Great job on bringing this topic of discussion to the table! I too, believe that it is very inappropriate to use pepper spray randomly on children, even if they are being held in a juvenile detention center. When adults treat children with disrespect, it leads to deeper mental problems, and more serious acts of rebellion to authority. I don't doubt that they were being treated similarly at home, which in turn lead them to act outrageously and landed them an extended stay in juvenile detention. Something must be done to help these children, even if they are a danger to others. Pepper spray is not the answer, and I don't know if there is one, but maybe some good old fashion love is a start.
The original blog was posted at: http://theeyesontexas.blogspot.com/
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Increase College Tuition? WTF!!!
To be $8,000 in debt at the age of 25, for school loans, is rediculous!
When I graduated from highschool I was under the assumption that the state would help me if I claimed that I was independant. Denied!!!!! I was told that until the age of 24 I had to give my parents income tax information to recieve grants, federal aid or loans. This was very troubling, because I have been living on my own since the age of 18, and supporting myself since then as well. I wait tables, and actually never get a pay check, because I get paid $2.13 an hour. How is this acceptable? My car and credit car debt together are lower than my school loan debt for community college! Again, how is this acceptable? Well it's not. Something has to change, and fast. If the state of Texas keeps putting these burdons on under paid young adults, we won't have a future.
State should be obligated to take at least 50% of the financial burdon Upon themselves, if they want Texans to succeed in life!
When I graduated from highschool I was under the assumption that the state would help me if I claimed that I was independant. Denied!!!!! I was told that until the age of 24 I had to give my parents income tax information to recieve grants, federal aid or loans. This was very troubling, because I have been living on my own since the age of 18, and supporting myself since then as well. I wait tables, and actually never get a pay check, because I get paid $2.13 an hour. How is this acceptable? My car and credit car debt together are lower than my school loan debt for community college! Again, how is this acceptable? Well it's not. Something has to change, and fast. If the state of Texas keeps putting these burdons on under paid young adults, we won't have a future.
State should be obligated to take at least 50% of the financial burdon Upon themselves, if they want Texans to succeed in life!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
A Response to: "Voters vote for booze Nov 6"
To answer your question...
Yes, everyone should be able to go to a local convenient store and purchase "booze". I grew up in a tiny South Texas town called Odem. The town its self has always been and still is "dry". They have put this topic on the ballot several times that I can recall, and everytime Odem residents voted not to make Odem a "wet" town. Never once did this law keep anyone I knew from getting alcohol, nor did it keep anyone from getting wasted after football games. This law is archaic an should be put to rest. We are in the 21st century for goodness sake. It's not Prohibition! Bravo on bring this topic to light. I agree with the beer distributor "People are going to drink no matter what".
Yes, everyone should be able to go to a local convenient store and purchase "booze". I grew up in a tiny South Texas town called Odem. The town its self has always been and still is "dry". They have put this topic on the ballot several times that I can recall, and everytime Odem residents voted not to make Odem a "wet" town. Never once did this law keep anyone I knew from getting alcohol, nor did it keep anyone from getting wasted after football games. This law is archaic an should be put to rest. We are in the 21st century for goodness sake. It's not Prohibition! Bravo on bring this topic to light. I agree with the beer distributor "People are going to drink no matter what".
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Take Action
It's that time again folks! On this Tuesday November 6, 2007, we are ammending the Texas Constitution. Sixteen times!
How does it feel to know that only 5% of registered voters make all the decisions for the rest of the state? It should make you angry. It should make you want to take action. It should make you become more educated on the facts.
Each year in Texas we vote on something. Though it gets old voting on propositions, we also vote for the Governor, Senate, House, and other Local officials. Most Texans never hear about these elections. They might see a poster in someones yard or a billboard along the highway, but by the time they get home they've forgotten. So why only 5% of registered voters, I asked myself. I've come to the conclusion that the state of Texas doesn't want lower-class 20 to 30 year old college students voting on important issues. Our great state would rather have 60 year old upper-class business owners do the decision making around here.
I wonder if anyone remembers that in 2005 we also ammended the constitution. It's likely that only the few that voted remember. That year about two months before we ammended the constitution, my girlfriend and I set up a booth at ACC Northridge to encourage voting. We were only asking people to register to vote, and here are some responses we got: No thank you, I don't care about politics, and my favorite, my vote doesn't count anyways. Oh the nerve! Most people thought they were already registered to vote when they turned 18, others thought they could register when they got to the voting booth. Both were wrong. In the state of Texas the only way you can become registered to vote is to do it yourself 30 days before an election. The registration application must also be signed by a person who is deputized by the state to make it official. Because the registration proccess is so difficult in Texas most people miss out on a vital constitutional right, the right to vote.
Still curious if you can vote? Then you probably can't, but you can still register to vote any time of year. The easiest way to do it is online at: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml. Time is precious and so are the people and issues we vote on in Texas. Please TAKE ACTION today and carry out your constitutional right, the right to VOTE!!
How does it feel to know that only 5% of registered voters make all the decisions for the rest of the state? It should make you angry. It should make you want to take action. It should make you become more educated on the facts.
Each year in Texas we vote on something. Though it gets old voting on propositions, we also vote for the Governor, Senate, House, and other Local officials. Most Texans never hear about these elections. They might see a poster in someones yard or a billboard along the highway, but by the time they get home they've forgotten. So why only 5% of registered voters, I asked myself. I've come to the conclusion that the state of Texas doesn't want lower-class 20 to 30 year old college students voting on important issues. Our great state would rather have 60 year old upper-class business owners do the decision making around here.
I wonder if anyone remembers that in 2005 we also ammended the constitution. It's likely that only the few that voted remember. That year about two months before we ammended the constitution, my girlfriend and I set up a booth at ACC Northridge to encourage voting. We were only asking people to register to vote, and here are some responses we got: No thank you, I don't care about politics, and my favorite, my vote doesn't count anyways. Oh the nerve! Most people thought they were already registered to vote when they turned 18, others thought they could register when they got to the voting booth. Both were wrong. In the state of Texas the only way you can become registered to vote is to do it yourself 30 days before an election. The registration application must also be signed by a person who is deputized by the state to make it official. Because the registration proccess is so difficult in Texas most people miss out on a vital constitutional right, the right to vote.
Still curious if you can vote? Then you probably can't, but you can still register to vote any time of year. The easiest way to do it is online at: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml. Time is precious and so are the people and issues we vote on in Texas. Please TAKE ACTION today and carry out your constitutional right, the right to VOTE!!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Proposition 15
Cancer takes deadly toll on Texans' lives and economy
http://www.caller.com/news/2007/oct/11/cancer-takes-deadly-toll-on-texans-lives-and-nov/
Would you vote to pass a bill that requires you to pay $3 billion in taxes this year? What if it was a bill to pass $3 billion in bonds for cancer research?
Proposition 15 requires the creation of The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorizes issuance of up to $3 billion in bonds for research in Texas to find the causes and cures for cancer.
Let me brake it down for you again...
This $3 billion in bonds, is actually in public obligation bonds. Now this means it is a loan to the state of Texas for whatever the dollar amount. This loan will not be paid by the Texas government, but by you and I.
When I first read this article online in the opinion section at caller.com it quickly became apparent that I should be interested in this article. First by giving a break down of cancers death rate, which is one in four deaths, then by boldly stating that it is one of deadliest diseases in Texas. The editorial writer acted like a roper and lasowed me in to read the rest of the article. Unfortunately a reference is not given for this vital information, information most would like to read more about.
Basically the editor wants to point out that cancer is a killer, and state should fund research for that. Hold it right there! The state of Texas will not be providing any money for this, the people who live and work here will! Why can't they just say that? Hey Texans', please donate all of your hard earned money so that we can research cancer! That wouldn't work, not here, not now, so they disguise it as a bond to ease the pain. The article relys on the one out of four factor. That means out of you, your mom, dad, and sibling, one of you will have cancer. Harsh reality isn't it? That is their plan. Before reading this article, I was under the assumption that government already funded institutions like this, knowing more about the subject enables me to make the right decision at the polls. I think it is safe to say that the importance of the information in this article is very clear and to the point.
The Texas State Cancer Registry released some very heart stopping statistics, pardon the pun, on cancer. It said that this year alone 95,000+ Texans will be diagnosed with cancer and 37,000 will die of cancer. Cancer is also the leading cause of death in women ages 35-74, which is good to know for me because I am a short 10 years away from 35. The threat is there for men as well, being the second deadliest disease between the ages 45-74.
SUCCESS, this is the only word you need to describe this article. It convinced me to become educated on bonds in Texas, and to support the ones that are right for me. Previously I thought the Texas government handled large tasks like this, but now I know better. We must stand together in order to help each other, the only way to do that is to be educated on the topic at hand.
I say: vote YES on proposition 15 or die!
The editorial writers at the Corpus Christi Caller Times would also like you to vote YES, on this proposition, approving the $3 billion in bonds.
http://www.caller.com/news/2007/oct/11/cancer-takes-deadly-toll-on-texans-lives-and-nov/
Would you vote to pass a bill that requires you to pay $3 billion in taxes this year? What if it was a bill to pass $3 billion in bonds for cancer research?
Proposition 15 requires the creation of The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorizes issuance of up to $3 billion in bonds for research in Texas to find the causes and cures for cancer.
Let me brake it down for you again...
This $3 billion in bonds, is actually in public obligation bonds. Now this means it is a loan to the state of Texas for whatever the dollar amount. This loan will not be paid by the Texas government, but by you and I.
When I first read this article online in the opinion section at caller.com it quickly became apparent that I should be interested in this article. First by giving a break down of cancers death rate, which is one in four deaths, then by boldly stating that it is one of deadliest diseases in Texas. The editorial writer acted like a roper and lasowed me in to read the rest of the article. Unfortunately a reference is not given for this vital information, information most would like to read more about.
Basically the editor wants to point out that cancer is a killer, and state should fund research for that. Hold it right there! The state of Texas will not be providing any money for this, the people who live and work here will! Why can't they just say that? Hey Texans', please donate all of your hard earned money so that we can research cancer! That wouldn't work, not here, not now, so they disguise it as a bond to ease the pain. The article relys on the one out of four factor. That means out of you, your mom, dad, and sibling, one of you will have cancer. Harsh reality isn't it? That is their plan. Before reading this article, I was under the assumption that government already funded institutions like this, knowing more about the subject enables me to make the right decision at the polls. I think it is safe to say that the importance of the information in this article is very clear and to the point.
The Texas State Cancer Registry released some very heart stopping statistics, pardon the pun, on cancer. It said that this year alone 95,000+ Texans will be diagnosed with cancer and 37,000 will die of cancer. Cancer is also the leading cause of death in women ages 35-74, which is good to know for me because I am a short 10 years away from 35. The threat is there for men as well, being the second deadliest disease between the ages 45-74.
SUCCESS, this is the only word you need to describe this article. It convinced me to become educated on bonds in Texas, and to support the ones that are right for me. Previously I thought the Texas government handled large tasks like this, but now I know better. We must stand together in order to help each other, the only way to do that is to be educated on the topic at hand.
I say: vote YES on proposition 15 or die!
The editorial writers at the Corpus Christi Caller Times would also like you to vote YES, on this proposition, approving the $3 billion in bonds.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Proposition 11
Propostition 11 requires that a recorded vote be taken by a house of the Legislature on final passage of any bill, other than certain local bills and ceremonial resolutions, and provides for public access on the internet to those recorded votes.
The Editorial Writers of the Corpus Christi Caller Times are trying to get you to vote YES, on prop. 11. This article first appeared in the editorial section of the Caller Times on October 1, 2007, in hopes of "Putting the Daylight on Legislators' Votes". All the behind the scenes action of our Texas Legislature is getting a little out of hand. Many or our representatives are casting votes several times for themselves, and then moving right along to someone elses desk and casting several more votes. This article is definately directed to the voting public, who cares about what is happening in Austin. The title of this article struck me first "Putting the Daylight on Legislators' Votes", I thought wow that sounds intersting. Then as I began to read the first paragraph I became more and more interseted with our deceptive Texas Legislature. The one question I had was, what is the punishment? The writer/writers of this article failed to give all the facts. They just wanted to push you to vote YES. It nevers says that this law will have punishment. I mean there could be a law that says you cannot commit murder, but if there isn't a listed punishment, like going to court then jail, and possibly death, then why would anyone abbide by the law. I suspect this will happen if prop. 11 passes. They just won't care.
Okay, so we know what the basic argument is right? Pass prop. 11 with flying colors. Somehow I get the notion that the writer/writers assume that the people reading this article are actually educated on the topic. Do most readers even care about what goes on in the House? No, probably not unless they are taking a government class, are over the age of 60, or are actually a payed state representative. The writer/s are also quick to pass judgement on Austin. The article states that Legislators think this bill is an inconvenience and an intrusion into the "clubby atmosphere" of Austin. Even though no one Legislator is actually quoted saying this, you are led to believe the notion that Austin is only open to qualified or approved persons. This article wants you to belive it has values, by making you think government should be open and honest with the public, while also protecting and respecting them. Unfortunately the writer/s fall short, by being one sided, and not completly honest with the readers of the article. The most important terms are not clearly defined. Giving little to no facts in an article makes it unreliable, but giving false information makes it deceptive, just like the Texas Legislature.
For the argument this article is making it is very successful. Convincing you to vote YES on proposition 11 was easy, but for me it wasn't as easy. It convinced me to look for other sources, and dig a little deaper into the proposition. I realized that I want a punishment, I want the public to be informed, and I want to actually prop. 11 to be taken seriously. Until then whats the point? Oh, yeah I forgot. The point is to make our constitution have more crazy quilt additions, so the general public won't care to vote and the Texas government can get away with whatever they want, all the while adding page after page to our "sacred" constitution.
The Editorial Writers of the Corpus Christi Caller Times are trying to get you to vote YES, on prop. 11. This article first appeared in the editorial section of the Caller Times on October 1, 2007, in hopes of "Putting the Daylight on Legislators' Votes". All the behind the scenes action of our Texas Legislature is getting a little out of hand. Many or our representatives are casting votes several times for themselves, and then moving right along to someone elses desk and casting several more votes. This article is definately directed to the voting public, who cares about what is happening in Austin. The title of this article struck me first "Putting the Daylight on Legislators' Votes", I thought wow that sounds intersting. Then as I began to read the first paragraph I became more and more interseted with our deceptive Texas Legislature. The one question I had was, what is the punishment? The writer/writers of this article failed to give all the facts. They just wanted to push you to vote YES. It nevers says that this law will have punishment. I mean there could be a law that says you cannot commit murder, but if there isn't a listed punishment, like going to court then jail, and possibly death, then why would anyone abbide by the law. I suspect this will happen if prop. 11 passes. They just won't care.
Okay, so we know what the basic argument is right? Pass prop. 11 with flying colors. Somehow I get the notion that the writer/writers assume that the people reading this article are actually educated on the topic. Do most readers even care about what goes on in the House? No, probably not unless they are taking a government class, are over the age of 60, or are actually a payed state representative. The writer/s are also quick to pass judgement on Austin. The article states that Legislators think this bill is an inconvenience and an intrusion into the "clubby atmosphere" of Austin. Even though no one Legislator is actually quoted saying this, you are led to believe the notion that Austin is only open to qualified or approved persons. This article wants you to belive it has values, by making you think government should be open and honest with the public, while also protecting and respecting them. Unfortunately the writer/s fall short, by being one sided, and not completly honest with the readers of the article. The most important terms are not clearly defined. Giving little to no facts in an article makes it unreliable, but giving false information makes it deceptive, just like the Texas Legislature.
For the argument this article is making it is very successful. Convincing you to vote YES on proposition 11 was easy, but for me it wasn't as easy. It convinced me to look for other sources, and dig a little deaper into the proposition. I realized that I want a punishment, I want the public to be informed, and I want to actually prop. 11 to be taken seriously. Until then whats the point? Oh, yeah I forgot. The point is to make our constitution have more crazy quilt additions, so the general public won't care to vote and the Texas government can get away with whatever they want, all the while adding page after page to our "sacred" constitution.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Propositions 1-16
There are sixteen propositions awaiting your approval or disapproval this November. How will you decide?
Proposition 1 continues appropriation for facilities at Angelo State University. The definition for appropriation is as follows: money set aside by formal action for a specific use. So basically the entire state of Texas will be deciding whether or not a college most of us have never heard of gets continued funding for unlisted facilities. Why? This sort of thing just further adds to our already 200 page constitution, making it lengthier and less recognized as the basic law of the land!
Proposition 2 issues $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance student loans. This one atleast represents the entire sate of Texas.
These two propositons are prime examples of what should and shouldn't be written into our constitution. Our constitution is already so elaborate in detail why continue? I think Prof. Seago said it best when described as "Crazy quilt additions". I mean what are they trying to do here? Make it so confusing and twisted that no one will understand, or care to vote on it, then they can write whatever they want into it? I hope they aren't that smart.
Only about half of these propositons should actually be voted on. The rest make no sense, and/or should have some other committtee voting on them. Definately not the entire state of Texas.
Please read all propositions for yourself! Try and make sense of it all so that on November 6, 2007 when you go to the poll you know what your actually voting on. By knowing the right information you can make the right decision for yourself and the rest of the state of Texas.
Proposition 1 continues appropriation for facilities at Angelo State University. The definition for appropriation is as follows: money set aside by formal action for a specific use. So basically the entire state of Texas will be deciding whether or not a college most of us have never heard of gets continued funding for unlisted facilities. Why? This sort of thing just further adds to our already 200 page constitution, making it lengthier and less recognized as the basic law of the land!
Proposition 2 issues $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance student loans. This one atleast represents the entire sate of Texas.
These two propositons are prime examples of what should and shouldn't be written into our constitution. Our constitution is already so elaborate in detail why continue? I think Prof. Seago said it best when described as "Crazy quilt additions". I mean what are they trying to do here? Make it so confusing and twisted that no one will understand, or care to vote on it, then they can write whatever they want into it? I hope they aren't that smart.
Only about half of these propositons should actually be voted on. The rest make no sense, and/or should have some other committtee voting on them. Definately not the entire state of Texas.
Please read all propositions for yourself! Try and make sense of it all so that on November 6, 2007 when you go to the poll you know what your actually voting on. By knowing the right information you can make the right decision for yourself and the rest of the state of Texas.
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