The Missing Link: Performance and Job Security
What if programs in state government received the same sort of scrutiny that many of us give to college football?
We pay the coaches a gazillion dollars, like an ancient tribe that celebrates a chief when the crops are good and kills him when the crops fail, installing a new honcho in the big house with the good food and all the creature comforts. The ruler stays as long as prosperity lasts.
In sports, the implicit contract varies. Some schools demand excellence. Some are just looking for a diversion on a dozen Saturdays every year. The coaches with the best ...
Comments (14)
Texas RMS
Perfect! Sounds like a plan.
vernon
If the public cared 1/10 as much about government as they do about college football, Texas (and the whole country) would be much better off.
I think if we had a more robust curriculum for teaching social studies, civics and government; the future public might have a much better understanding and interest in public affairs. But instead we spend millions, even at the local level, on high school football. What does that say about our priorities?
So we shouldn't be surprised when Joe Average Texan could more easily name the last three UT quarterbacks than they could name their current state representative.
Jeff Wright via Texas Tribune on Facebook
That depends on your definition of Successful.
Darrel Mulloy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Fortunately, our state legislators are not paid anything close to what a football coach is, and somehow, we don't expect all that much from them either.
Charles Birk Wilkison via Texas Tribune on Facebook
attach a sunset review provision to his contract
Enrique Marquez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
DA BEARSS
D.c. Bloom via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yeah, it's not like he's paid a ton of money to field a good team, or anything.
Cindy Casares via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Hmmm...seems like college football coaches get away with murder if you ask me. See: Pennsylvania.
Mack Green
Who says that politics is not a sport in this town? You don't need cable to watch the two teams playing all year long with local playoffs in every neighborhood and town, with state championships fought every 4 years. There are cheerleaders and skinheads, winners, losers, linemen, water-boys, quarterbacks, many defensive and especially offensive formations, coaches (lobbyists), betting and payoffs under the bleachers. Sure the admission costs are high but what a game! Makes my Texas heart proud.
Kerry Brix via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Brown is WAY overpaid. Let's cut UT football and improve scholarship.
Samdavis
The problem in Texas is TEA Partiers are perfectly happy with Perry's actions. Until they are outvoted or die off we'll keep having ineffective government.
Mike Sullivan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I love watching tea sips eat their own :)
Karen Brooks Harper via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Kind of hard to cut football if you want to maintain the a) funding and b) interest in UT. Believe it or not, it does in fact contribute to the success of the university.
Karen Brooks Harper via Texas Tribune on Facebook
As for state legislators not getting paid anywhere near what brown is making .... technically yes but in reality that lawmaker gig pulls in BIG BUCKS. It's just not from a state salary.