Everything is Bigger and Better in Texas!!!

Isn't the saying that everything is bigger and better in Texas a common belief amongst U.S. folk? People need to realize that the time when everything in Texas was bigger and better is long gone. I was also one of the people that also believed in this idea of Texan superiority until my eyes were opened by the document Texas on the brink.

Texas on the Brink ranks Texas against other states by comparing different statistics.  The document Texas on the brink includes statistics from education, environment protection, government spending on citizens, taxes, etc. Overall Texas is better than other states, in the wrong categories.  Sure Texas gives its residents a break when it comes to taxes, but that only means it will also provide less programs and aid to its residents. You better have saved all the money you got from your tax break because you will need it when you need to put a child through education, when you retire, or when you lose your job.

Texas is the 4^th state with highest population living below the federal poverty level; Texas has the highest number of uninsured children, and the 2^nd largest birthrate. These numbers mean that there are many Texan residents in need of government aid but if the state is also broke, who will provide this aid.

Among the categories that Texas leads are environmental hazards not being contained. Texas ranks the highest in amount of carbon dioxide emissions, amount of volatile organic compounds released into air, amount of toxic chemicals released into water, amount recognized cancer-causing carcinogens released into air, etc. It is really sad that people like me are not seeing these statistics, and people who have seen these numbers should try to pass them on to others if Texas is to ever turn around.

Gun Crazy

                Texas is more and more becoming a heaven for gun-loving people. At this time there are several bills that will allow gun possession to expand in Texas. Senate bill 321 will allow for Texan employees to carry guns in their cars at their company’s parking lot. This bill in meant to allow gun possession in parking lots at Texas’ companies and will overrule any policies of Texas employers prohibiting guns.

I personally don’t see a need to have a gun at work inside your car. Most people will spend the vast majority of their time inside the company and not in the parking lot. If someone decides to attack you leaving work or walking to the building you’re probably not going to be able to run back to your car to get your gun. The only way for a Texas employee to be able to use the gun from their car for protection would be if you get attacked while inside your car of if another employee inside his/her vehicle sees the attack.

Another problem with this legislature could be what happens when an employee gets angry at his/her boss or another employee or people with limited shooting experience. People do irrational things when angry or scared and I don’t think it helps to have a gun ready for use after you get fired or reprimanded at work. People are also prone to making human mistakes. Even trained gun-professionals like police officers and soldiers make mistakes when pressed with high risk situations  and I would imagine an average Joe/Jane that only has the minimal requirements for gun possession would make more mistakes in these situations.

Observing Republicans At Work

This week I got a chance to read one of the posts in Juanita Jean's, The World's Most Dangerous Beauty Salon Inc, by Susan DuQuesnay Bankston. The blog by the title, I Told You Somebody Wants Those Pajamas, sends a humorous but strong message about Texas Republican United States Congressman Blake Farenthold. The post talks about a picture that has the Congressman in his pajamas hugging two ladies in their pajamas and one of the young ladies has an “M” (minor) stamped on her hand.  The post concludes with, “Folks this is what happens when there’s a Republican sweep.  Do not let it happen ever again.”

Susan DuQuesnay Bankston has many followers that entirely agree with her views but in her blog rules, she explains she does not allow just any comment by anyone. Basically if she does not know you; she has to approve your comment.  This rule might actually filter comments by opposite views but one would need to submit an opposing comment to verify if these are truly filtered out.

Through The World's Most Dangerous Beauty Salon Inc, author Susan DuQuesnay Bankston is known for her humorous and sarcastic views. Overall, the entire blog is very entertaining but very left leaning and author Susan Bankston will take every shot she can at her Republican enemies. Those who consider themselves fans of the Republican Party might not find the The World's Most Dangerous Beauty Salon Inc as entertaining, unless they can handle very strong critiques.

Even though the entire World's Most Dangerous Beauty Salon Inc is very left leaning, the posts make strong points. Any politician, who appears in a picture like the one Republican Congressman Blake Farenthold appears in, would be questioned about what he/she was doing and would probably cause some people to lose confidence in that politician.

What's more Texan than Guns?

In her commentary, Tripp: In the face of danger, Texans must have the option to protect themselves, Alice Tripp defends the practice of allowing concealed weapons inside the Capitol, against a column written by Ken Herman in which he expresses that the practice is "going too far". Alice Tripp comments that she does not think she will need her protection while inside the Capitol but her worries come from the outside of the building. Alice Tripp's commentary is directed to anyone who cares about concealed weapons at the Capitol; whether you support it or like Ken Herman think it's unnecessary or even dangerous. Within her commentary, Alice Tripp makes good points. She is a 64 year old woman who has to exit the Capitol building late at night and make her way to the parking garage, alone. Through her commentary Alice Tripp pays special attention to emphasize that carrying a concealed weapon for protection is only an option citizens should have a right-to exercise. Alice Tripp is also a lobbyist for the Texas State Rifle Association so people can infer that she would be in favor of allowing concealed guns in the Capitol even if she didn't have to exit the Capitol building at night and by herself. Overall Alice Tripp's commentary has made a clear understanding of why someone would need to carry a concealed weapon to the Capitol; the only problem would come with a licensee who intends to use their concealed weapon in the wrong way.

Texas Shutting Down Education

Because of the immense hole that the Texas budget has fallen into with $27 billion dollars, school districts allover Texas are going to have to close down schools, lay off teachers, and find ways to cut down expenses on the schools that actually survive. As the article Neighborhoods, Schools, and Budgets by Richard Whittaker explains, parents and students are now forced to fight to keep their schools open. School principals are obligated to find ways to cut down expenses, which means cutting down classes and teachers and thus assigning more students per class.  This article should be very important to any Texan, these students will be the taxpayers of tomorrow and a good education will ensure that the whole nation has a secure future.