‘Tis the Season

What to Know: The Texas Public Policy Foundation is suing the federal government over information regarding the Paris Agreement. Three agencies have failed to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests.

The TPPF Take: The Paris Agreement on climate change could upend our economy and keep billions of people worldwide in poverty.

“Americans have a right to know how government agencies are coming up with that Nationally Determined Contribution Number and implementing other climate related goals,” says TPPF’s Robert Henneke. “The failure of the government to respond at all is a common tactic to hide records for the public view. We are suing to ensure those records see the light of day.”

For more on the Paris Agreement and your right to know, click here.


Enrollment Drops

What to Know: Public schools are experiencing enrollment drops throughout the country, as parents express a lack of confidence in what and how their children are being taught.

The TPPF Take: Inevitably, the education establishment will say more taxpayer money is needed to fix this problem.

“In the private sector, a business that consistently serves fewer customers faces consequences, i.e. layoffs, furloughs, rightsizing, and smaller salaries. But in the public sector, things don’t work like that—even if it should,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “The point is that governments will always find an excuse to spend Other People’s Money. It’s time that Texans stopped allowing it.”

For more on enrollment declines, click here.


Social Media and Unhappiness

What to Know: Smart phones and social media are damaging our mental health, a leading addiction specialist says.

The TPPF Take: Social media giants such as TikTok are designed to funnel harmful content to minors. One example is the “blackout challenge,” which has taken the lives of several children.

“Unfortunately, this is not the only instance where algorithms like that of TikTok’s have boosted content that is harmful—and as we see in this case, fatal—to children,” says TPPF’s Zach Whiting. “When companies like TikTok can flout any responsibility as children are dying from content its app is promoting, the status quo is not protecting children the way it should.”

For more on social media, click here.