Farenthold's New Gig Unintentionally Illustrates SEVERAL Problems with Texas' Good Ol' Boy Politics.

"It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For a throne is established by righteousness."
Proverbs 16:12

By now we assume you've heard about Blake Farenthold's new position as a taxpayer-funded lobbyist for some obscure port agency on the Gulf Coast.  We could say a lot about it.  Suffice to say, we share the disgust.

While we're tempted to wax emotional about the topic, it teaches several lessons.  While Farenthold's specific situation makes his case particularly appalling, the underlying conduct is not unusual.  It's not always this blatant, but the bad behavior is very common.

To wit:

• Taxpayer Funded Lobbying -- This biggest problem with this set up is that taxpayer funded entities are allowed to hire lobbyists (or "legislative liaisons" or "governmental affairs specialists" or whatever the euphemism this week) in the first place.  Taxpayer funds should not be used to lobby against taxpayers.  Period.
  
  Once that disgraceful practice is permitted, you shouldn't be surprised when it's used disgracefully.

• Obscure Local Governments -- Question: Had you ever heard of the "Calhoun Port Authority"?!?  Neither had we.  But it's there.
  
  Texas is littered with corrupt, obscure, entities back by the power of the state.  Nobody can keep track of them all.  But they all have power to tax.  And they can all hire lobbyists.
  
  And they all have employees (most of whom receive taxpayer funded pensions).
  
• The "Revolving Door" -- In both the Texas Legislature and the U.S. Congress, former members are allowed to lobby current members as soon as they leave the body.  That should be banned.  But, at a minimum, there should be a "cooling off period" of at least two (and, realistically, more like five) years.

• No Consequences for EGREGIOUSLY bad sexual behavior -- The financial stuff should be enough to condemn this arrangement, but questionable financial practices aren't the main reason Blake Farenthold left Congress.
  
  The main reason Blake Farenthold left Congress is because, as a married man in his mid-50's, he ("allegedly") made regular gratuitous sexualized commentary to female staffers in their 20's.
  
  Yet nobody cares.

Bottom Line: While Farenthold's case is particularly blatant, the underlying "business model" is common.

GBTV: The Third Coast -- Episode 1

GBTV:  The Third Coast – Episode 1 – How to Pursue Your Dreams (Part 1)

Episode #1:  Establish that there are still good kids in America, or at least in Texas.  Show kids how, if they’re willing to pay the price in Advance, they can achieve their wildest dreams.  Illustrate Universal Truths of Success.

Prologue: Establish Who We Are

Scene 1: Arrival/Opening Prayer

-          Kids show up and get keys from show ‘host’

-          Note in the Fridge: Buy Alcohol with Your Own Money

-          Amazing House = GRATTITUDE over Entitlement

-          Kids Organize and deliver Deep, Heartfelt Prayer ON THEIR OWN

-          Host Returns with Nolan Ryan for “Opening Day Pep Talk”

Scene 2: HOUSE MEETING

-          This will be the MAIN SCENE OF THE EPISODE

-          A Little Bit of Background

-          GOALS – Written; Health, Wealth, and Relationships

o   Self-Binding Contracts

o   “My Goal is to have more Checks than Bills”

o   Rocker has some CRAZY sex goal

-          House Rules – Establish Good Habits from the Beginning

o   Partying – Celebrating Job Well Done, NOT Main Event

o   Promiscuity – Only if it’s Marxist Proof

o   Some early Trumped-Up conflict over smoking pot

-          Conscious Decision to Stay in

-          Kids Share Stories about overcoming adversity

-          Watch Movie ‘Bataan’ as House Activity

Scene 3: Getting up Early the Next Day

-          Kids clean up mess from previous night

-          Each kid immediately takes action on a goal listed the previous night

-          Morning Gratitude Lists

Scene 4: Small Initial Success/Gratitude

-          Each kid makes modest progress towards a goal

o   Rocker Successfully picks up a chick at the Beach

Scene 5: Temporary Defeat

-          The kids all experience setbacks; episode closes on a cliffhanger….

GBTV: The Third Coast

GBTV: The Third Coast

Mission Statement: To celebrate, encourage, and fortify those kids who reject national decline and who are willing to do the work necessary to reverse it.

How: Following Seven Texans under 30 through a dream summer on South Padre Island, TX where, unlike a certain other beach-themed reality show, they actually accomplish something.

Why: We need to inspire twenty-somethings to act like their best selves, instead of excusing them at their worst. Everyone is subject to internal struggles between good and evil; GBTV’s task is to encourage the former while downplaying the latter. Most kids want to do the right thing, but no one has shown them how.

Episode Structure: Each episode will feature the kids actually accomplishing something while simultaneously illustrating some quasi-political aspect of why America is so screwed up; to the extent that these kids drink and party, it’s to celebrate a job well done, NOT as the central plot element of the episode.

Sample themes:
- How to Pursue Your Dreams
- How Marxists Use Sex as Mind Control
- Teaching Young Kids the Constitution
- Starting a Business and Regulatory Compliance
- Crisis Pregnancy
- Designing a Self-Education Platform
- Border Security and Service Project for Brian Terry’s Family

Character Guidelines: These kids are going to be action-oriented, classy, hardcore, outrageous, and responsible. They will all have goals backed by plans on which they’re taking action. They’ll occupy various locations on the partying and promiscuity continnums, but none will be defined by these parts of their lives.

Character Archetypes:
- Hot, Blonde, Texas Alpha-Female (UT co-ed)
- Colt McCoy meets Scotty McCreary
- Charmingly Outrageous Right-Wing Rocker/Stoner
- A Minister’s Daughter
- A Black Dude; Iraq Veteran
- A Miranda Lambert
- An Entreprenneurial Homemaker