Columns

It was a busy week after spring break. School got back underway for all of the kiddos. It is hard to believe, but there are less than 2 months of school left before summer.

I’m reading a book called “Ways and Means” which describes how the North financed the Civil War versus the South. The South printed paper currency that had no support in terms of gold or taxation, ultimately leading to a 900% inflation rate. Meanwhile, the North introduced the first income tax and the first national currency called the greenback designated as legal tender, meaning it had to be accepted by the public for payment of debt, supplies and wages. The North had some inflation but it was within the norms of a war-time economy. This allowed the North to continue to replenish its men and material while the South could do neither. This great asset called Dollar Bill has generally been victorious in any military encounter over the last century and a half. It has had only two failures over this long period of time in Vietnam and Afghanistan. Both of these opponents ignored loss of life, living a subhuman existence and length of time.

Much of the state remains at considerable risk for wildfires through this week, largely because of higher-than-usual temperatures and drought conditions. More than 40% of the state is suffering extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Nearly the entire state is in some form of drought, with much of the Panhandle, High Plains and west central Texas most at risk.