What the Hell???

Any time we have an assignment critiquing a classmate I know exactly which link I"m going to click on. The Twenty-eighth Star is always a great  read. I'm not up on all the political lingo and I appreciate how he( not sure of gender.. sorry.) keeps it simple enough for almost anyone to comprehend. I've heard some talk about this text book fiasco and agree completely with every typed word. It is unjust, unconstitutional, and just plain unethical for anyone to ever even THINK of changing any written history. I personally think the government( of all levels) is trying to dumb down our nation. Public schools are a joke. The dumber we are the less questions we can ask, and will be unaware of all corruption. I found that grammatically this article was a little off. I had a tough time understanding a few sentences. All in all, every post I have read has always been enlightening. I think my fellow classmate is great writer with some solid intelligent input.

Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense

Texas faces a grave budget shortfall for the 2012 - 2013 biennium. The most obvious and clear way for Texas to raise revenue is to legalize marijuana. TIME magazine posted some interesting information on California's economical gain from this legalization. It is estimated that pot is the largest cash crop in California, with annual revenues approaching $14 billion. A 10% pot tax would yield $1.4 billion in California alone. These numbers are staggering. Not only would this generate revenue for the fabulous state of Texas, it would also provide budget cuts. We would no longer waist billions of dollars on prisons and public services for the possession and use of pot. So much time is spent policing individuals for such a petty crime. Imagine how much safer our state could be if our officers focused on violent crimes. This just seems like the answer.

lethal drugs on hand

The state of Texas is in short supply of the drug named sodium thiopental. This is one of  3 injections used for the death penalty. 118 of the vials will expire in March with no hopes of any prison being able to buy more. An Illinois-based company, Hospira , said earlier this year it was the sole U.S. supplier of sodium thiopental and had stopped manufacturing the drug because of a lack of ingredients. The real truth is that Hospira was recently investigated by the FDA and was caught "cutting corners". Many of the drugs they manufacture are now on back order. This is why we shouldn't allow monopolies. Attorney General Greg Abbott ordered prison officials to make public some information about the lethal injection drugs after the Austin American-Statesman and two groups requested records about the inventories and suppliers of lethal injection drugs. Texas has lethal drugs on hand to execute 39 condemned criminals is a rather boring fact filled article. I'm not certain why this ever made it to the newspaper. Perhaps to fill space? It is geared toward the general public and anyone that would pick up a newspaper. I wouldn't suggest anyone waste their time reading this article. It has no point.

Comment of my colleague's work

Don't believe the hype is a finely written article found in The Twenty-eighth Star blog spot. The thoughts and opinions are expressed so eloquently. My colleague appears to have a substantial amount of knowledge and educated opinions about our government and all that goes along with it. This particular blog is about partisanship and what it really means. I personally agree completely with every word that is posted. It's so much easier to stereotype and place boundaries on an ''idea'', and also makes controlling and manipulating each party all the much easier. Anyone could read this blog and have a clear understanding of the subject at hand.

How much is enough?

Should we pay Texas legislators more than $7200 per year?Absolutely not! $14,400 dollars is a very hefty salary for someone who only works 140 days every 2 years.On top of that, legislatures also receive $128 per day that they are in session. These councilmen also receive campaign money often times when they have no one running against them. Where does this money go? To line there pockets of course! Governor Rick Perry couldn't have said it any better.When you have a full-time legislature, they just feel pretty inclined to be doing something. So they are going to dream up new laws, new regulations and new statutes -- and generally all of those cost money," Perry said. Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Completely Lost

Election day is fast approaching and I am still uncertain of who I will vote for. How do you know who the better candidate is? I'd prefer for neither Perry or White to be elected. Both men are professional politicians, and therefore should not be trusted. It's times like these that you have to decipher the lesser of the two evils. My dilemma is that I'm completely uneducated and unaware of ether's political campaigns and "promises". It's true, the media plays a HUGE role in campaigning and representation of both parties. I rarely have time to watch t.v. , surf the web, or read the news. A person like me is left in the dark. I've been questioning whether I should even vote. Is it best to make an uneducated vote or to simply not vote at all? Do you stick with the same party all the way down the ballot? I suppose I could get online and do a bit of research on both parties, but truthfully, I just don't care. Perry and White(or any politician) can lie and promise you the moon, tell you they're going to do one thing then do the complete opposite. This is the main reason I have no interest in following or caring about any electoral race. I hope in the future I will invest more interest in these types of matters. As of right now,  I feel that all possible candidates are scandalous and deceitful. I have no interest in anyone lying directly to my face. The most appropriate choice would be for me to stick with my party and vote that way. I guess that's what I'll have to do.

Fixing the neccesary

Letters at 3AM: Where We Actually Live

Michael Ventura posts about the infrastructure of America and how it is crumbling. He writes,"Infrastructure has no politics. It either works or it doesn't. A nation that lets its infrastructure crumble will wake one fine day to find itself crippled." This was a finely written article. A bit lengthy with almost a full page of quotes, but these quotes are what helped to prove his point. The quotes are not of his opinions but of facts or remarks actually stated in the NewYork Times. Ventura has love for this country, and worries about it falling to its demise. He offers a solution to the problem. "Pay the unemployed to be trained for the work needed. Employ these trained cadres to get the physical structure of America back to a fully functioning level and keep it at that level. Turn an unemployed, frightened, angry population into a population doing work that is useful and desperately needed, making them wage-earners whose spending and taxpaying would revive this economy from the ground up."It sounds like reasonable solution to me. The constant focus on a seem to be never ending war that offers no pay back, worry and arguements of irrelevant issues that our polititians love to berrade us with. This article is geared toward an audience of people who have concern and love for this nation. Ventura points the finger at both Republicans AND Democrats. That is partly what makes the article seem so pure and good.

Lets prevent fraud while we're at it.

Voter ID bill stirs dispute, if not doubt


The new voter i.d. will also help to prevent fraud on election day. Without showing a form of  i.d. anyone would be able to to take your voter registration and vote in place of you. "Voter fraud not only is alive and well in the United States, it's also alive in Texas," Fraser said. "I believe the dangers of voter fraud has threatened the entire electoral process." I'm sure voter fraud isn't huge issue for local elections, but it is still a good arguing point.

Sure, why not?

Texas voter ID bill passes Senate committee

I thought all voters had to present a photo I.D. for any election. The passing of the voter i.d. bill is a great thing. You can't cash a check without a photo i.d., so what's the big deal about having to show proof of who you are at the booth? I'm having a hard time understanding why it has been such a controversy. The bill states that all citizens must provide a photo i.d. OR two documents to verify who they are. This can be a utility bill and credit card, or any such thing.(These things are not hard to come by)  I feel like this should have been a requirement long ago.

The Great Debate

Texas voters entitled to exchange of ideas

Governor Rick Perry is still refusing to participate in the gubernatorial debate. However, the opposing candidate Bill White is willing to hold the debate anytime and anywhere. It appears as though Jay Janner, the author of this article is bothered by Perry's refusal. He thinks that Texan's deserve a debate. Perry is portrayed as a bully, and is using the debate as leverage to force his opponents into doing whatever it is he wants them too. Jay says,"Candidates for governor owe voters unrehearsed answers to questions about issues facing the state." I am inclined to agree with him. The hour long debate will go on with or without Perry. Sense Perry won't be present Bill White will have an interview rather than a debate. Janner projects himself as a logical thinker, and more than likely a credible source. He writes with facts, proof, and adds little of his own commentary. The article is unbiased for the most part although, Janner's disappointment is blatantly implied throughout his posting. The audience he targets is very general and aimed at anyone who is participating in the upcoming election.

Who's to blame?

I selected this article because I thought it had some relevant points and theories to bring to the table, but it is also extremely bias. It is so important for every citizen to have a mind and thoughts of there own. Since taking this government class I've payed more attention to media and who they target. Most things are so one sided. I am a republican to the core, but find it extremely unfair to stick the opposite party with all the blame. And vise-versa. The more I have observed the more I've concluded that our ENTIRE government is corrupt. It seems as though the intent and actions made by all politicians is fueled by money and greed. It is imperative that we the people become aware of all the right AND wrong doings of both parties. Shifting the blame and pointing the finger makes it easier for them to divert our attention from serious matters and the issues at hand. Our leaders need to get passed placing blame and focus on resolving issues. http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2010/08/20/a-return-to-the-bush-policies-yes-please/

Texan Pride

 http://www.dorpexpress.com/Arney/Texas_History.html



Texas is a free and independent state and the only state in the country that has the ability to secede from our nation. We are the only state with a distinct and unmistakable outline. I think most other states are jealous for the fact that residing states do not have the history or pride that we do. We are the only state that had to fight  for our independence. It's true, everything is bigger in Texas. Our state capitol is larger than Washington's capitol, and geographically we are almost twice the size of all other states. I consider myself a Texan first, then an American. There is no such thing as being to proud of where you came from.

Raising taxes??

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-09-02-cantor01_ST_N.htm

It seems like Obama and his staff think that spending and borrowing billions of dollars will dig us out of debt. Not likely. So, the new plan is to raise taxes for families and small buisnesses? These are the people that NEED financial help. Instead He's robbing the poor to make the rich richer. There has got to be more reasonable solutions out there.

My thoughts exactly

http://urbangrounds.com/2010/09/obama-iraq-speech/

I am in agreement with every word that this guy has to say. I have such distaste for Obama. It's great to hear about other peoples disposition for him as well.

I just don't know

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/273848/border-security-latest-topic-in-campaign-for-governor

I'm definetly a republican, but am really hoping to see Rick Perry give up his throne. Border control has been and will continue to be a huge issue for Texas. it seems like candidate Bill White has intentions of  tightening the border control. Honestly, I'm not sure what good Perry has done for Texas. Bush wasn't the best president, nut he was a damn good governor. I think he should come back.

Inadequate Healthcare

http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2010/jul/14/bill-white/white-perrys-texas-we-import-nurses/

I work within the medical field and work closely with nurses. We are always lacking appropriate staffing in multiple units, daily. The ratio of foreigners to american nurses  is quite high. It's very difficult to communicate with the majority of them beacause there is such a large language barrier. This isn't condusive to providing good healthcare. It is my opinion that we should open more facilities for the training of nurses here in the states instead of shipping them from over seas. Unemployment raites are so high right now that we really can't afford to hire on immigrants. Especially when we have willing and able bodied americans that are up to the challenge. Texas needs to focus more on education, all the way from kindergarten to graduate school.