As you know, Texas is on fire.

As you probably didn’t know, our wise and thoughtful Governor, Rick Perry, was prepared for this.

Most of the firefighters in Texas are volunteers.  There are 879 volunteer departments but only 114 paid departments and 187 departments that are a combination of both.  Texas is pretty damn big.

So, being as how the safety of its citizens is government’s first responsibility, Rick Perry decided to help volunteer firefighters in Texas.

State funding for volunteer fire departments is taking a big hit. It is going from $30 million to $7 million. Those departments are already facing financial strains. The State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas represents 21,000 state firefighters. The Association says more than 80 percent of volunteer firefighters are reporting taking a personal hit in the budget crisis. They have started using their own money to help pay for equipment and supplies.

So, you’re probably asking yourself, how is cutting funds to fire departments by 75% helpful to Texas?

Well, remember how Rick Perry’s hero Grover Norquist said he wanted to get government down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub?  Rick is proudly doing his part to reduce Texas to ashes so we won’t need those costly volunteer fire departments.  Rick’s reducing the size of government  by fire instead of water.

First the Governor’s mansion, now the whole damn state.

The above photo was taken from Austin looking southeast to Bastrop County.  Click the little one to get the big one.  It was taken by Deanne Roy and she should get credit for this amazing photo.

On a serious note, I need your help.

I need you to sit down right now and put a dollar in an envelope and send it to my beloved friend Barbara who is the Democratic Party Chairman in Bastrop County, Texas.  If you want to send a check and get a tax deduction, make it  out to Bastrop County Ministerial Alliance (BCMA).

Several of Barbara’s good Democrats lost their homes.  At least one, if not more, Democratic precinct chairs lost everything.   One dollar says you care.  Please put a note with your dollar saying that you are a Democrat and you appreciate what she’s doing.

One damn dollar, people.  Dammit, I don’t ask you for much.  I don’t even have one of those damn tip jars on my website.  It’s a dollar for a Democrat.  I know you have a dollar.  If you have more than one dollar, send it.

Mail it to:

Barbara Nichols
1485 Watterson
Red Rock, TX 78662

Remember: if you have a little extra this month and want to get a tax deduction for it, make your check out to BCMA.  Barbara will get it there for you.

It’s just a damn dollar.  Do it.