In Response to Texas' Current Teacher Salary

In blog seven, Lezlie Mills assessed Texas’ current teacher salary in her blog, Texas Politics: A Blue's Review, and whether they receive enough pay. Unfortunately, she observed that Texas does not fund our teachers well enough and states Austin Independent School District (AISD) is actually ranked extremely low, 49th out of 50 school districts, for basic teacher wages. Lezlie also pointed out that just twenty years ago firefighters and teachers received equal salaries, as oppose to now.

I completely agree with Lezlie that our state’s teachers are not being paid enough. She brings attention to the fact that our educators are known well for carrying such an important yet underpaid and under-appreciated job. We depend upon teachers to instruct us and instill individual growth. It is about time we recognized this.

Texas Governor Rick Perry Named Amongst Worst In Nation

Political watchdog group CREW, “Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington,” has lately named Texas Governor Rick Perry as among the worst governors in the entire nation. Gov. Perry was ranked along with ten others apparently not qualified for their jobs. Our governor’s list of infractions include use of campaign contributions on personal expenses, rejecting federal stimulus funds, and obstructing access to information linked to a death penalty case by refusing release of a clemency report.

To be fair-minded, CREW, is indeed a liberal watchdog group that was established by democratic activists and is financed by democrat money. Moreover, the group’s bias is apparent in some cases within their article. I do agree with the indication made last week by Paula Burka of BurkaBlog that Governor Perry “comes off pretty well” in comparison to his fellow colleagues listed, although in reality the CREW’s list merely scratches the surface and includes only his most recent errors of judgment. The clear fact that Governor Perry’s list of various transgressions are neither exaggerated nor overstated makes him all the shoddier. I am not and have never been a fan of our state’s current governor, nor am I partial to any of his aforementioned actions and proceedings. Come this year’s re-election, my vote will go elsewhere.

In Response to Health Care

In blog five, John Muraida reviewed President Obama’s recently passed health care bill in his political weblog, Texas My State. He makes note of the disconcerting factor that Texas is predominantly a Republican state, and, in result, many are in protest, declaring the new law as unconstitutional.

John and I are in agreement in that we both believe the particular stance Republicans are taking is quite ambiguous at the least. Conservatives argue that the “baby killer” bill is in fact “government takeover of health care,” reports the New York Daily News. I, as most liberals, beg to differ. President Obama’s health care reform bill has revamped the nation’s medical system for the better, and as Rep. Carolyn Maloney effectively states, “Every President since Teddy Roosevelt has wanted to pass health reform. It's a wonderful achievement.”

An Infanticide Law for Texas

Nearly a month ago, two Texas legislators proposed a new bill that would effectively make postpartum mental illness identifiable as a legitimate defense for women indicted in a court of law. This bill states that if a woman commits murder of their child under the age of one, the jury can take into account evidence of an “extremely disturbed mind” as a result of giving birth. Postpartum depression is recognized as a justifiable claim and in over 25 countries, including Canada, Australia, and Great Britain. Those countries have enacted infanticide laws, and Texas is considering becoming the first state in our country to also do so. According to defense attorney George Secrest, it is a difficult defense because “the jury is going to have to focus not only on the facts of the actual offense on trial, but they’re going to have to understand the mental state of mind of the accused.”

Despite concerns expressed by some, if the defense can present proper evidence of their client’s mental condition, I believe that evidence should be used as a mitigating factor in the jury’s decision. I hope Texas proceeds to take this infanticide bill into account and reviews it fairly and accordingly, because postpartum depression is a condition that can severely worsen into psychotic mental illness, and possibly result in tragedy. And murder conceivably caused by a hazardous psychological disorder should be enough to persuade Texas to, at the very least, fully assess and evaluate this bill with possible great consequence.

Obama Makes 15 Recess Appointments

Recently, it has been announced that President Barack Obama will be making fifteen recess appointments held up by Republican adjournment, and he will continue to refer fifteen people to chief administration positions. Those include two upper positions within the Treasury Department and two positions on the National Labor Relations Board that have been unfilled for over a year. News that the President puts blame on Republicans has made headlines, as he accuses them “of playing politics by obstructing his nominations,” according to a Reuters’ article.

Conservative “Texas Fred” recently took to his weblog and opted to "cover" these recent proceedings within his March 28th post, entitled “Obama announces 15 recess appointments, scolds GOP.” Yet, rather than discussing this current presidential decision, “Texas Fred” hardly mentions anything involving the fifteen recess appointments and actually takes the time to make a lengthy list of the apparent “similarities” between Barack Obama and Adolf Hitler. In my opinion, though President Obama’s actions may not be the most sensible at this point in time, “Texas Fred” and others alike who pose as one with great political intelligence, completely eliminate themselves of having any credibility towards politics with such outlandish dogmatic rants which are not helping this political process progress at all. We should to be looking for an educated, more constructive opinion or answer to this situation, rather than incredulous bigoted conclusions that claim our current president is the reincarnation of deceased German Nazi dictator.

Corruption Among Customs Agents

As conflict intensifies along the southwest border, so are increasing infiltrations within our federal law enforcement by Mexican drug cartels, and lack of funds is preventing the recovery and detainment of such corrupt agents, according to homeland security officials.

Scott Henson, political affiliate and author of Grits For Breakfast, a liberal weblog for the progressive audience, posted the article “Will boosted border hiring cause corruption?” dated from 2006 and argued that drug cartel leaders with connections to US law enforcement would ultimately take advantage of the recent hiring wave by the US Customs Service.

With light shed on these recent dealings, it is clear that Henson was correct. March 12th, in Henson’s post, “Told ya so: Massive expansion of customs agents and invited increased border corruption,” he calls attention to the fact that he did, indeed, foresee these circumstances of infiltration occurring years prior to their actual happenings and puts forth the question as to why federal officials did not.

Not only was this potential crisis obvious to Scott Henson and the public in 2006, I completely agree and consider it to be preposterous that our government did not anticipate this move by the drug cartels, and even more so, that they could not come to terms for the past four years with a plan of action and proper finance to accommodate increasing corruption problems.

As Henson takes note of his own cynicism, he further predicts, “we'll see increased corruption problems among border officials in coming years as a result of this illogically rapid, politically motivated border security buildup.” I am of the same opinion. Henson just may be right for a second time if US law enforcement does not take heed and handle this situation and strategy as soon as possible.

The 2010 Census and the Importance of Redistricting

With April 1st, Census Day, just around the corner, the importance of taking part in the 2010 Census cannot be emphasized enough.

Charles Kuffner, writer of the political weblog, Off the Kuff, uses Mustafa Tameez’s op-ed piece from yesterday’s Houston Chronicle as a case in point from a political perspective. He indicates that Tameez highlights the purpose of redistricting, “the process by which the boundaries of elective districts are periodically redrawn to maintain equal representation on the basis of population.” Furthermore, Tameez calls attention to the fact that Texas Legislature will then set out drawing lines for redistricting, depending upon the population’s contribution and the official publication of the 2010 census.

Both Kuff and Tameez are right to stress the significance in participating in the 2010 Census. Due to the increase in population since the last census was taken in 2000, it is very possible for Texas to actually obtain up to four Congressional seats and additionally be granted billions in federal aid. I, too, agree that many are unaware of the process of the census and it’s ultimate benefit, further influence and representation in Washington for the state of Texas.


link: http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=26523