Lately I haven't exactly had the time to throw my two cents into the national debates, or even the local debates. Unlike an estimated 10% of our populace, I am employed, and dare I say busy.

Regardless, I have noticed myself posting, and commenting less. Beyond my busy schedule, I decided a while ago to try and avoid the echo chamber phenomenon. As the right leaning blogoshpere has expanded, there are a number of really good writers who have more resources than I to keep up with this Hydra that is the Obama Administration legislative and social agenda.

As for the local scene, I will say this, the Midland City Manager and the City Council have their heads screwed on somewhat straight at the moment. Of all the local taxing entities, they seem to be the only ones who made a real effort to hold the budgetary line. MISD points fingers at the state, and the Hospital District and the County hide their budgetary increases behind their successful bond elections.

I'm most disappointed with the Commissioner's Court. While the City is actually making an effort to figure out how much all these "revenue generating" facilities are really costing the taxpayers, the 2010 County Budget disappears Salaries/Benefits and Utilities from the Horseshoe Budget and places these items in more general accounts.

Like that's not going to bite them when the decreased sales tax, hotel occupancy tax, higher tax delinquency rate, and decreased rentals hit their budget like a ton of bricks.