My Comments on "Driving While Intexticated"

I read the blog, "Driving While Intexticated," where the writer discusses the topic of texting while driving in Texas. They strongly believe that it should not be allowed anywhere in Texas and I agree.

I like how the blog starts off with the statistic and the information about the ban because it caught my attention. The blog is well organized and easy to follow. It discusses the topic, her opinion, and the also the views of others with her input as well. I agree that texting and driving is very dangerous and should be banned everywhere, not just Austin. No text is ever going to be as important as the life of yourself or anyone else's that you put in danger while texting and driving. Even being around people texting while driving makes me nervous. When I'm driving and see a car constantly swerving in and out of their lane, it has always been because they were texting and didn't even realize it. I do disagree with her statement on the hands free devices though. Even though the driver's hands are still on the steering wheel and their eyes are on the road, they are still going to be distracted from the device. It could even make response time slower if something were to happen because they weren't fully paying attention to what was going on around them. As for the being pulled over part of the blog, I think it would end texting and driving faster than just educating would. People are told how dangerous it is and I'm sure they see all of the new ads and commercials about it everyday, yet there are still plenty of people doing it. If they get pulled over and punished, I bet they would think twice before doing it again, which could stop them from hurting themselves or someone else in the future.

Overall, the writer did well writing the editorial. Their opinion was supported by reasons and facts and it was short and to the point.

Senate Bill 1907

According to Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, colleges and universities currently prohibit pistols from the campus, including in the parking lots. His measure Senate Bill 1907 would allow students with their concealed-handgun permits to have their pistols in their vehicles in the campus parking lots. Students without this permit are still not allowed to have anything on campus. For students to get this permit, they have to be over the age of 21 and pass the state licensing requirements. There is already a law that allow the employees of universities with concealed handgun licenses to leave their pistols in their cars, which was enacted two years ago.

Hegar filed the bill Monday, and got an almost unanimous Senate vote to do so after the filing deadline was passed. The only opposing vote was Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, because he believes guns are “in a parking lot this year, and in buildings next time.” The tragedies that have happened over the past few months have some people opposing this bill, thinking it’s too soon. Committee Chairman John Whitmire, D-Houston, isn’t for campus carry, but voted on this bill since it’s only a “carry-your-gun-on-campus-and-store-it-in-your-car-while-you-go-to-class-bill.”

I am for this bill because I don’t see any danger or anything wrong in having students that are licensed to keep their gun in their vehicles. The students are already allowed to carry their guns where they go off campus, so why shouldn’t they be able to just leave them in a car?  This being passed would keep students that need to leave their guns in their vehicles out of trouble and avoid breaking the current rules. I’m already for guns being allowed on campus for those with concealed handgun licenses, so I don’t see a problem with this issue either. 

My Comments on "Safety is important. We must allow open carry in Texas"

I read Austin's blog, "Safety is Important. We must allow open carry in Texas," where he discusses his view on open carry in Texas. He strongly believes that it should be allowed. I agree that it should be allowed to create a safer place to live.

I like how Austin started off with the 2nd Amendment and also how he compared the relaxed gun law state to the states with strict laws. I agree with his point about the crime rates dropping because the carrier, and possible victim, would have a weapon to defend themselves out in the open. Someone looking to cause trouble with another person would most likely change their mind when they realized that the person could easily stop anything from happening, and they would be putting their own life at risk if they still went through with it. I also agree with his last sentences: "The time HAS come to change our gun laws, but not in the way that the mainstream media wants to report. A vote for open carry is a vote for a safer place for all of us."

One dislike I had about this editorial was that there wasn't a link to lead me to a site with more information on the topic or see where he found some of his information. I also feel that his editorial was mostly his opinion on the subject. The opinions are great, but I think it could be a stronger editorial with facts and credible resources.

Overall, Austin did well writing his editorial, but some facts would only make it better.

Plastic Bag Ban

In the beginning of March, single-use plastic bags were banned from many stores in Austin. This means the thin plastic bags in stores are replaced with the 4 mil thick plastic bags, recycled paper bags, or the reusable bags. While doing some research I learned that the ban is good environmentally, but can cause problems with customers and businesses. 

For customers, the problem is their health. Sometimes when customers have their groceries in their reusable bags, they don’t realize some of the groceries spill and leak. Customers don’t realize how dirty their bags are so they continue using them, which causes contamination. The ban was also put into effect in San Francisco in 2007. Since the ban started, there has been a rise in E. coli cases as well as an increase in deaths from people getting food-borne illnesses. For businesses, the problem is an increase in theft. Since the customers are entering the store with their own bags, they can easily steal items. According to an article from the National Center for Policy Analysis, a store in Seattle estimated a loss of $5000 in produce and $3000-$4000 in frozen foods, as well as more grocery baskets.

I think that some of the efforts to “go green” are really great and helping the environment, but I don’t believe that this is one of them. It seems to be more dangerous and inconvenient more than it does to be helpful. Instead of banning them all together, we should spread the word on ways to recycle the bags. 

Medicaid Expansion?

       Medicaid expansion has been a huge topic in government. I have been reading many articles about it for these assignments, but "Straus Seeks Sugarcoat for Medicaid Expansion" by Dustin Matocha stuck with me. According to Speaker Joe Straus, “We need to move beyond the word ‘no’ to something the administration might entertain.” Governor Perry along with most of the House GOP oppose to the expansion. This article goes into explaining the Arkansas deal, which gives federal tax dollars for purchasing private insurance that have the same benefits and cost-sharing requirements as those of the Medicaid expansion offer. Speaker Straus’ solution is a “Texas Solution” similar to that.

      Matocha clearly doesn’t believe that this is the right plan for Texas.  According to Matocha, the system will cost an average of $3000 more per person, and is also going to leave Arkansas a higher bill than they would have had without the plan. Matocha’s article starts with the facts about the topic and the Arkansas plan, then goes on with more personal beliefs to show his thoughts on what should or shouldn’t happen. It works because it is informative as well as a little persuasive, and it also catches your attention. There were links to show where he got his information, which made it much more credible. His thoughts are easy to follow and know where they’re coming from. His conclusion summed up his thoughts on the argument very well:

“Sugarcoating a poison pill doesn’t make it any less poisonous, just like expanding Medicaid under the guise of a ‘flexible compromise’ isn’t any less hazardous to the health of our state’s fiscal future.”

http://www.empowertexans.com/features/straus-seeks-sugarcoat-for-medicaid-expansion/

Tuition Revenue Bonds

The rates of student enrollment and completion for higher education have been on the rise the past few years. According to the editorial “Tuition Revenue Bonds are Necessary” from the San Antonio Express News, Texas enrollment has increased 53 percent since 2000, which gives us 1.56 million students today. Texas has had a goal of getting this number up to 1.65 million by 2015. Giving the institutions funds to make improvements and give them resources needed for the growing number of students would make sense, but instead, lawmakers have decreased the funding for these institutions by about $1 million in the last biennium. Many universities need this funding to complete projects, such as an experimental science instructional building for the University of Texas at San Antonio and a science and technology building for Texas A&M in San Antonio. Sen. Judith Zaffirini has filed a bill to allow state colleges and universities to issue tuition revenue bonds in order to meet the growing needs on the campuses this session. Fifty state school and institutions are now requesting these tuition bonds. The editorial argues that it is “unreasonable to challenge college and universities to increase attendance and then ignore the serious academic space needs.”

I agree with this because without money or the needed projects, the goal number of students won’t be met. As the enrollment number grows, so is the number of projects needed to do. It doesn't make sense to set a goal for these institutions, then not help them get there. 

Safety in School

Safety in schools has always been a major concern for parents. According to a news article on KVUE, there is a new bill to step it up a notch, the “School Marshal Program.”  This program would put a new kind of law enforcement in schools. This opportunity would be available to any of the employees who would like to serve as a marshal and are willing to go through the 80 hours of training. The article states the school would have a limit to one marshal for every 400 students and their weapon would be stored away safely, but still within reach if needed. There is also a regulation for the ammunition used by the marshals.

The article is a good read because it is something that may happen and affect us in the future. Parents should know what is going on and what may possibly be brought into their children’s school. I personally believe it is a good idea because it makes the school a safer place and there would be people there to protect the children in case an emergency, such as the recent shootings, happens in their school.