Texas is the number two biggest size state right behind Alaska. It has oil and nature gas production providing the state's economic growth. Texas' population is growing rapidly fast. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, between 1980 and 2010, Texas' total population increased by 76.7 percent. It's population changed from 14.2 million to more than 25 million. Transportation has become a major problem in many major cities like Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and other big cities in Texas. I think Texas should ban texting and driving. Because texting while driving not only slows down the traffic but also leads to crashes and bring tragedies.
Cellphones has become one's most used tool in daily life. Many people not only talks on the phone but also texting too. National Safety Council estimates that at least 1.6 million crashes each year involve texting while driving. One in five crashes involves driver distraction. Further more, data shows most these crashes are among young or middle-aged people. Many victims died or disabled. Many familes lost their loved ones because texting while driving. It also brings lost to the companies where those victims worked at. So it is very harmful to our economy too. Texas has attempted passing a bill ban texting and driving. But this bill has died in the senate. From this, our lawmakers didn't do a good job on transportation to protect the life and safety of all Texans. Although many cities in Texas included Austin enacted citywide ban on texting and driving, Texas lawmakers still should ban texting and driving in statewide. Because only by doing this, the people who are living here would be more serious on the issue of texting and driving. It would prevent more tragedies from happening.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015
The road is too long......
On Tue May 26, 2015, R.G. Ratcliffe posted an article "Faith Anxiety and Adoptions by Same-Sex Couples "on Burka Blog of Texas Monthly. I think the author's intended audience are average citizens. The author R.G. Ratcliffe has published a lot of political articles on Texas Monthly which is an American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. It has been posted writings about politics, the environment, industry, and education since 1998. Ratcliffe is a freelance writer, contributing editor to Texas Monthly, and senior reporter to Houston Chronicle who graduated from University of Missouri-Columbia.
In this article, the author claims that, "Even if Sanford's amendment were to pass it, it seems unlikely to survive even its first challenge in federal court if the Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage." The author supported his claim by using the evidences that many faith-based adoption agencies in other places like Massachusetts and District of Columbia have shut down rather than place children with same-sex couples. The author thinks that, "This anxiety will play out in the Texas House today as state Representative Scott Sanford to offer a religious freedom amendment to a family services bill. The amendment would allow adoption agencies to discriminate based on religious beliefs." The author's logic is even same-sex marriage has been legalized, religious influence is still too powerful that the state has to pass the amendment about religious freedom to a family service bill.
I agree with the author's argument. Although everyone has rights to love and to be loved, they also have the rights to refuse others based on their own beliefs.
In this article, the author claims that, "Even if Sanford's amendment were to pass it, it seems unlikely to survive even its first challenge in federal court if the Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage." The author supported his claim by using the evidences that many faith-based adoption agencies in other places like Massachusetts and District of Columbia have shut down rather than place children with same-sex couples. The author thinks that, "This anxiety will play out in the Texas House today as state Representative Scott Sanford to offer a religious freedom amendment to a family services bill. The amendment would allow adoption agencies to discriminate based on religious beliefs." The author's logic is even same-sex marriage has been legalized, religious influence is still too powerful that the state has to pass the amendment about religious freedom to a family service bill.
I agree with the author's argument. Although everyone has rights to love and to be loved, they also have the rights to refuse others based on their own beliefs.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Republican or Democratic?
On 13 July, 2015, Daniel Hung posted an article" Republican leadership is responsible for many improvements in Texas" on The Daily Texan. Judging by what the article talks about, the author's intended audience is the average citizen. Columnist Daniel Hung has made many contributions to The Daily Texan. He is second year law student from Brownsville. A lot of his articles were very well-rated by audience.
In this article, the author claims that many improvements were made under the leadership by Republicans. Because of this reason, Republican leadership wouldn't end any time soon. Author Daniel Hung supported his arguments by using the evidence from former senior executive editor of Texas Monthly, Paul Burka, who has covered Texas politics for more than 40 years. He said "I would certainly say that Texas has prospered under the Republicans". The author also mentioned that ,"The Rainy Day Fund is bulging with money". Also, "On the economics side, all the news is good". The author talks about the good economy by comparing with California. The author's logic is that Texas' economy has became better since Texas' dominate political party became Republican. Also the pro-jobs Republican policies that makes Texas one of the fastest growing states in America. The author believes that there is still room for improvements from Republican leadership by passing tax cuts for everyone not just for a few.
I agree and disagree with the author's arguments. I think Republican leadership has made many improvements to the Texas' economy. But since this state's Hispanic and Latino population is growing at a very fast rate. And these people are in favor of Democratic party. So it would possibly shift the political rule soon in the future.
In this article, the author claims that many improvements were made under the leadership by Republicans. Because of this reason, Republican leadership wouldn't end any time soon. Author Daniel Hung supported his arguments by using the evidence from former senior executive editor of Texas Monthly, Paul Burka, who has covered Texas politics for more than 40 years. He said "I would certainly say that Texas has prospered under the Republicans". The author also mentioned that ,"The Rainy Day Fund is bulging with money". Also, "On the economics side, all the news is good". The author talks about the good economy by comparing with California. The author's logic is that Texas' economy has became better since Texas' dominate political party became Republican. Also the pro-jobs Republican policies that makes Texas one of the fastest growing states in America. The author believes that there is still room for improvements from Republican leadership by passing tax cuts for everyone not just for a few.
I agree and disagree with the author's arguments. I think Republican leadership has made many improvements to the Texas' economy. But since this state's Hispanic and Latino population is growing at a very fast rate. And these people are in favor of Democratic party. So it would possibly shift the political rule soon in the future.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Children are Innocent
On Monday, July 13, 2015, Texas Observer posted an article "Children of Immigrants Denied Citizenship". This article is worth reading because it talks about that " In the last year, the states has refused issue birth certificates to children who were born in Texas to undocumented parents. In May, four woman filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Texas Department of State Health Services alleging constitutional discrimination and interference in the federal government's authority over immigration".
A lawyer Jennifer Harbury, said that she have never seen such a big number of women with this problem. Local officials, which issue birth certificates by the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit, told the people that they no longer accept IDs from foreign country or a foreign passport without a current U.S. visa. Because of this reason, there are a lot of undocumented immigrants couldn't get the birth certificates for their children. And this has caused a lot of problems. Kids without birth certificate are unable to enroll in school or daycare or even treated in a medical emergency. But after filed the lawsuit, there is "a legal team is seeking a court order to reinstate the use of the matricula consular and foreign passports a valid proof of identity for undocumented mothers."
A lawyer Jennifer Harbury, said that she have never seen such a big number of women with this problem. Local officials, which issue birth certificates by the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit, told the people that they no longer accept IDs from foreign country or a foreign passport without a current U.S. visa. Because of this reason, there are a lot of undocumented immigrants couldn't get the birth certificates for their children. And this has caused a lot of problems. Kids without birth certificate are unable to enroll in school or daycare or even treated in a medical emergency. But after filed the lawsuit, there is "a legal team is seeking a court order to reinstate the use of the matricula consular and foreign passports a valid proof of identity for undocumented mothers."