San Dimas SAT Scores Rule! Errrrr…at least compared to Texas!

October 7, 2014

(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)

So usually every other week or so there is a new story about how Texas has once again drop kicked California in one way or another. It would start to get boring if it weren’t just so delightful for some of us, complete with great info-graphics like:

And:

Oh and this one:

And of course the editorial cartoonists have joined in the fun:

But at long last, the SURFER STRIKES BACK in the news today from the Dallas Morning News that Texas SAT scores have hit a 22 year low. Worse still, California, long a smear on the bottom of the Texas boot, has comparable student demographics and participation rates but better scores!

So cheer up gnarly surfer dude! Texas may have a top business climate, population and economic growth, etc. but they have in recent years displayed a complacency regarding K-12 reform that has allowed even California to overtake them.

 

 

 

 

2 Comments | Tejas Uber Alles | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by matthewladner

Don’t Worry California, Texans will Eventually Figure out How to Get Your Oil

May 23, 2014

 

(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)

So the bad news for California just keeps rolling in-turns out that the technology is not just there yet to get to more than a fraction of California’s 13.7 billion barrels of tight oil.   Not to worry Keanu, Texas wildcatters are getting better at the drilling techniques all the time.  Meanwhile in Texas, Mark J. Perry notes that in human history there have been 10 oil fields that have produced a million barrels of oil per day, and two of them are operating in Texas right now, largely thanks to the 18 years of visionary effort from the great George P. Mitchell.

2 Comments | Tejas Uber Alles | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by matthewladner

Texas Pummeling of California Begins to Resemble Child Abuse

May 8, 2014

(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)

So you’ve probably all heard that Toyota is moving their HQ from California to Texas (their moving trucks will be driving right through **ahem** Arizona and New Mexico btw) but that is old news.  Now comes word that Houston has outdone the entire state of California for new housing starts.

 

 

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Posted by matthewladner

Texas lends knife to suicidal California

November 24, 2010

(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)

More great Kotkin on what is quickly turning into my favorite subgenre of economic discussion: Texas rules and Cali drools.

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Posted by matthewladner

Texas has nothing to learn from California except…

July 10, 2009

2809LD1(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)

Interesting article from the Economist on California vs. Texas: America’s future.

I’ve been an Economist reader for 20 years now, and their work is usually outstanding. They do however occassionally fall prey to an easy stereotype, and this article contains such a folly.

Read the article for yourself, but keep in mind that Texas has among the highest NAEP scores for Hispanic students in the nation (now edged out by Florida on 4th grade reading) and spends over $10,000 per child per year.

The only thing Texas has to learn from California is what not to do.

P.S.

This has been a settled question on the only true field of battle for some time now.

1 Comment | economics, politics | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by matthewladner