Under One Sky

My colleague Vasquez has made several valid points in his argument. I am in complete agreement that Texas needs to allow students from across the border to be given the chance to go to school within the states regardless of their citizenship status. Who cares that these students are undocumented. At least they're trying to make something of themselves. It is sad to see our government try to interfere with the possibilities of these young adults trying to get an education. We should stop and honor the fact that people from other origins want to come here to better their future. Regardless of where they choose to get their education, through it all, we are all living under the same sky. I do not see the problem in that. However, you have those "stuck in their ways" republicans who continuously try to put a stop to anything that will better the state of Texas. 

I say open the doors! Give them a chance! Make it easier for these undocumented students to become citizens. I'm sure they deal with enough stress as it is. No one needs the government breathing down their back, waiting on the opportunity to throw someone out.

Face it Republicans, Democrats will soon take over!

Part-Time or Full-Time?

Our Texas Legislature only meets every two years for a total of 140 days. We cannot even consider that a "part-time" legislature. I would label it as a "lazy-time" legislature simply because the majority of the work that needs to be done does not happen until the last 30 days of that session. Texas is too big of a state, with too many issues for us to have a legislature that works not even half a year.

In these short sessions, there are hundreds of proposed amendments. Not only do the Legislators have to go through every single one, but the Governor has to take time out of his busy schedule and sign a handful of these proposals into law. This simple process does not always happen in the time frame given. With the failure of this process, our Governor will call "special sessions" extending the legislature session for 30 more days. This process may be repeated a couple times because our Legislators continually procrastinate. When the session is coming to an end, our legislators finally realize, "Hey, maybe we need to do some work," and with this, they'll try to pass 500 proposals at once. This causes confusion, disorder and the mistake of bills being passed that aren't always in the best interest of the people.

We ought to change this and produce a full-time legislature so the work that needs to get done, can actually get done without the issue of being rushed. When special sessions are called by our Governor to finish unfinished business, legislators end up working the whole year anyway. The simple solution to cut down on the chaos is to make our government actually do their jobs, YEAR ROUND! Oh, and maybe get some Democrats in those offices!

These people were elected for a reason, and these short sessions are short changing the Texas population. We need to break past the "traditional" sense and make the necessary changes for the improvement of our government. As well as Texas as a whole.

Doesn't Surprise Me

My colleague Laura Besinaiz has made a very valid point. With me being a woman, I can absolutely relate to this. The majority of us are not blessed with a silver spoon in our mouths. We have to rely on the government's assistance, and the cheaper routes in order to receive the same accommodations as others. I have been a patient of Planned Parenthood since I was a toddler. It is affordable and convenient. If you lack insurance like most in our country, Planned Parenthood is the place to go. Taking away government assistance could substantially hurt the less fortunate. It has been a safe zone for teenage girls throughout the U.S. who are afraid to go to their parents about feminine issues they're dealing with.

Planned Parenthood has reached out to the minority population for decades. It is sad but not surprising to hear the government is willing to take away a business that aids its communities. Of course our government will do anything to save a buck, to spend even more bucks on something insignificant. This issue digs deep into the obvious, REPUBLICANS! I wonder, would this proposal be pending if democrats held the majority of offices? I doubt it.

This is way bigger than a couple of dollars. The government will be taking away the only affordable healthcare most females know. Hospital and doctor bills are outrageous with or without insurance. Planned Parenthood is the way to go. Republicans want to remain "traditional" than don't take Planned Parenthood away. It does not get any more "traditional" than that.

The True Colors of Texas

It is evident that our nation as a whole is very diverse. There is not one superior race, however, our nation contains a mixture of cultures and ethnicities. This known fact tends to get lost in our countries everyday hustle and bustle. It is clear that there is no way to rid our nation from the "minority" populations. With this, why not simply accept the things you cannot change? I'll narrow my perspective in on Texas since this is a "Texas Government" assignment.

Our government is supposed to be set up in a way to protect and serve our people. What our government does not realize is, "our people" come in 50 different shades of color.  How can they protect and serve, when they are constantly searching for ways to hinder our people of color. We have prime examples with systems such as, Gerrymandering and the "At Large Trend". These are only a few of many ways that our Texas government will do anything within their power to mute the growing epidemic of minorities. Republicans are running scared knowing that our population is shifting from Whites being the majority race here in Texas, to soon be considered minorities. The facts are, Texas has never been a "Whites Only" state. These lands were cultivated first by Native Americans and Mexicans, the "True Colors of Texas". Discrimination within our government has to be put to an end. For the people, by the people, but we as people, need to speak up and be heard.

Change is inevitable and is happening everyday. We have come too far in time to still be fighting the issue of racism. These days, it is nothing but ignorance, and the want to be "traditional". There is anything but traditional in the 21st century. Instead of fighting against this change, our government needs to see the beauty of this situation. Our leaders want so much power and control, that they miss the fact that if they were to accept this change, the amount of power they hold over the state would increase enormously. We ought to throw the traditional beliefs out of the window, and accept that Texas has been and will always be a foreign state. There is no black and white, but shades ranging across the spectrum. Our white superiors cannot live forever, and with that, the greatest change is coming.

No Need to be That Way!

It is heartbreaking to see that, after all the struggling and fighting for equality and peace, that discriminatory racism still exists 50 years later. I ran across a post by Charles Kuffner called "The At Large Trend". He brings to our attention that not only is discrimination very much alive, but it is circulating in our government. Usually when you think of racism, you automatically assume, Whites and African Americans, the dynamic duo. In this case, it is the Latinos who are receiving this mistreatment. As we all know by now, Texas is changing, and changing fast. Hispanics are rising by the thousands, transforming from minorities, to soon be the majority race.
In a town called Pasadena, TX the Hispanic population is over 43%. This town is being sued for allegedly using discriminatory at-large voting systems, meaning the Hispanic community has no representation. In an at-large voting system, every city resident votes for each member of the governing body and the city does not divide voters into districts. Kuffner states that as the Latino population grows, more and more cities are employing at-large voting to dilute the Latino vote and maintain white control of local governing bodies. Unless the Hispanic population reaches a majority, they end up having very little say so in their communities, in return, keeps the whites in control, and the Latinos out of governing offices. This same tactic was used in the south in African American communities, but now whites face a new threat. The report shows, these lawsuits are spreading nationwide, and cities are being sued for millions of dollars.
Kuffner is clearly speaking to our population as a whole. We ought to remove the hatred out of our hearts. I am in complete agreement with acceptance of change. No matter how many tactics the government throws, the general population is changing everyday, it should change with it, or face many more lawsuits. We cannot claim "One Nation Under God" if we continue to stay divided within our nation.

It's Not About You

In  this local Dallas editorial, "A Sound Plan to Improve Dallas ISD," the publisher voices his opinion on the possible changes that will come to the city of Dallas. He is clearly reaching out to tax payers, to get them to understand the terrible conditions their local schools are in. He respectfully elaborates Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles plan on expanding  the funding to improve their community. The publisher wants people to stop being blinded by their pocket books, but to open their hearts and realize that their adolescent population deserve far more than what they are receiving. He expresses how  Dallas schools are overpopulated, with poor facilities and an even a poorer quality of teachers. All the while he remained very respectful, and only stated facts. It is understood that in order to improve these conditions, the tax payers and school board will have to reach into their funds, but isn't that how most situations are solved? Spend an extra penny to help those who will soon have to take over the positions being held by their elders. Why not? He clearly states that the districts bank balance is sitting on a cushion of about $350 million. Superintendent Mike Miles wants to borrow $65 million to just to kick start facility and program improvements. His comment, "That's healthy, and the district can easily afford to pay this loan off quickly either through bonds or funds on hand." He clearly has a good argument with more than enough evidence proving that no matter the cost, the Dallas ISD would not get into a bind. It is to better their communities and to help these kids learn without any limitations.  He mentions that this plan would require Dallas residents to invest more into the schools, meaning it would increase the ad valorem tax rate. This action would require voters to vote on a tax rate election. He gave proof that the outcome on voting against these actions, more of their schools will fall to the same conditions as Tom Field Elementary. Dallas residents cannot allow these children to suffer because of their own clinch on their pocketbooks. He clearly believes "Mile's plan will accomplish something substantial, and the price of not doing something meaningful, even radical, to improve Dallas schools, will be more than any of them can bare." This publisher logically gets his point across, weighing the pros and cons of the situation as a whole. What better way could this have been done?

Vaccine Exemptions In Texas

On Thursday, February 5, 2014, the Texas Tribune posted an article about vaccine exemptions throughout Texas by their county school districts. Texas percentage rate is at an all time high, especially in areas such as Travis County, Lampasas County and Denton ISD. This immediately draws red flags for our Texas government because it has led to a frequency of infectious disease outbreaks such as the measles.  This article is one I think to be highly important because with these exemptions, it is putting our communities at risk for infections. It gives us information of the locations throughout Texas where exemptions are the highest. My personal translation would be, proceed to these locations with caution. Vaccinations are evidently optional, and the option is given to file a "conscientious exemption" form based on personal or religious beliefs refusing the vaccine. We get so caught up in these beliefs that we bypass the risks we're putting our people in. I strongly believe that certain vaccines should be required by law. This would strongly protect our children and families from infectious and even deadly disease.