Representative Jim Keffer recently warned ERCOT about Republican primary candidates who don’t open the taxpayer’s checkbook at every magical mention of the word “infrastructure”.
It was political hackery at its most basic – a chocolate-nosed suit serving as herald to the powerful. He was not warning them against people who oppose infrastructure, he was warning them against people who actually require convincing when potential recipients of such spending claim massive infrastructure projects are needed. He's warning against people who also require such undertakings be done responsibly and efficiently.
Conservative opposition to infrastructure projects is wholly on grounds such as these, but political hacks reflexively lie in their attempts to tag them “anti-infrastructure”. In reality, these conservatives consider governmental integrity to be fundamental infrastructure, a concept difficult to comprehend for power barnacles such as Keffer.
Keffer said, “Your companies, your PACs, however you do your contributions in this upcoming campaign season, be involved, be involved in the primary… Make sure their vision is the same as your vision for the State of Texas before you give them one single dime. Make sure they are understanding that you have a vested interest in this future and you still want to see Texas still be No. 1.”
Keffer’s ‘vision’, it seems, is of a lobbyocracy , where the size of campaign contributions determine the righteousness of causes, and the lines of power generate a corrupt political common sense politicos collectively pretend is organic.
By contrast, the vision held by the patriots Keffer rides as Paul Revere against are pro-business, but anti-corruption, even when it comes from the big businesses that are heavily entangled in government. These conservatives desire Texas be number one in more than business. They prioritize rule of law, common sense, integrity, and genuine freedom just as highly.
Regarding the people at the ERCOT meeting, the conservatives Keffer opposes earnestly appeal, right alongside the businessperson in them, to the patriot in them. Meanwhile, ruling class hack legislators appeal to them with the naked power, that familiar political chord that will end the American experiment in failure if not suppressed.