In response to A Gee Statement: Death Penalty Right or Wrong?

After reading the political criticism over the death penalty in Texas; I would have to agree that most, if not all inmates on death row have committed the crimes they have been charged with. I also believe the punishment of lethal injection does seem fair for those who are guilty of murder. But, the question on my end is why Texas executes more inmates on death row every year than any other state? You ask what other alternatives the ones who reject the death penalty would like to see, and if the alternatives would in turn keep serious crimes down. Other states like New Jersey are working to completely abolish the death penalty and give life in prison with no parole. The crime rate in Jersey will not be expected to increase, and the number of capital punishments in their state at present time is extremely low. In my opinion, abolishment of capital punishment in Texas is not necessary, but we should use it with more caution and less often. I do not think the 405 executions since 1982 is really the influencing factor in the case of a murder. If some one has the mentality to kill I believe they will regardless of life in prison or possible execution.

Texas immigrant population

Half of immigrants in Texas are there illegally, study says
November 29, 2007 Austin American Statesman released an article written by Bob Dart from the Washington Bureau. The article stated many numbers and percentages in response to the rapid increase of population in Texas due to the large amount of legal and illegal immigrants. Bob Dart found that half of the foreign born citizens in our great state of Texas are here illegally. So, the question arises, how can we stop this problem? And is our border patrol functioning properly? The article does not give a perspective on the immigration, but merely brings up statistics showing Texas harbors the most immigrants in the country with Arizona following shortly behind. If you ask me, it is about time that we begin to bring this issue into the limelight. It hits us close to home here in central Texas where a good majority of the city relates to the immigration. It is possible that we tend to look away because we do offer and depend on the immigration to fill job needs, but on the other hand a large percent are using our welfare that we pay for out of oue hard earned money. I think that now that Washington has acknowledged the spike in numbers over the last decade it is time to step up and change problems affecting the way our border patrol is run and try to reduce the illegal immigration into our state.

In response to Take Action

Your blog, Texans We Are, caught my eye the most out of the class. Your article on the day prior to November 6, titled Take Action, is important for everyone to read. I don't think anyone would disagree that the percent of people that vote in Texas is considerably low. So why do people continue to turn there heads away from our gorvernment? I personally also try to get people involved in voting. In fact, I am registered to vote in a precinct in Plano Texas, near Dallas. On November 6, in order to be a part of the 5% statistics, I drove home to my precint striclty to vote and make my voice count and came right back. I believe that the more people who communicate with others on the importance of voting will slowly encourage younger and less educated people to step up and voice their opinions to their state.
http://ajiginthesaw.blogspot.com/

Voters vote for booze Nov 6

November 6th is but a week away and their are many important propositions in line to vote on. One proposition may be especially important for the residents of Wimberly Texas. Wimberly Texas is one of the only dry areas in south Texas to remain. Recent years have changed other neighboring cities to “wet” and now allow the sales of beer and wine. Although, in Wimberly, you can drink at restaurants with private memberships, beer and wine are not to be sold in any stores. Instead the people living there have to make a drive to bordering cities to the north or the south when they want to buy booze in bulk. Five miles may not seem to be very far, but for a quick trip to the store, and with all the sky rocketing gas prices it seems tedious to make the drive when you will be returning to the city with the same alcohol anyways.
This voting day will provide residents a chance to vote on making alcohol sales legal in their city. Although, liquor will still be banned allowing beer and wine only it will be a convenient step for the general public. What I believe is interesting about this article out of the Austin Statesman today November 1, 2007, is to follow up after the election and compare the voter turn out to similar elections in the past. I think we will notice how high a priority alcohol can be to many people. It is said best in this article by Molly Bloom, from a quote by a local beer distributor, “People are going to drink no matter what.” Should everyone be allowed to purchase a tasty beer at the convenient store by their home? We will see on November 6th.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/11/01/1101wimberley.html

Should Counties Determine their own Fate?

This week on Wednesday October 17 in the Austin-Statesman their was an interesting editorial written by a Democratic representative in the House. Valinda Bolton of Austin made a bold and valid argument of the power struggle between local and state government. Bolton expressed the dispute to be the lack of capability and resources to counties in order to control their rapidly increasing population. Close to home in Travis County, Bolton uses an example that will directly touch Austin residents and other state citizens facing the same issues. She states that she recently witnessed the Hamilton pool's destruction of its beauty due to construction and renovation mixed with heavy rain this summer. The natural pool could have been preserved if the county had more control over land use. From this well planned article it is easy to see that the Representative had carefully thought and organized the article. She gave clear examples of the problem and continued on to show that she had already began to take a stand on the issue; by spreading her thoughts to the public, and receiving feedback from the community on the enormous population growth and expansion. Also, the democrat brought to the 80th legislation a bill that would give more authority to counties to establish growth and development, but despite her efforts the bill was struck down early in its process. The article was clear on its purpose and even if the facts were not provided we could easily take a look around our urban home, Austin, and see that problems like noise, water, and pollution need to managed. It is comforting to know that one woman in the government had the audacity to bring forth the issue to others and push for a change in power to embrace local government.

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/10/17/1018bolton_edit.html

Will Holly shutdown effect residents?

In the past week every news station and paper in the area has mentioned the Holly Power Plant shut down. The editorial out of the Austin Statesman on October 1 revealed information that many who do not reside in the neighborhood may be unaware of. As I reviewed the editorial written by the Editorial Board I wondered how a Liberal and Democratic Austin thought that it was just to possibly force residents out of there homes.
This article was printed for many Austinites in the area to read and especially to those it directly effects in the Holly neighborhood. Although the argument was not the main focus in the editorial it was, to me, the point that was made the most clearly. Toward the end of the article after hitting on the positive points of the shut down, the author raises the argument, "Holly has been shut down. But will those who fought for the quiet be able to enjoy it?" This is a story that would be interesting to continue to follow and know more information about as the situation is unveiled.
The article begins by emphasizing the positive aspects of its closer. The plant was noisy and caused the neighborhood to be faced with many problems including: the noise, and nuisances. But mostly for the safety issues; small fires at the plant that threatened homes and schools, as well as the pollutants that are harmful to the heath of the residents. The author makes the power plant shut down appealing and wonder why it was not tended to sooner, until the final paragraph. In that he states that the area that once was this large and noisy plant will be knocked down and turned into a park and pricey condos and homes. That sounds beautiful and fabulous to the wealthier side of Austin, including the politicians and government. But what will happen to the residents of the area who can not afford to live in a neighbor hood where property values will sky rocket? So, the question is ultimately not to keep Holly open, but simply will the land be replaced with something beneficial to the residence that have been there for so long?
The author does not provide the readers with enough evidence of the number of people that will be affected by the increase of property and the new condos. If he had provided the information it is possible that it would have reached out and affected a wider range of citizens. To me the article was successful, the one statement was enough to persuade me that the new renovations to the land were unfair for the underprivileged, but to many without more facts and data it may seem trivial.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/editorial/entries/2007/10/01/holly_powers_down_a_neighborho_1.html

Capital Metro Proposes Bus Fare Increase

In the Austin Statesmen Monday September 17 and Tuesday September 18 there has been two articles discussing Capital Metro's proposal to increase bus fare city wide. When they convened yesterday, the 17th, they met at 5pm giving anyone the opportunity to show and give their input. At first they thought the majority of the people would support the increase, considering Austin has one of the lowest bus fares in the state. Over the last few months Capital Metro held interviews and asked questions to over 1,300 people who use the transit system frequently. The results showed that 44% thought it was time to increase the bus fare, while 39% disagreed and were rather upset. Although at the meeting held, people gave voice that if the cost should be changed at all it should be reconfigured or at best be left alone. Many citizens spoke out and expressed opinions; including Jennifer McPhail, who was informed recently of Capital Metro's intentions to spend over 1.8 million dollars on new bus signs. She argued they do not even have things to spend there money on now why must they demand more? Another angry resident, Susana Almanza named the company racist because so many transit users are Mexican American. She was so infuriated by the proposal that she threatened to file a civil rights complaint. Overall the meeting allowed many people to express there opinions. The increase will be voted on next week by Capital Metro, and if they propose it the final say will be given, by law, to a hoc committee of 11 members sometime in October.
This article is especially important to our local politics and government because it effects thousands of residents in Austin. It is important to know that the increase is in the works so we can publicly voice our opinions in hopes of modifying or changing the plans.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/09/18/0918capmetro.html?COXnetJSessionIDbuild53a_prod=hygMGwPcyvrSNrkLhfNXn5Kz3GgyhCpFLbPlJbZMGzsJQxkVypQs!903605892&UrAuth=`NXNUObN\UbTTUWUXUVUZTZU_UWUbUVUZU]U]UcTYWYWZV&urcm=y