Courage Blogging at Big Orange and at TexasKaos

John Courage has posted the following diary over at Dailykos:

Keeping our promises to working men and women
Today, Labor Day 2006, American working families are struggling because the Bush White House and the most corrupt Congress in history have failed to keep their promises to the American people. They have broken their "Contract with America," and the basic promises of the American dream, the values we all share, are not being honored: honesty and integrity in our government, economic prosperity, a health care system that works for everyone, fiscal responsibility, and a strong public education system. I am totally committed to taking the bold steps necessary so that Texas working families can live the dream and see the promises fulfilled that are the heart of our democracy. Together we can stand for honesty, hard work, respect, and opportunity for all Americans. Together, working families in Texas can do better.

John has some ideas on how to do that, and he elaborates in the diary. Go check it out, and lend your recommend if you would.

And if it seems you are working harder for less gain, according to the Austin-American Statesman (reg required), that's no illusion:

The median household income in Texas in 2005 was about 10 percent lower than it was in 1999 after adjusting for inflation, down to $42,139, according to the American Community Survey, a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau last week.

The survey, similar to the decennial census but less expansive, includes information about people living in areas with populations of more than 65,000.

Despite job growth, some analysts say Texas is still struggling to shake off the lingering effects of the recession.

The state has shown a 6.2 percent decline in real median household income since 2002.

In Travis County, the survey found that the median household income was $48,026, down about 12 percent since 1999. In Williamson County, it also was down about 12 percent, to $62,418.

In Hays County, it was down about 18 percent, to $43,207, and in Bastrop, it was down about 10 percent, to $46,097.

In Austin, the median household income in 2005 was $43,731, about a 13 percent drop from what was reported in the 2000 census.

A decline in higher-wage jobs, the state's stagnant minimum wage at $5.15 an hour and a need to improve the education of the state's work force all have led to the decline in real median household income, said Don Baylor, a policy analyst at the Center for Public Policy Priorities, which advocates for low- and middle-income Texans.

* Courage's diary is crossposted on Texas Kaos as well.