Saturday, May 3, 2008
Comment On "Texas Finally Made a Move"
This article's suggestion that children not be allowed to live on religious compounds definitely infringes on religious freedoms. The problem with it is what exactly should define a religious compound? This would have the potential to make religious schools, the ones where the children live on site, illegal. Religious camps, where children stay for a week or two, would also be in danger of falling under the label "religious compound". Even Christian orphanages would be in danger of being made illegal under the label of "religious compound". While I can understand how infuriating these hideous crimes can be, I think that a law making it illegal for children to live on religious compounds would likely be misused.
It is also said in the article that men should not be left alone with children. Maybe it was just poorly stated, but this seems to suggest that all, or at least most, men are pedophiles. This certainly is not the case, and I do not think laws should be made with that assumption in mind. I do agree, however, that Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a dangerous religion that should be at the very least watched closely by the government. On the other hand, the suggestions in this article just go too far.
Here is a link to the article.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Judges Votes: Hidden From the Public Eye
This problem largely stems from the fact that Texas Supreme Court justices are elected in partisan elections. Other methods of electing judges have their pros and cons, but the particular problem with partisan elections is that the judges have to campaign for their seats as justices. In these campaigns as with all other campaigns in politics, money is a crucial part of the equation. When campaigning the justice candidates need campaign contributions, and they need to remain conscious of these contributors as they carry out their jobs. Studies show that campaign contributors are more likely to have their case heard than non-contributors. This means that they are letting the politics affect their decisions on justice. Here lies the problem. Because the votes that justices make are not required to be made public, they rarely are made public. This hides any corruption that may be within the judicial branch of Texas, and citizens are incapable of making an informed decision in their votes for justices.
It is important that Texas make all votes in the Texas Supreme Court and the accessible to the public. This way, Texas citizens can make their votes with access to information on the potential corruption or unfairness of the candidates for Texas Supreme Court justices.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Comment on "Needle in a Haystack"
Here is a link to the article.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Capital Punishment: The Necessary Evil
Capital Punishment is the ultimate penalty for a crime, and Texas recognizes that. The death penalty can only apply to these crimes:
- murder of a public safety officer or firefighter;
- murder during the commission of kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, or obstruction or retaliation;
- murder for remuneration;
- murder during prison escape;
- murder of a correctional employee;
- murder by a state prison inmate who is serving a life sentence for any of five offenses (murder, capital murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, or aggravated robbery);
- multiple murders;
- murder of an individual under six years of age.
Many debate whether capital punishment deters future murders or not, but John McAdams clearly states my opinion on the matter when he said,
"If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to me, is not a tough call."
The most important reason to keep the death penalty is to prevent those that commit the crimes from repeating them. If an inmate is sentenced to life in prison without parole in a state without the death penalty, then that inmate has nothing to lose. The felon would have the rest of his life to attempt an escape, and it would be impossible to have a substantial penalty for his actions.
For these reasons Texas should keep the death penalty. It is something that all people who want peace in our society wish did not have to exist, but it is absolutely necessary.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Article on Hillary Appealing Abuses
Friday, February 22, 2008
Article on Actions to Audit TxDOT
A large amount of meaning can be put into a small amount of words. In this article by Michael A. Lindenberger, he writes briefly on Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst's and House Speaker Tom Craddick's effort to audit TxDOT. The article is on The
This becomes clearer when one views what Mr. Lindenberger does not say. Dewhurst and Craddick say clearly in their letter to John Keel, the Senate Auditor, that they have found reason to believe that there are "questionable accounting procedures" in TxDOT's financial reporting and forecasting. The letter then goes on to give a few their reasons on why they believe this. By not giving these reasons that support Dewhhusrt's and Craddick's actions while writing his article he shows that he is not simply writing about an event but is also showing his opinion on the event and therefore he is making an argument. He is arguing that TxDOT is innocent of misused funds and that both the Lt. Gov. and the House Speaker are wrong. In his argument the winners are TxDOT and those who can afford toll roads, and the losers are conservatives and the poor.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Illegal Immigrants Travel to Texas Because of Other State's Laws
It is well known that the incredible growth rate of the Hispanic population in
This event is important to note because it shows how effective anti-illegal immigrant laws can be. If our state were to implement similar laws we would experience similar effects. While it would definitely deplete some of our industries' work forces, it would be beneficial to our state overall.
A more detailed article can be viewed here.