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(This is the first in a series of posts I plan to write about what my Texas House Representative, Pat Curry – District 56, is saying about the education bills that are being considered by the Texas Legislature. – ABT)  Pat Curry (TX House District 56) was recently interviewed by Duke Machado of the Hispanic…

By Ashley Bean Thornton Senate Bill 10 and House Bill 2696 are identical bills that have been filed in the two houses of the Texas Legislature.  If passed, they would require a poster of the 10 Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom in Texas.  Here is the version of the 10 Commandments…

By Ashley Bean Thornton Do you remember when political conversations, even political disagreements, were more fun than they are now? I do.  I miss that. After the frenzy and folderol of the recent election you may be thinking: “Political conversations – no thanks!  That’s the last thing I want!  I am ready for some peace…

By Ashley Bean Thornton I have been thinking quite a bit about the different ways people approach the issue of religion in public schools.   Here are a few of those different ways that occur to me… Camp 1: We are a Christian Nation. – The founders intended the United States to be a Christian Nation,…

By Ashley Bean Thornton The following is a presentation I made at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Waco on November 17, 2024.  I think I’m a better writer than a speaker, but if you prefer listening to reading…The video is posted at the end.  – ABT Good morning! First of all – let me say…

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…