Ben Barnes

Former Lt. Gov. of Texas, Ben Barnes, has a few ideas on his beloved home state, Texas.

Discussing a decrease in Texas’ education and transportation systems Barnes had this to say: “At the very time we should be investing more in these areas, most of our leaders are talking about tax relief and tax cuts,” said Barnes. “No 20th century state ever became great by cutting taxes, and no 21st century state will become great by cutting taxes.”

Ben Barnes on education:

“Graduate education and research will be our avenues to continued and increased prosperity. That means a major commitment, with major incentives, to recruit and educate world-class students.”

Barnes speaking about the Texas of today:

“Texas today is drifting toward mediocrity just when it should be striving for greatness. We are neglecting our public infrastructure and shortchanging our future.”

More on present-day Texas:

“I’ve seen Texas in good times and in bad times, and we can do better than we’re doing right now. When I introduce myself and, ‘I’m Ben Barnes, from Texas,’ I used to hear, ‘Man, tell us about Texas. Y’all are really accomplishing a lot of great things. I really would like to live there.’ Now people will say, ‘You’re from Austin? It’s a great city. I’d like to live there sometime.’ But Texas? ‘Hmmm, y’all are a lot like Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama, aren’t you? Y’all got a lot of problems. Y’all got a lot of people in penitentiaries. Y’all are tough on them down there.”