What's All This Then?

Maybe a waste of time, or yet another way to spread myself too thin. Hopefully, this will become a a place to learn and share news of politics and progress in Bastrop County - from Elgin to Smithville to the county seat, and all the hamlets, subdivisions and various other wide spots on the roads out here.

It's clear that what media is available in this county has abdicated any and all responsibility to adequately inform our citizens and and promote healthy debate - and we'll get around to that very soon. It's particularly clear that Democrats and other good people of common sense in BC need a resource for information and perspectives on how to make our local government and officials more responsive, effective, and progressive.

Too much ground has been conceded to the forces of greed, ignorance and know-nothing fanaticism. Strong public schools, unspoiled public lands, a healthy small business community, family farms and ranches - these were the legacy of parents and grandparents who conquered a Great Depression and made the world safe for democracy. The current Republican power cabal in Texas has laid waste to that legacy and endangered our children's future. While they haven't quite managed to completely infect Bastrop County yet, rest assured they're working on it, determined to sell us all off to the mercy of big-box corporations, water wholesalers and land-grubbing developers. But decent folks still have room to maneuver and push them back.

There is a coalition here, big enough to turn it all around and headed back in the right direction. But it needs to come together in common purpose - willing to play smarter, pool resources and ideas, be ready to fight when necessary and stand against foolishness from all corners. If this blog will help expedite that formation and feed the need for good sense and decency in our blessed little county, I'll consider it worth the trouble and a rousing success.

And of course, we can always poke fun at people who deserve it, and irritate those without a sense of humor. I'll try to get around to all of it, but I am only one man - and a busy one at that.

More posting will follow, in rather haphazard fashion I'm sure, in the weeks to come. I'll also be recruiting others to contribute to it.

Topics for posts in the works:
Whither Tim Kleinschmidt?
Tracking local races - the 2010 Primaries
Down and Drought - What's up with the Water?
Bastrop Growth Patterns and Demographics

...and maybe a high school football preview or two. Friendly bets will be made, gauntlets thrown down. Don't be shy - Please kick in yer two cents if you see fit. Comment or send an email -

Robert Cyrus Ryland
Elgin, TX