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By Ashley Bean Thornton School Vouchers (aka Education Savings Accounts, School Choice, Parent Choice…) are often touted as a way to help low-income students “escape failing public schools.”  We know from existing voucher programs in other states that it is not working out that way.  A recent study by the Brookings Institute, for example, found…

Hello Dillos – It’s been a little over a year since my political “re-birth” that led to the re-birth of the Dead Armadillo blog. I’ve done a lot of things I have never done before.  I served as an election clerk.  I went to a convention for a political party. I watched legislative hearings and…

I cannot imagine that there is much that I could add that hasn’t already been said about the Trump trial and conviction.  I’ll have to think about that a bit. Both campaigns are using the Guilty verdict for fundraising purposes. I am struck by the difference in tone between these two fundraising emails that I…

By Ashley Bean Thornton All the races in the May 4 Join General Election in McLennan County are non-partisan.  Ahhhh!  How relaxing!  It’s so nice to take a break from partisan shenanigans and just try to consider folks on their merits and ideas. Early voting info May 4 Voting Places (Only 30 this time, so…

By Ashley Bean Thornton I am going to brag on myself a little bit, but I have a more noble purpose in mind.  So, please bear with me. You know what I am really good at?  Standardized tests. Standardized tests have been very, very good to me.  I “earned” more than a semester of college…

By Ashley Bean Thornton So…I watched the State of the Union the other night, and predictably for those who know me, I thought Mr. Biden did a great job! The next day I got my weekly email from my current Representative in the U.S. House, Mr. Pete Sessions.  It started this way… “Last night, President…

By Ashley Bean Thornton There’s a guy I see about once a week at Whataburger.  I’m guessing he’s about my age, a white guy.  Friendly, but not aggressively so.  Just a nice guy. I don’t know what he does for a living now; I think he used to be some kind of minister.  Anyway, this…

By Ashley Bean Thornton I am very worried about the current state of politics and the direction our state and country seem to be taking. I disagree with so many of the actions of the Republican Party right now. I worry that we are edging toward a dangerous religious nationalism. I am frustrated that we…

By Ashley Bean Thornton Holy Cow!  This Texas school voucher business is getting to be quite the political spectacle! Here is the show so far as I understand it: Governor Greg Abbott is bound and determined to pass some kind of School Voucher/Educational Savings Account (ESA) bill. The Texas Senate passed one in the regular…

By Ashley Bean Thornton I am new at Politics…still building my political stamina.  It can feel overwhelming.  Every now and then I have to remember what is driving me to get involved and stay involved. I would like to say that it is some goal I want us to accomplish together –  some improved and…