Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Presidental Primary

In my fellow classmates blog http://redtexaspolitics.blogspot.com/ the article Primary Derby has a few intresting facts and statements that I agree and disagree with. I do find it disappointing that Texas has a low turn out in the primaires compared to the other swing states. I do not find this alarming because it is the primaries. The votes that matter is the general election. I feel Texans do not care about the primamry unless a specific canidate intrest them from a specifc party.
Texas being a primary Republican state does not affect a canidates decision to visit regarding the primaries. The Democrats and Republicans elections are seperate so Texas tendency to lean on direction does not matter. I feel that it is a smart political decision to focus on the swing states and win their parties nomination first. Since Texas is such a big state a canidate would need to make several stops in many Texas cities to make an impact on state votes. In smaller states canidates can make one or two stops and cover the entire state and swing several votes their direction. It makes sense to me why Texas is not a main stop.Time is valuable to a canidate and one should go were time would be best spent. To make a trip important several days would need to be spent in this large states to see everyone. The people who vote in the primary elections tend to be educated people who research and find out about all the canidates on their own. If a Texan is going to take time out of their day to vote in an primary election a visit from a canidaite is not going to swing their vote. I do however feel a canidate should spend time in Texas before a general election when the voter turn out rate is larger and many people are only informed about the canidates through the media.

Victims of Drunk Driving- signs

A new state program will allow family and friends of victims of drunk drivers to purchase a metal memorial sign that will remain at the crash sight for a year. The signs will be 42 inches high and will have a blue background with white lettering. The signs will say "Please don't drink and drive" and "In memory of....". The sign will also include the vicitm's name and the date of the crash. The signs cost a total of $300 which include the cost of making and putting the signs up. After a year the sign will be offered to the one's who applied for the signs. The program is only for victim's of drunck drivers and it must have occured on a state highway. The signs will be places as close as possinle to the crash site. The first sign will be unvailed next week in Mesquite where a 16 year old girl was killed by a drunk driver. The victim's mother, Julie Blasingame is the one who ask legislature to pass the bill which was approved in May.

These metal signs will be a reminder to everyone who passes one what the impact alchol has on driving. The country has become numb to the wooden crosses that normally line the roads. The quantity and quality of the signs will allow everyone to put a name with the event. This will make more of an impact and hopefully save lifes. If one makes to bad decision to drive after drinking hopefully they will see the sign and pull the vehicle over. These sign is only another way to put out the message that drunk driving not only affect the driver but numerous innocent people.


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/121207dntexmemorialsigns.7fb2631.html

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Just become LEGAL

In Response to my collegues article titled " Give the Immigrants a Break!" I have a few opinions of my own. Yes the goverment of this great country can send a man to the moon and could perhaps put a hault to the illegal immigration if everyone of the senate and house was on board. It is hard to devote time and money when you have the few who feel bigger issues deserve time and money. The issue of illegal immigrants then fall to the state and local level.
I agree with the many economic analyst and my fellow classmate that immigrants play a vital role in the economy by taking on many jobs other do not want. However, my issue with immigrants is the fact that they are illegal. There are simple steps that many have taken before them and will after them to become a legal citizen in this great country. My great grandmother and great grandfather immigrated to America through Ellis Island in New York! If they can do it the legal correct way why can't others. They case of the immigrants become legal tax paying citizens will allow employees to follow correct protocols. These legal immigrants will still be willing to work for $5 an hour and do many of the jobs others avoid.
The real issue I have with immigrants is I want them to pay taxes and show loyal support for the country that supports them. I am tired of going to the doctor and having to pay even with great insurance while illegal immigrants receive the same care I do for no charge while the American citizens pay the bill. These illegals take advantage of or school system by expecting free handout and tutoring taking away teachers time from the legal citizens. These children often do not stand during the pledge or national anthem of the great county providing a safe haven for there family.
I think it is time for America to stop educating, providing health care and safety for illegals who just take and do not give back to this country. All I ask is for immigrants to become LEGAL loyal American citizens!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

TEXAS VOTERS

In the state of Texas there are 12.6 million people registered to vote. So why does Texas have such low voter turnout. On Tuesday’s election for city offices, school bonds, state propositions and other contests the voter turnout was very low. Only 10 percent of the registered voters were expected to turn out including early ballot that were cast days before the election polls closed. Even if the election is not high profile every registered voter should take the opportunity to state his or her opinion. Voters can no longer blame the lack of time to vote. There are several days available for people to vote. Voting only takes a few minutes and with several days available one should easily be able to rearrange there schedule to make time to play a vital role in there states politics. It plagues me as a citizen of Texas a state that people claim to have much pride cannot take ten minutes out of there day to play an active role in the way our state, county, cities and schools are run. If one cannot cast an anonymous ballot with there opinion about the way things should be run than one should not share their negative views to others. Texans need to show the rest of the county our pride for our state by everyone casting a vote and playing an important role in how our great state is run. If anyone has any ideas on how to get more people out to vote please write your local congressmen with you insights on this problem that plagues our state.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Staph Fears Force Districts To Take Extra Precautions

Fear of a contagious skin infection called staph along with the drug resistant strain referred to as MRSA have caused anxiety in Texas schools, jails and hospitals. Staph is staphylococcus aureus bacteria. This bacterium is very common (many people have some living on their skin all the time), but when it enters the human body, usually through an open cut or break in the skin, it can cause infection and trouble anywhere in the body. Staph infections tend to be pus-producing. Common minor (or relatively minor) skin infections caused by staph is boils, abscesses and hair follicles. Staph can be easily passed from one individual to the next. Staph is transmitted by skin to skin contact or by sharing towel, soap or clothes. Sports teams tend to pass it to others in locker rooms and through sharing equipment. A local survey of the Dallas area had 60 confirmed cases and 27 confirmed cases on the drug resistant form. The rapid rise of cases has led to phone calls and letters to parents to warn them of the signs and confirmed cases. Current laws do not require the school to be informed if a child is infected. When a school is not properly informed the proper sanitary actions cannot be taken. This lack of communication allows the infection to be spread easier. Fear of this infection makes students not feel they are in a safe environment. When children are concerned for their safety they cannot properly focus to learn. To make the school environment safer the Texas Health Officials should require all sports equipment to be sanitized daily instead of weekly and should require sanitizing the locker and classrooms twice a day. While the increased cleaning staff will increase school’s budget it could lead to higher attendance with children missing less due to infection. The increased attendance will improve TAKS, SAT and ACT scores because the children will feel safer in their environment and more open to learn.


Link to article: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/102007dnmetstaph.34bc3f8.html

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Reasoning for vetoing children's health insurance.

President Bush has only vetoed four things while holding office. His most recent bill vetoed would have added 4 million to the children's health insurance. Out of the United States 50 governors 43 urged the passing of the new bill while the seven other governors including Texas's own Rick Perry was not in favor of the bill. The Bipartisan bill addressed the growing number of uninsured children and protected the current insured children.
This bill being vetoed was just an open opportunity for the democratic side to use children to win votes. People claim that Bush, Perry, Cornyn, and McCaul hate children just because a children's insurance plan was denied. The President or an public officials are not children haters just because a 4 million dollar plan was denied. The media fails to mention or state the reasons for the denial. They only claim officials should not be reelected and are looking for any open opportunity to swing more majority in their way.
If one would have taken a look at both sides one could see Bush's side which clearly demonstrates the republican policy of hands off government. Bush wants poor kids to be put first, however, supports private medicine not the government running the health system. The money would have helped children who had to high of an income for Medicaid but did not want to invest in the private systems. This system would have encouraged citizens invested in the private health system to switch to the federal system. This is clearly an act of the democrats to try to have more government control over the citizens.
This bill shows how America is divided on the methods of which the country should be run. It also demonstrates how we are all free to share and express our view s and opinoins which is something we should all be greatful for.

http://www.burntorangereport.com/frontPage.do for article Bush, Perry, Coryn and McCaul Hate Children