Perspectives

There is an old protest song from the 1960s by Buffalo Springfield with the phrase “there’s something happening here, but it is not exactly clear” that is appropriate to the times we find ourselves in today. What is happening today can be classified as modernization and the waves from it are reverberating around the world and in every area of the planet there is a different reaction.

Americans’ right to speak their minds is considered sacred, which is why we must fight to protect the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Citizens Participation Act. Both measures were carefully written with protection of the individual – the “little guy” – in mind. They’re designed to give a David a fighting chance if he finds himself in a legal duel with a Goliath.

Texas House Republicans who want to oust Speaker Dade Phelan have coalesced behind a single opponent: state Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield. A total of 48 representatives are backing the two-term representative, including four who dropped their own bids for speaker.