Texas Gov. Rick Perry doesn’t just pander to religious-right extremists. He’s also a big favorite of “tea party” folks (many of whom, in Texas anyway, are also religious-righters). So we weren’t surprised when Gov. Perry suggested last year that maybe Texas should consider seceding from the Union. Now he says Texas should be able to leave the Social Security system. Gov. Perry had this to say on MSNBC today:
“Why is the federal government even in the pension program or the health care delivery program? Let the states do it.”
Oh yes, because Texas has done so well on social policy in other areas like health care (highest percentage of uninsured) and sex education (third-highest teen birth rate in the nation). We think senior citizens in Texas might be more than a little concerned about Gov. Perry’s newest idea. Interesting that he didn’t mention it during his re-election campaign, yes?
