Perry's Texas Miracle is a Texas Sham

We've been hearing about the so-called Texas Miracle for a while. About how, despite everything, Texas has managed to up their job growth. But, is this miracle really a miracle? Is there good and real job growth in the state of Texas? Are things beginning to look like milk and honey compared to the other states?

No, not really. The jobs that are being created are low-age jobs, minimum wage jobs, without any benefits. The adult and child poverty rates are still high. Rent and other things that responsible adults have to pay for in order to have a roof over their heads and food in their bellies and clothes on their backs are too much. Texas is the leader of states with uninsured citizens. There's still a high homeless rate. No matter how hot it is, people stand and sit outside of rescue missions and homeless shelters in the hopes of being allowed in to have a roof over their heads, and still many people are turned away each day, and each night.

Churches try to pick up the slack for anyone who comes to them, especially their own congregation members, but it's not easy and it isn't enough. They can't fix everything for their members and those who come to plead with them.

People who have migrated from their home state to Texas in the hope of getting a better, more fair, shake for themselves and their families have found that it's not what they were led to believe it was and ended up having to stay in homeless shelters or go back to their home state and stay with relatives or friends.

The education system is in shambles. The Texas Miracle really is just a Texas Sham made up to sell the GOP talking points -- "see, it really does work in Texas, so let's do it for the nation!" -- and to sell Rick Perry some votes and support. Hopefully even some financial support.

But, it's just not true. Many have judged the book by the cover, deciding that any job growth is a miracle. But, other states are ahead of Texas in more ways than one and they didn't have a miracle. We don't hear about the Wisconsin Miracle, or the Pennsylvania Miracle, or the Virginia Miracle. Or any of the others. These states and others are out performing Texas when it comes to low unemployment rates.

The truth is, Texas didn't have a miracle at all. What Texas did was put a band-aid with overused adhesive onto the wound. Not only does this band-aid not fix or heal the problem, but it also doesn't stick properly.

So, the next time someone tells you that the GOP way is the right way and cites the Texas Miracle as their proof, remember that it's just a huge Texas Sham with a colorful band-aid and curling edges where the adhesive is trying to come off.

You should also remember that when a band-aid does that it leaves a nasty stain on your skin where the adhesive used to be, due to dirt build-up around the edges.