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Every once in a while along comes a good-intentioned politician or two who thinks they can save the world with their big ideas and oversized brains. But a brain ain't worth squat if you don't use it, and big ideas, like delusional dreams, have a way of falling to the wayside when they are rooted in idiocy and shortsightedness... B. Bubba Bandera

I didn't expect to be dropping in with another column so quickly after my rants and near rage over the gas pump price issue last spring. But some things in life just demand a response, and the growing issue of the degradation of the Texas State park system has struck me in the wrong place - right in the pit of my stomach. Not to mention an ill-conceived idea from Gov. Rick Perry that parts of Texas wild lands, like Big Bend's Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, be sold off to the highest bidder.

Yes - I'm talking about a measure that would see the sale of state property to the private sector, including lands once part of the Texas park system. Now I say once was part of the park system because a sly move by Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson "traded" the properties in question in what appears to be a ploy to sell the land without raising the eyebrow of Texas taxpayers who might not be so pleased with the idea. That's adding insult to injury if you ask me. It's underhanded, sneaky and unacceptable!

Also at issue is the declining importance of the over all park system in the Governor's Mansion and within other political circles in Austin. While the state budget has increased nearly 42% since Perry took office in 2000, the park system budget has fallen 34% since 1990, much of it in the last six years. And the Governor is now calling for another 10% cut across all state agencies for the year ahead.

You know, it wasn't that many years ago that environmentalists and nature lover's were making the headlines about protecting our natural resources and extending our commitment to open spaces and the preservation of our back pastures and natural wonders. In the 80s mainstream Yuppies joined the growing chorus of voices that were demanding better parks and recreation areas, and better management of wild and natural areas. Others began to take up the cause, and soon there was a cacophony of voices wanting more and expanded recreation areas all across Texas.

As for old Bubba, I dabble a little in ranching, play the Market a little, and depend slightly on oil and gas royalties for that property Grandpa left me in West Texas, plus have the benefit of a few assorted other interests I have managed to stick my finger into down through the years. In my younger days I worked my way through a couple of colleges and have become reasonably proficient in running my own business affairs. I have long considered myself somewhat conservative.

But I still like saddling up and riding across Hill Country meadows and valleys. I enjoy the big blue sky above and the soothing sound of the trickling, spring-fed creeks and streams that cross my own back forty in West Central Texas, just like the environmentalists. So it's not surprising that I often find myself sympathizing, even agreeing with the hippies, yuppies and green people. They have a point. We need to take better care of what we have, because at the rate Texas is booming, things won't be around for long if something isn't done.

In Texas, you see, we do things better. At least that's always been my motto. So, I'm all for building a better park system. Let's protect our wild and natural areas. I was happy to see the Green Belts established in and around Austin in the 80s and 90s. I liked the idea of better open space development in other urban areas across Texas, and the propagation of a better state park system. It wasn't that many years ago, in fact, that the state park system in Texas was one of the best in the nation. Texans and visitors to Texas answered the call and began to get out enjoy like no other generation before. It did my heart good to think folks were really appreciating all that Texas has to offer.

It occurs to me that Texas has worked hard down through the years to develop a solid commitment to open spaces. We have paid the price in property taxes and in the luxury taxes assessed for recreational and sporting goods sales. We have paid user fees in order to help sustain the parks system. In short, the people of Texas have done their part to support that open space commitment. And so have state leaders down through the years, including the late and honorable John Connally.

That is until a couple of political rascals took the reigns of open space responsibility in Texas earlier this decade and decided it was easier to sell off and degrade the parks system than it is to roll up their sleeves and do what is their duty to do: Go forward, not backward, and fix the problems.

Sorry Governor. Really I am. Because I was one of those silent majority supporters that went along with you occupying the Mansion in Austin. I figured you to be a fairly smart fellow full of energy and determination and dedication, and while you weren't the finest apple in the basket, you'd do all right with the big job. After all, George W. pulled it off. Why can't you?

And ditto to you Jerry Patterson, Texas Land Commissioner.

What are you boys thinking? It's bad enough the state has sold off Old Fort Parker State Historic Site and the Lubbock Lake Landmark State Historical Park, the Port Lavaca Fishing Pier and Matagorda Island State Park. Now you've got a plan working that will sell off part of the "former" Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, the part that borders one of the wildest rivers in the nation.

And apparently there's still support from the struggling Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to sell off part of Big Bend Ranch State Park to a private developer, as was the plan last year. The department is faced with fewer budget dollars and is struggling to make payroll, not to mention repairing the deteriorating facilities at state parks across Texas. It's hard to blame them for considering desperate alternatives considering their mounting management problems, namely, not being provided the proper budget to keep things together.

For instance, park restrooms, shower facilities and concession areas have been closed or are in a terrible state of disrepair in many state parks. Trash barrels are overflowing at the state's Galveston facility, parks department trucks are worn out and breaking down regularly all across the state, park infrastructure like water and sewer utilities are past the age of replacement and upgrade.

Then there's the Black Gap issue. Cool move to swap parcels of property with the Texas General Land Office. Now that "ownership" of these properties fall under the power of the GLO and not the TP&WD, the land can be sold without anyone taking the blame for selling off a state natural area dedicated as open space. That's what I call politics! Not very good politics, mind you. But true politics at work.

Well, Bubba thinks Texans are a little brighter than you are apparently willing to give them credit for.  What you are doing, in essence, is like the U.S. Government selling off parts of the Grand Canyon for private development in order to cut back on the budget because Congress can't manage their money better. While the later part is true, I dare say the nation would rather see Congressmen lose their salary than give up any part of the canyon.

Your excuse, Mr. Governor, that these lands are not used extensively by Texans and therefore of little value is like trying to hold water in a holey bucket. What about your kids and grand kids? What about the ability of the state to further support tourism in the years ahead. It's like owning a cemetery and selling off the back lot because not enough people died today. What about tomorrow Gov. Perry? Do you think the population is going to shrink and we need less open space? Or is it that you are desperate to cut spending because all you have done over the last six years is increase the state debt?

Get off the darn political wagon boys and get real on this issue. If you can't do the job then move over and let someone else deal with the sagging financial health of the state government.

Good gosh men, get creative! You boys like to offer tax incentives to big industry -- right? You have a record of it. So tell the boys at Exxon or Dell or Texas Instruments or Southwest Airlines that you want them to adopt a state park. Let them build an exhibit in the visitor center, rename the concession stand in their honor, and put little corporate logo stickers on the restroom doors if you want. In exchange, they provide the operating and restoration budget for the park.

Or how about this: Texas is proud to be "a whole 'nother country," so why not ask Mexico and England and Australia to become ambassador sponsors of a "themed" park where they can show off their culture through exhibits and demonstrations, you know, a way to introduce their offerings to Texas park goers?

Hey Gov, you might stage weekend swap meets on the Governor's Mansion lawn and raise a few bucks by selling raffle tickets to win a trip to one of the new state parks you decided not to build. Or commission a special lottery scratch-off ticket and send all the proceeds to the park system.

Here's a better one, how about every political candidate at the state level committing ten cents on the campaign dollar to be dedicated to saving the Texas park system? But make it a voluntary program so most of us will know who deserves our vote and who doesn't.

And one last one, a really creative one: Let's require every utility company in the state to add a nickel to every monthly water, gas and electric bill to every customer in Texas for the next five years and double our open space park resource system funds. Think of what heroes you will become when we annex New Mexico into the state park system. (I'm just kidding Governor Richardson)

While the cost of government is a bona fide problem and a real challenge in the years ahead, common sense tells us we shouldn't sell the horse because we can't afford a new saddle blanket. Let's ride bareback if we have to, but let's do something before it's too late. Once you sell those precious natural areas, there's no going back.

So here's Bubba's unwanted advise, and the bottom line: You're getting paid to take this state firmly into the 21st century, and you're not off to a very good start. Unless you want to go back to doing whatever it was you were doing before your were elected, I would recommend stop jumping around like school girls at a pep rally and start coming up with a plan that protects the investment of state taxpayers. I didn't home school my youngest son because of the great job you were doing with state education system. To the contrary. I simply abandoned hope that politicians could effectively make a difference. So here's your chance to prove me wrong. Stop being a politico and start being a Texan again - or get out of Dodge (Austin). And don't do it for some altruistic purpose. Do it for yourself. Because if you don't, Texas will find someone who will. -- B. Bubba Bandera, Texas Patriot

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