As a Bastrop County resident I was very disappointed to receive in my mailbox a flyer from John Cryier with the following statement : John Cyrier doesnt deliver political soundbites-he delivers results. John is a dependable local leader with sound judgment. And under that statement a picture of Paul Pape Bastrop County Judge! As a Republican that has taken the time and spent my dollars to be involved in the local and state platforms, the above flyer statement is very disturbing especially with our Commissioners & County Judge backing! Mr. Cyrier made the statement at the Caldwell forum that he does NOT believe in a school voucher system for these rural counties. He even down played homeschooling by stating that the public schools offer food, social activities like football after the Bastrop fires, and even though he has many friends that homeschool, it takes resources away from the public school, and it takes a skill set that the Golemons have! (Whatever that means)! Then Mr. Cyrier goes on to say that vouchers are throwing money at a problem and that is not the solution. It may work in other counties, but in our five (5) rural counties it wont work. Then even has the nerve to mention about over crowding in our schools, but vouchers somehow deplete the school resources. Those statements all sound like soundbites with the delivered results being a lose of educational freedom that many parents have come to cherish even though they are punished with over taxation. And it may also be note worthy that Mr. Cyrier is endorsed by six (6) school superintendents and the Texas State Teachers Association Pac, for $2,500.00 And if that isnt bad enough, our Bastrop County Commissioners, County Judge have placed their faces with Mr. Cyrier. So getting back to the Republican platform-lets look at some specifics: A platform is the formal declaration of the principles on which a party stands and makes it appeal to voters. Basically, it is the Party’s statement of beliefs on certain issues. How sorry to see a group of politicians that feel they know best for the children of HD 17 and have now thumbed their noses at the voters that placed them into office based on the platform! The step to infringe upon that dream for the freedom of parents to raise and educate their own children without government interference still punishes homeschool parents with over taxation, ridicules parents for taking resources away from the common good, and ridicules parents for not having certain skill sets. Regardless, of what our politicians feel, it is the right of a parent to raise and educate their own children, it has taken decades for parents to make it this far, and now we are going backwards! Mr. Cyrier states he is a business owner yet advocates for an educational monopoly, what business does our very own Commissioner and Judge have in backing that position. Seems like big business with lots of spending with our tax dollars! What is the point of a party platform if our elected representatives only stand on it before they are elected? Time to hold their feet to the fire...they need to be responsible and accountable to the people that elected them. Education was not the only issue I have with Mr. Cyrier, he has a right to run, and we the people to not vote for him as we have choices, but when people we have voted into office with the expectation of standing on the principles and direction of the party platform do an about face, maybe, it is time to call for resignations? There job should be to keep the freedoms and liberties of their constituents as free as possible without government interference of over legislation, regulation by over taxation! VOTE January 6, make your voice heard! Terry Wareham REFERENCES: Preamble of the Party: We STILL hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Throughout the world, people dare to dream of freedom and opportunity. The Republican Party of Texas unequivocally defends that dream. We strive to preserve the freedom given to us by God, implemented by our Founding Fathers, and embodied in the Constitution. We recognize that the traditional family is the strength of our nation. It is our solemn duty to protect life and develop responsible citizens. We understand that our economic success depends upon free market principles. If we fail to maintain our sovereignty, we risk losing the freedom to live these ideals. And 11 Principles: Here is # 7 Having an educated population, with parents having the freedom of choice for the education of their children Page 20. Local Control for Education- We support school choice and believe that quality education is best achieved by encouraging parental involvement, protecting parental rights, and maximizing local independent school district control. District superintendents and their employees should be made solely accountable to their locally elected boards. We support sensible consolidation of local school districts. We encourage local ISDs to consider carefully the advantages and disadvantages of accepting federal education money... Page 21. Parental Rights in Education- We believe the right of parents to raise and educate their children is fundamental. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from any specialized program. We urge the legislature to enact penalties for violation of parental rights Page 21. Private Education- We believe that parents and legal guardians may choose to educate their children in private schools to include, but not limited to, home schools and parochial schools without government interference, through definition, regulation, accreditation, licensing, or testing. Page 21. School Choice- We encourage the governor and the Texas Legislature to enact child-centered school funding options which fund the student, not schools or districts, to allow maximum freedom of choice in public, private, or parochial education for all children. Furthermore, we support a state constitutional amendment prohibiting state or federal regulations imposed on private schools, including home schools (as established by Leeper vs. Arlington ISD). Mr. Cyriers statements can be heard on youtube at the Lockhart forum. https://youtube/watch?v=xMpscyTq-Wk&feature=youtu.be 637108 00070492 Coh---- Cyrier, John P. Texas State Teachers Association Pac, $ 2,500.00 12/19/2014 Austin TX State Teachers Asscociation Pac?37108 00070492 Coh---- Cyrier, John P. Texas State Teachers Association Pac, $ 2,500.00 12/19/2014 Austin ethics.state.tx.us/php/advsearch.php - See more at: texasgop.org/about-the-party/ sthash.PxoilUXf.dpuftexasgop.org/…/u…/2014/06/2014-Platform-Final.pdf
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:38:31 +0000