I'm glad Joseph had said something about the death penalty because he couldn't have possibly stated his opinion any better. It's true that the executions should be our last resort. If Texas was so "hard" on the worst criminals, they should let them sit in prison for the rest of their lives and not simply put an end to their lives in a heartbeat. As Joseph previously stated, look at how much money the state could be saving! Millions of dollars! And could the government care less?? Of course, because they continue to spend so much more just to put on a show of how "tough" Texas really is. Executions don't prevent criminals from breaking the law. If we are suppose to help better society, there are different methods to go about it. Although in some cases, it may be best to execute certain criminals, it doesn't prove anything more than our capability of executing the wrong.
In the end, Joseph couldn't have said it any better than, "Maybe Texans are just afraid of change." Regardless of reason, I fail to believe that the TX death penalty will change in the near future. We can only hope our voices will be eventually heard.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Who really wants tuition increase?
I don't think there's ever going to be a win-win situation with students and tuition. It saddens me to know that no matter the case, tuition will always increase...eventually. Students apply for financial aid, grants, and scholarships. For many others, there's the burden of taking a loan.
The entire nation talks about being more educated and making something of yourself. We're all suppose to better our country. It's hard enough being admitted into a university, why is it tuition needs to be increased when it's already pretty high? Don't they feel they want to educate those who strive to get the best education? Or don't they think that students admitted worked extremely hard to make it in the first place?
It's difficult enough with all the obstacles we have to overcome to make it into a school like UT. Raising tuition won't only put many students in deeper debt than they already are but many may not be able to attend any longer for whatever the reason may be.
I understand that there are other factors as teacher's salary and campus expenses to take into consideration, but I still feel that tuition increase isn't that best way to go about it. Students kill to get the most out of education and be better in the real world. K-12 teachers do all it takes to get their students to love and enjoy learning. Then once you're out the door, burden is thrown upon you. It's troublesome to be admitted into higher education schools, causing many adults to not continue their education. So why is it we bother wasting the time it takes for K-12 teachers to engrave how important it is that we learn?
It beats me. Students suffer and struggle as much as it already is. May the outcome be for the best.
The entire nation talks about being more educated and making something of yourself. We're all suppose to better our country. It's hard enough being admitted into a university, why is it tuition needs to be increased when it's already pretty high? Don't they feel they want to educate those who strive to get the best education? Or don't they think that students admitted worked extremely hard to make it in the first place?
It's difficult enough with all the obstacles we have to overcome to make it into a school like UT. Raising tuition won't only put many students in deeper debt than they already are but many may not be able to attend any longer for whatever the reason may be.
I understand that there are other factors as teacher's salary and campus expenses to take into consideration, but I still feel that tuition increase isn't that best way to go about it. Students kill to get the most out of education and be better in the real world. K-12 teachers do all it takes to get their students to love and enjoy learning. Then once you're out the door, burden is thrown upon you. It's troublesome to be admitted into higher education schools, causing many adults to not continue their education. So why is it we bother wasting the time it takes for K-12 teachers to engrave how important it is that we learn?
It beats me. Students suffer and struggle as much as it already is. May the outcome be for the best.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
A Response to "Public Assistance in Texas"
I read both the original opinion & the response of my colleague's and have come to have a response to both people.
To "A Gee Statement":
I understand where you're coming from. A great 34.2% of our tax money is going to these assistance programs and the people who aren't in need, don't deserve our help. Although there are some "clever recipients" whom have manipulated the system, I don't believe there's a great percentage of those who actually get in. All applicants go through various interviews and all paperwork is verified with detail before being admitted, in order to prevent fraudulent applicants/information.
To, Wendy of "Government Matters":
It's true that a single parent and two children can hardly live off of $1,500. To worsen matters, eligibility requires you make below $1,341 in a household of three. It seems impossible to survive with income limitations so low but remember these programs were meant to only assist.
Raising the bar on eligiblility requirements won't help anyone on either side of the fence. Therefore, I feel one of the best solutions could be to keep our eligible income limitations at the same rate or lower it and enforce more strict eligibility requirements. We shouldn't be giving money away just because there are many of those who need help but instead assist them in finding jobs. There's a program called Texas Workforce and that's where we should take a percentage of our taxes should be going instead of these "assisting programs." Texas Workforce Commission offers various programs to train those who need jobs and not only assist in childcare providers, but also have educational institutions and many more. These programs help those in need to get back on their feet and make make something of themselves. Our tax money should be going somewhere worth the effort and time; especially spent wisely. Now that's something to be happy about (for both sides of the fence).
To "A Gee Statement":
I understand where you're coming from. A great 34.2% of our tax money is going to these assistance programs and the people who aren't in need, don't deserve our help. Although there are some "clever recipients" whom have manipulated the system, I don't believe there's a great percentage of those who actually get in. All applicants go through various interviews and all paperwork is verified with detail before being admitted, in order to prevent fraudulent applicants/information.
To, Wendy of "Government Matters":
It's true that a single parent and two children can hardly live off of $1,500. To worsen matters, eligibility requires you make below $1,341 in a household of three. It seems impossible to survive with income limitations so low but remember these programs were meant to only assist.
Raising the bar on eligiblility requirements won't help anyone on either side of the fence. Therefore, I feel one of the best solutions could be to keep our eligible income limitations at the same rate or lower it and enforce more strict eligibility requirements. We shouldn't be giving money away just because there are many of those who need help but instead assist them in finding jobs. There's a program called Texas Workforce and that's where we should take a percentage of our taxes should be going instead of these "assisting programs." Texas Workforce Commission offers various programs to train those who need jobs and not only assist in childcare providers, but also have educational institutions and many more. These programs help those in need to get back on their feet and make make something of themselves. Our tax money should be going somewhere worth the effort and time; especially spent wisely. Now that's something to be happy about (for both sides of the fence).
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Talk about Racism...
After reading the article about Tyrone Brown and John Alex Wood, I've got to say that I'm feeling quite aggravated. A black man, Brown, sentenced to life over a $2 stick-up compared to a murderer, Wood, with innumerable times being found guilty doing drugs as cocaine. How could this in any way have sound the least bit even-handed to you? It was obviously a biased judge with issues.
I understand that Brown needed to learn his lesson and be punished. In which he got 10 years of probation. But then he made the mistake of doing marijuana while on probation, causing further punishment. What I didn't agree with was his life sentence because of having drugs in his system. How could this have flown over so many people's heads? Why hadn't it caught anyone's attention to help this man?
As for Mr. Wood, I honestly don't know what to say. The first time he was thrown in court was because he shot a man by the name of Mr. Clark. That should've clearly been a sign that he should be harshly punished. Especially if the same judge felt Mr. Brown deserved life sentence for marijuana. Not only was he sent free for MURDER, he had failed at least 5 drug tests and his was punishment was "postcard probation." He even flew to Italy while he was on probation!
After 17 years of imprisonment, Mr. Brown was freed. I thank god for that. I'm still bothered by the fact that I feel the judge should lose his position. He shouldn't be allowed to serve as a judge any longer for unnecessary punishments. Everyone should pay for their faults to a certain extent, regardless of whom you are in society.
I understand that Brown needed to learn his lesson and be punished. In which he got 10 years of probation. But then he made the mistake of doing marijuana while on probation, causing further punishment. What I didn't agree with was his life sentence because of having drugs in his system. How could this have flown over so many people's heads? Why hadn't it caught anyone's attention to help this man?
As for Mr. Wood, I honestly don't know what to say. The first time he was thrown in court was because he shot a man by the name of Mr. Clark. That should've clearly been a sign that he should be harshly punished. Especially if the same judge felt Mr. Brown deserved life sentence for marijuana. Not only was he sent free for MURDER, he had failed at least 5 drug tests and his was punishment was "postcard probation." He even flew to Italy while he was on probation!
After 17 years of imprisonment, Mr. Brown was freed. I thank god for that. I'm still bothered by the fact that I feel the judge should lose his position. He shouldn't be allowed to serve as a judge any longer for unnecessary punishments. Everyone should pay for their faults to a certain extent, regardless of whom you are in society.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
What's a Hide Inspector??
How often do you hear someone say that they're a hide inspector for a living? I would say about NEVER. That's probably because such a position no longer exists in our community today. So let me start by asking you, "Why is it so significant that it must remain in our Texas Constitution?" Don't feel you're alone because I can't quite understand why either.
The Texas Constitution, along with the U.S. Constitution, is supposed to reflect our current society today. So why is it we only constantly add and not concerned about removing what is no longer needed or useful? Our Constitution needs to be put in a way where the entire public is able to at least grasp the broad idea. I feel there are so many citizens who refuse to learn about our Constitution because it's so confusing. I don't blame them at all. We keep a bunch of old, nonsense in there making it extremely difficult to take in necessary information. I personally think our Constitution looks way too messy and needs someone to eliminate as much of out-dated information as possible. As Heflin had stated in the article, "That's all this is, housecleaning."
Heflin also stated that, "As long as the position is listed in the Constitution, someone can sign up and run for it." It's strange that the position is still made available when it was replaced by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Associations a long time ago.
What I'm, and the article, is trying to get at is by voting "yes" to Proposition 10 on Nov. 6th, it's the beginning to starting somewhere. Let's take a step and better our government together.
Feel free to peep in on the details:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/stories/
MYSA101607.01O.PropTen2ed.23a82f8.html
The Texas Constitution, along with the U.S. Constitution, is supposed to reflect our current society today. So why is it we only constantly add and not concerned about removing what is no longer needed or useful? Our Constitution needs to be put in a way where the entire public is able to at least grasp the broad idea. I feel there are so many citizens who refuse to learn about our Constitution because it's so confusing. I don't blame them at all. We keep a bunch of old, nonsense in there making it extremely difficult to take in necessary information. I personally think our Constitution looks way too messy and needs someone to eliminate as much of out-dated information as possible. As Heflin had stated in the article, "That's all this is, housecleaning."
Heflin also stated that, "As long as the position is listed in the Constitution, someone can sign up and run for it." It's strange that the position is still made available when it was replaced by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Associations a long time ago.
What I'm, and the article, is trying to get at is by voting "yes" to Proposition 10 on Nov. 6th, it's the beginning to starting somewhere. Let's take a step and better our government together.
Feel free to peep in on the details:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/stories/
MYSA101607.01O.PropTen2ed.23a82f8.html
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Telecommunity Learning
The following link, http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_7047192, directs you to an
opinion article from the El Paso Times newspaper posted on Oct 01, 2007,
written by the El Paso Times staff. I also further researched this topic
to check out the facts and found a news article in relation at
http://www.elpasotimes.com//ci_7020402?IADID=Search-www.elpasotimes.com-www.elpasotimes.com.
I was both estatic and in agreement when I read both articles because
our Texas schools are beginning to make an improvement in new learning
methods. Keeping up with the system makes it an easier learning
experience for both the teachers and students. Both of these articles talks
about the El Paso Independent School District taking the learning
experience to an entire new level. It's always been a challenge for schools
to continually find a new way to interest students in learning and
keeping up or relating with the progression of the real world. This new
learning method was based on schools teleconferencing. The Texas History
Mystery Quest video conference at several elementary schools was their
first attempt in making this work and it turned out to be a great
success. The conference consisted of educational lessons about Texas history
with the students giving each other clues to identify a Texas person,
event, or place. They were able to use their textbooks, internet, and
anything in between with the time limit of twenty minutes. Students
weren't only learning about Texas History, but also learning to use
technology, meeting other people in different areas, and having fun at the same
time. These experiences turned out more valuable and memorable because
the students enjoyed it. Since all turned out well, chances are this
new method may eventually be applied to all other subjects. I can't wait
to see what other ideas our government will develop in the near future.
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