Re: Certified or Rehabilitated

A colleague, Kelley Jura-Myrick, wrote a very interesting blog article titled "Certified or Rehabilitated." It's about juvenile individuals that are entered in to the penal system. Some are offered a chance to be sent to a juvenile institution which allows them to be housed with individuals of their own age, and ultimately a chance at getting their life put together and one day be released as a grown adult -- a sort of second chance.  However, others may be certified. This means that a judge has ruled that the individual will be tried as an adult rather than the juvenile that they are. A child, as young as 14 years of age, may be tried as an adult and ultimately sentenced to stay in prison with adults. 

After reading the stats that Kelley brought to our attention in regards to the likelihood of a certified juvenile committing suicide or being abused by their fellow inmates, I took the time to dig a bit deeper. I came across various articles with further information on the treatment juveniles experience when sent to an adult prison. It quite literally almost brought me to tears. I understand that these crimes may be horrible, but think about the child's background. Have they had the proper chance at a life? Put them in a different environment. Provide them the proper education. If given a second chance, I'm sure that many of the kids can turn their life around for the better. 

I don't know if I'm just soft hearted or even naive, but I generally believe the best in everyone, especially when it comes to our younger generation. It's the environment they grow up in, the people that surround them, their general lifestyle they come to know that generally leads them in to a path of destruction  If given the opportunity to learn that there is more to life, something better... They are still young enough to turn their life around and learn from their mistakes. 

"TDCJ needs to develop a standard procedure for dealing with the worst and most violent offenders vs. the ones who can be rehabilitated if given the opportunity." 

Great point Kelley! 

Texting While Driving = Big No-No!

It seems that the Texas House of Representatives have just recently passed HB 63, which happens to ban texting while driving with the exception of reading an "Emergency Text." Not quite sure how an individual is able to read such a text and know that it does consist of an emergency without actually reading all of the texts one receives, but let's skip such logic for now as it seems they have. 

I am 100% in favor of such a ban. Texting while driving is a danger to not only the individual who is doing the texting, but to each person that may be around them at that time. I read a total of 5 articles on this particular bill and the variety of opinions that popped up within the comments. I don't think there's a single person that can honestly say that texting is a positive while driving. In order to text, one must take their eyes of the road, take either one or even two hands off the wheel to create a message, and then ultimately send the text to it's recipient. While this may only take a few seconds if one is fast enough, these few seconds of distraction could very well cause an accident which can ultimately take the life of another. 

I will be completely honest and admit that I have participated in my share of texting while driving, both on the receiving and sending end. However, I have stopped such actions due to an accident I had caused myself. I went straight in to a ditch, right between two trees. I thank God there was no one other than myself involved, but it scared me to no end. It definitely knocked some sense it to me... literally. 

"In a survey released by AT&T, 49 percent of all commuters and 43 percent of teenagers admit to texting while driving."

While passing the House of Representatives isn't the end of the line for this bill, I'm hoping that the Senate and ultimately Governor Perry will give it a shot as well. (Fact: Governor Perry actually vetoed a very similar bill from passing in 2011 due to the fact he viewed it as "government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults" Isn't that all laws?) I know there are many lives that have been taken due texting while driving. It may not stopped people from texting while they are driving 100%, but it's certainly a step in the right direction in my opinion.  

If you are interested, here are the articles I read: 

Texting while Driving Ban Pass Texas House from the Daily Toreador
Ban on Texting while Driving Passes Texas House from the Star Telegram
Following Yelling Match, Texas House Passes Texting Ban from Texas Public Radio
$17.5 Million Grant on the Line from Texas Public Radio
HB 63 from the Texas Legislature Online

Reply to "Pro-Choice"

I took some time reading through my colleague's articles on certain aspects of our government when I came across Brandon Boucher's article titled "Pro-Choice." I happen to agree whole heartily on what Boucher brings to the table and am also a pro choice advocate myself.

I don't believe anyone should have the ability to say what a woman, or even a human being in general, can or cannot do with their own body. I personally would never look in to the idea of an abortion but that is my OWN CHOICE. If an abortion is right for the 15 year old who won't be able to raise her child properly - Who is to say she can't have the option? If a woman was raped and ended up pregnant - Is she really going to be denied the right to end the pregnancy should she wish to do so? I believe very strongly that it should be that individual person's choice on whether an abortion is an option for them or not.

For Texas to begin bringing back the aspect of restricting the option for abortion is absolutely a step back. Haven’t we been through this already? Do we not remember the Roe v. Wade case? The Supreme Court deemed abortion a fundamental right under the United States Constitution. Why try to change this fact now? Isn’t that the definition of stupidity - “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”? During the first trimester, when an abortion happens to be safer than childbirth, the decision to abort is and should always be left to the mother.

Overall I believe Boucher did a fabulous job with his commentary on Pro-Choice. Two thumbs up! 

Overhauling our Texas Education

I have a number of friends that have decided to go the teaching route as their professional career, which I congratulate them for as I honestly have no patience to be a teacher, but I also am quite sad that they have done so considering the treatment our teachers and Texas schools in general receive. The pay is quite low considering what each teacher goes through, especially our brave middle and high school teachers (Let's face it, kids are scary!). Our classes within each public school are generally 30 + students per one teacher and the curriculum is just plain lacking. That's not even the bulk of the troubles! Honestly, if I were to list the many problems our educational system has these days, this particular article will be... never-ending. Overall, our Texas leader need to make a serious adjustment to the way our educational system works as a whole.

Do you know that Texas ranks dead last in the percentage of residents who have a diploma? Or how about the fact that we're near last in SAT scores? This can't be coincidental! Our schools don't have the funds to purchase the necessary materials to education the growing children. Textbooks have to be shared or paid out of their own pocket. Extracurricular activities are cut short due to budget restraints. Quite honestly classes just aren't that engaging enough to keep the students interested and ultimately learning. There's got to be something done to educate Texas' children right!

I know there is much talk of increasing our Texas education funding but I would like to see how much good that would be at this point. I don't think they should just increase the money given but rather take a real look at the whole system in general. Are we teaching the kids the proper information necessary to get them to succeed? Is the curriculum up to par compared to the other states? I just don't know! I think I would have to agree whole heartily with Patricia Montgomery, the Superintendent of Angelton ISD who was interviewed by FOX Houston. While yes, extra funding is great news, but:

"We know that even that money isn't sufficient to meet the needs that we have right now."

Texas has ultimately dug a much bigger hole than they can crawl out of with a single budget increase. They need to think of the children's well-being and what is needed to get them to succeed in the future. They are, after all, growing up to be the adults that will take care of us in the future!

Texas Equality

I read a good number of articles from the suggested sources available and had the most difficult time finding an article I had any interest in. However, after about an hour browsing the many sites, I came across the blog "Off the Kuff" by Charles Kuffner and his article "The Equality 2013 Poll." 

The article summarizes the changes in society's view towards particular controversial topics suggested within a random poll commissioned by the Equality Texas Foundation. What surprises me, especially living within such a Republican/Conservative state such as Texas, is the the large increase in support towards same sex marriage. I whole-heartily support anyone who chooses to get married out of love, regardless if the couple is male/female, two females, or even two males. However, I did not think the Texas population, being how conservative of a state we are in general, was close to having such a majority vote in regards to same sex marriage. Maybe I'm just keeping Texas in a stereotypical mindset in regards to this particular topic, but I'm certainly glad to see such changes. 

The largest increase in support came among Texas voters who now support allowing lesbians and gays to get married. By a margin of 47.9% to 47.5%, a very minor plurality, Texas voters now support the freedom to marry. This percentage represents an increase of 5.2% in support since September, 2010.  Support for the freedom to marry increased by 11.3% among Independents, increased by 15.7% among African Americans, increased by 14.3% among 18-29 year olds, and increased by 11.1% among those over age 65.

Personally I don't think its anyone's business on who gets married to whom, but that's just me!  Thank you for bringing this to our view Mr. Kuffner. I truly appreciate being able to see the differences in how people view certain topics as years go by. Change is good (To a certain extent of course!). 

If you are interested in further tidbits in regards to the Equality Texas Poll, you may want to check out the Equality Texas Foundation's homepage: http://www.equalitytexas.org/. It has great bits of information in regards to the random sample polling and past results. 

The Rising Costs that will be Introduced by Obamacare

I spent a good 30 to 40 minutes looking for a commentary that I agreed with. One of particular interest that caught my eye was an article written within the Austin American Statesmen by Arlene Wohlgemuth. The article, "High price tag of Obama health care is predictable," written on February 17, 2013 basically sums up the predictions on how much the insurance premium prices will rise. 

Wohlgemuth is a Republican who has served in the Texas House of Representatives within the 74th and 78th Texas Legistlatures. She now serves the Texas Public Policy as well as the Center for Heath Care Policy. Being involved in such departments, she is quite knowledgeable in both the political and healthcare world. She's not filling the article with negative statements but rather backs up each and every statement with numbers/statistics. She speaks to her audience of middle class citizens who can't afford their healthcare premiums to double within the next coming year with a direct and to the point attitude. She does not sugar coat the facts which is very appreciated among many. 

The penalty for noncompliance with the individual mandate is far less than what the cost of insurance is likely to be. A single 35-year-old making $25,000 a year in 2014, for example, would have to pay more than $1,700 out-of-pocket toward a premium (that’s after getting a federal subsidy through one of the Obamacare exchanges). 

If that person is healthy and simply chooses not to spend money on health insurance, they only pay a $250 fine. 

For someone who makes less than $25,000 a year currently, $1700 to $2000 coming out of my pocket for health insurance will just make me cringe. I, like many others, would even contemplate foregoing health insurance altogether. More even so if I'm rarely sick. The money will basically be spent for nothing! That's a big chunk of change that I will more than likely not be able to afford. However, I also do not believe a family of four with a household income of $120,000 will want to pay 1/6 of their annual income solely on health insurance as well. It's definitely going to take a toll on every class of individual. 

From all the articles read and the discussions listened to, I have a very negative point of view in regards to Obamacare, and quite frankly Wohlgemuth just added on to the negativity. I definitely understand the reasoning behind making such a system, but will it work as President Obama wants it to, or only lead to failure?

*I tried to find a picture that would depict the monetary troubles after Obamacare law's provisions are officially implemented but most of the images found when simply searching "Obamacare" within Google were very... rude! That's got to say something about how much negativity is aimed towards Obamacare even before it's officially implemented.*

Texas Vs. California?

Our most recent participation topic was on Texas Exceptionalism and I do believe I found an article from the Austin American Stateman titled, Perry heads to California on job poaching trip, by Jonathan Tilove. This, in my opinion, is the perfect article to basically back up the idea of not only "Texas Exceptionalism" but rather any state in general. While many of us do believe Texas to be the best, I'm sure many living in California believe the same about California. 

This particular article addresses a Texas Vs. California mindset. Is California better than Texas or perhaps vice versa? It's absolutely crazy the negative attitude those quoted within the article have towards the "other" state. One of my favorite quotes:

It’s a cry for help. Perry can’t create jobs, he can only steal them from other states. His campaign for the Republican presidential nomination was a joke. His beloved Dallas Cowboys haven’t been in the Super Bowl since 1996.

I'm truly hoping this was not meant to be serious. Really? The Dallas Cowboys is an argument in regards to which is the better state? It starts with the mocking but it only gets more intense as the article goes on. 

Check out a state that ranks dead last in the percent of its population with high school diplomas. Come check out a state that is last in mental health expenditures and workers’ compensation coverage. Come check out a state that ranks first in the number of executions, first in the number of uninsured, first in the amount of carbon dioxide emitted and first in the amount of toxic chemicals released into water.

This hurts my Texan heart.

Overall, it's a great article to read on how Texas is looked at from an economic view and ultimately within the eyes of politicians from California. In my opinion, and this may be just because I'm not a politician, but I believe they should be thinking about the well being of the United States as a whole, not about who's better than who. Just my two cents!