Republican Tea Party spokesmen have been cutting budgets for mental health services, public education, and public safety for a while. Screaming for a return to the 19th century fend for yourself mentality, keep the wealthy untaxed and on the government welfare of subsidies has hurt the public as a whole. In Texas alone 5.4 Billion dollars was cut from the public education budget which forced the layoffs of teachers, counselors, and other districts' employees. Additional multi-million dollar cuts were taken from the Child Protection Agency, Texas police departments, and the Children's Health Care insurance programs. Meanwhile 19 Billion in favors, tax cuts, and subsidies were given to petroleum companies and others.

Would a more effective system of mental health care have made a difference? Would a well funded public school system have provided the kinds of safety locks on doors, video cameras, for more advance notice? Could a better equipped police force, with more patrol cars located in the area have had a faster response time saving lives?

Are we as a society not asking the right questions, do we not have the right elected officials to deal with our needs in an effective way? What can we do about it short of an Arab Spring rebellion?