Molly Ivins flashback

[RussBLib]

Ran across this piece from 1997 in the Texas Observer, written by Molly Ivins. I must say I have not seen anyone like her on the political scene since her passing. We are in sore need of her humor here in Texas, with Republicans still running roughshod over anything and everything of value in Texas.

MOLLY IVINS ON SCHOOL VOUCHERS (1997)

Three strikes and you’re out? Watch Texas spend more on prisons than it does on schools. Thinking of making your tax structure more regressive? Come to the Lone Star State and see how it’s done.

The latest brainstorm to afflict our friendly pols in Austin is school vouchers. Consider the beauty of this nifty scheme as it might eventually be worked out under the guidance of the Texas Lege. To improve the public schools (I swear, that’s how the advocates are advertising this lunacy):

• We give vouchers to all the students who are already in private or religious schools around the state. Right there, before anybody else even gets a voucher, we will have taken, say, $1 billion out of the budget for our public schools. Shrewd move, eh?

• We also give all the kids now in public school a voucher, thus theoretically enabling these children to attend the schools of their parents’ choice: Unfortunately, private schools might find themselves under no obligation to accept any of our kids; they could be rejected because of their religious affiliation, their disabilities, on the grounds that they’re not bright enough, because the school administrators don’t like their looks—any reason not specifically excluded by law. The Texas Freedom Network, a normally sensible group of good guys, is running around like Paul Revere, trying to alert the citizenry to this dread downside of the school voucher idea. “Proposed voucher legislation would allow private schools to recruit the best athletes and students at taxpayer expense.” Folks, we’re talking football now! I knew you’d be concerned. Quel horrifying thought: The whole high school football tradition is in dire peril. Stop the madness now!

THIS CONCEPT IS SO BAD THAT IT HAS AN EXCELLENT CHANCE OF PASSING THE LEGISLATURE.

Sure do miss Molly. Had the pleasure of meeting and spending some time with her at Jim Hightower's Rolling Thunder Tour in Austin, TX back in 2003. The rest of this article can be found here

[FadedMullet]

1. I miss her too. She was terriffic, if only because she dubbed Dubya "Schrub".

[AZProgressive]

2. I saw this live when I used to watch C-Span daily

Tucker Carlson was supposed to be there but claimed he couldn't make it. Don't remember the excuse given, I'd have to rewatch it.

[brer cat]

3. I think of Molly often and wish she was around to

excplain TX politicians to me. LOL

[surfered]

4. And Texas did finally pass a voucher law doing exactly what Ms Ivins warned about 18 years after her death.

The ironic thing is that it will hurt rural, mostly Republican districts as their public school will lose funding and it’s unlikely they’ll get the “choice” of a private school.

[RussBLib]

5. back in 1997

there were no private schools in smaller rural Texas towns. They were all concentrated in cities. I kinda doubt that many private schools have popped up in rural Texas since then.

If the Dems ever regain control of Texas, that voucher program will be on the chopping block.

https://russblib.blogspot.com

[surfered]

8. Exactly!

[surfered]

9. Fun facts to know and tell: a couple of years ago...

Last edited Sun May 17, 2026, 10:01 PM - Edit history (1)

…the Texas legislature failed to pass a voucher bill because rural Republicans voted against it (for the reason you stated).

Gov Abbott then found a billionaire who believed in the cause and they primaried those GOP Reps and defeated enough of them to pass the voucher bill in the next legislative session.

[Devilsun]

6. Molly was a national treasure

[paleotn]

7. Part of me really misses her. Part of me is glad she's not around to see the pile of shit this country has become.