Notoriety

This entry into my blog isn't an attempt to demonize some for their political views, but to make an example of a growing trend that affects nearly everyone now days: Social Networking.
People in the United States have many rights to many things: free speech, ownership of a weapon, due process, etc... So why are Americans exposing themselves and waiving their own rights of privacy on an open forum? I'm not saying I don't condone this behavior, but it's hard for me to feel sorry for anyone who chooses to acknowledge some rights and waive others for the reward of notoriety. I think this particular case is very entertaining in that regard.

Considering this is my last entry, I'll end with a challenge to anyone who reads it: Find a mirror and look at yourself. Ask yourself if you truly love your country and understand that for over two-hundred years Americans have sculpted this incredible land into the most amazing nation on Earth.  Respect this Nation, respect your rights, and don’t complain if you’re not willing to sacrifice for the welfare of your country.

The Department of Education: Another GOP Scapegoat.

As the GOP candidates continue to battle it out across the Nation in debates covering a myriad of subjects, one particular proposal caught my attention. 

The Department of Education has been a target for the GOP ever since the '80s when it was established.  Republican's argue that the DOE, like any other centralized organization, is an ineffective bureaucracy that is a waist of tax dollars and should be defunded.  I, along with many others disagree with this and find it interesting how eager Conservatives are to dismantle an organization established to promote and standardize education.

According to the Department of Education's mission statement: "[Our] mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access."  Under the Department of Education Organization Act, the DOE is responsible for:

Strengthen the Federal commitment to assuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual; 

Supplement and complement the efforts of states, the local school systems and other instrumentalities of the states, the private sector, public and private nonprofit educational research institutions, community-based organizations, parents, and students to improve the quality of education; 

Encourage the increased involvement of the public, parents, and students in Federal education programs; 

Promote improvements in the quality and usefulness of education through Federally supported research, evaluation, and sharing of information; 

Improve the coordination of Federal education programs; 

Improve the management of Federal education activities; and 

Increase the accountability of Federal education programs to the President, the Congress, and the public.

If we were to dismantle the DOE, who will become responsible for the benefits in which our ISDs have become accustom to?  The State?  Texas has shown that education has the least priority, unless of course you're an illegal alien.  As for the rest of us, home schooling may be a forseeable future.

Governor Rick Perry's leadership aided in the refusal of Race to the Top funds from the Obama administration.  His failure to participate in the federal program set the stage for cuts in the State's school budget causing school closures, which increased unemployment, and forced the remaining teachers- who's job is already demanding enough, into oversized classes to bear the burden; all-the-while, a purposed $250 million gamble for the Formula One track being built in Austin displayed Perry's, along with legislature's, true priorities.  Forgive me for asking, but don't the people come first?  I thought Texas was a State, not a business...?

The Department of Education is not the culprit of our Nation's failing education system.  It's the ignorance of some of our economic conservative leaders who fail to acknowledge the importance of education at all ages as a gateway for success.  Our economic woes will only continue as a State and Nation if we neglect our responsibility to educate Americans.  If we fail to empower our own, we will lose the very power that makes us the greatest Nation on Earth.

Personal Income Tax: A Glaring Solution

As proud as most Texans are about paying nearly the least amount of taxes in the United States, an increasing State deficit is rearing its ugly head, causing lay offs and closures of schools and other subsidiaries of Texas tax dollars.  

Considering the exponential growth of the Lone Star State, our archaic tax system that only benefits higher income communities, and the increasing deficit within the State, it's my opinion that tax reform is necessary.  I agree with Sandoval's position on Texas' responsibility to take care of its citizens by providing a fair and equal tax code for all Texans.  The current regressive taxation is right in line with the conservative status quo, promoting enterprise over the needs of the lower income populous.

Alone, income tax will not solve the growing State deficit, but it would at least provide a centralized pool of tax dollars to be distributed across the State’s counties as needed.  Currently, lower income counties across Texas continue to struggle due to their low tax revenue, while larger, more affluent communities thrive and can afford services due to the higher tax revenue brought in.

A personal income tax across the state would eliminate any disparities on tax revenue brought in by counties if the State focused on income rather than the property owned.  There are always unintended consequences in any reform, but this at least focuses on all working Texans and not just property owners.  With the emphasis on income, property taxes can be lowered, and Texans can also receive State returns along with Federal.

Again, there are plenty of arguments against this option, but it’s my opinion, and the opinion of many others who prefer a fiscally responsible government, dedicated to its people, regardless of race, religion or affluence.

An Amendment to the Texas Constitution Worth Voting For.

Election Day is fast approaching for the proposed Constitutional Amendments of the Lone Star State. Among the ten is one particular amendment that I feel should be considered by all freedom loving Americans who value the efforts of brave men and woman who sacrifice everything for us.

 According to the Austin American-Statesman, under the current Texas Constitution "military veterans who have been declared 100 percent disabled can receive a homestead exemption for tax purposes, but it does not transfer to their spouses when they die...." Proposition No. 1 (S.J.R. No. 14), if passed, will extend the homestead tax exemption to the surviving spouses of soldiers.

 The Department of Veterans Affairs reported in their 2010 Texas State Summary that 297,319 Texans are disabled and currently receiving compensation. Disability compensation ranges from 10-100% based on the severity of the soldiers injuries sustained from their service. The summary does not provide exactly how many veterans are 100% disabled, but being a service member myself and understanding the VA's disability policies, I can assure you that the collective number given by the VA is exponentially larger than the totally disabled population (remember that only 100% disabled veterans are eligible for this exemption).

 The reason that this amendment needs to pass is simple. Respect. As of the 2010 census, there are 25,145,561 people in the state of Texas, 1,701,675 are veterans of our Nations foreign wars representing 6.8% of the population and .54% of the Nations population. Of this small community, a much smaller group of wives and husbands have been caring for a broken soldier who bears the scars of war and literally cannot function without assistance. When the service member inevitably parishes, the spouse's efforts and commitment to the deceased are ignored and the collection of taxes ensues. Whether you consider yourself socially conservative, moderate, or liberal, this is the very definition of heartless.

 We as a State and Nation owe it to the families of veterans who pay the ultimate sacrifices so we don't have to. To tax a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran is a cowardly act. The families of our vets bear the internal scars from countless deployments and forever changed wives and husbands. These family's are taxed enough.

Mediocrity Amongst the GOP Candidates

With the GOP debates well underway and front runners emerging, no prominent candidate stands out from the pack.  Paulburka from Burkablog describes Governor Rick Perry as the man to beat but lacks true Presidential caliber by implementing campaign techniques that may have worked for a gubernatorial election, but are coming up short for the GOP nomination.

I believe that Paulbruka makes a valid assessment, as would anyone who's watched any of the debates.  Governor Perry seems unpolished and more concerned with cliche phrases and attacking Obama and Romney than addressing real issues like the economy and job creation.  Last night (10/11/2011) when the debate was geared towards the nation's economy, Governor Perry displayed little to no enthusiasm and failed to represent himself as a leader who could address our economic woes. I do believe that there are some good solutions to our nation's current state within the GOP, but none of the candidates are willing to offer bold solutions in fear of violating the party's conservative nature.

I don't foresee the possibility of a brokered convention, but if it were to happen, whoever receives the nomination will surely fight an uphill battle for the Presidential nomination.

"Texas needs the Keystone pipeline"

This commentary promotes the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that is currently under review by the State Department.  If approved, the pipeline would extend from the Athabasca Oil Sands of Canada, crossing the Ogallala Aquifer along the western plains and down to a coastal refinery located outside of Houston, TX.

Barry Smitherman is a member of the Texas Railroad Commission and represents the interests of the oil and gas industries.  Being a member of a this particular type of state agency has prevented him from taking into consideration certain environmental affects and America's interest in reducing its oil dependency.  His strong commitment, support, and unsourced data in regards to jobs and state revenue earned from this pipeline reeks of interest groups and greed.

Smitherman believes that given the state of the nation, it's best to compromise our natural resources (Ogallala Aquifer- One of the world's largest aquifers, it covers an area of approximately 174,000 mi²) and pump crude oil over thousands of miles of America's heartland in order to create more jobs and tax revenue within the states it contaminates.  I believe this commissioner's fallacious reasoning of two wrongs make a right is a joke.  Granted, our country is in a financial crunch, but why give up our national goals of reducing our oil dependency and our search for a cleaner energy source?  Our economy will bounce back without the help of this pipeline.  If this pipeline is approved, we will have only strengthened the oil industries grip throughout the nation and committed ourselves to even more foreign oil...

Governor Rick Perry: The Anti-Science Guy.

I realize that this subject can potentially cross religious boundaries so I'll keep it as secular as possible to avoid violating anyone's beliefs.  Whether you're a strong Rick Perry supporter or not, this article is good for a few laughs about his perceptions of science.

As the front runner of the GOP for the upcoming presidential election, Perry continues to refute science to gain support from the Christian fundamentalist, hard-right conservative class of America.
For years, Governor Perry has attempted to inject creationism or intelligent design into Texas schools. This defies what the federal courts have already determined to be unconstitutional and is the only reason that biology and evolution is still being taught in Texas public schools today.

Governor Perry is responsible for assigning leadership for state administrative agencies.  For the Forensics Science Commission, Perry hand-picked former Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley.  Bradley happens to share many of Governor Perry's values and is concerned with maintaining the status quo of Perry's non-science approach to capital-punishment. With the latest developments in forensics and concerns of innocent inmates put to death in the state of Texas, Perry and his cabinet have ensured that historical cases of capital-punishment are nearly impossible to review.

Although, Governor Perry continues to make decisions that impact every Texans life, he does so without the influence of science. So how exactly does he make informed decisions on let's say, HPV inoculations, forensic evidence, global warming, etc...? My guess would be just enough to not sound completely ridiculous but to gain the hard-right support that he thinks will get him votes.


http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2011-09-16/point-austin-rick-perry-boy-scientist/

More food for thought:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2011-09-16/perry-the-executioner/