealth favoring GOP policies, huge corp tax cuts, more deregulating that led to disaster / brink of depression. TARP cruel 700 Billion joke on US taxpayers who were duped scammed - screwed -sold down the river Now they gripe that Obama has not undone all the toxic damage done from 1981 Reaganomics Bush 1-2 Cheney crash with help from their 5 con judges & the Goldman run Fed ? Please
September 07, 2011 11:42am
What about Perry's connection to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)?
September 07, 2011 11:23am
An entirely reliable source on no-miracle Perry.