Blog Stage 8

I certainly agree that repeat DWI offenders should not be granted use of an “occupational license” but I believe that an even more effective approach would be denial of this type of license after even the first offense.

Unfortunately, this behavior is typical of Texas state government and is unlikely to change any time soon.

I believe there are two specific reasons for this.

First, Texas has historically been an “anti-tax” state. I put this term in quotes because in practice it’s inaccurate. The state legislature is notorious for over spending, similar to its federal counterpart. However, due to the anti-tax political climate in Texas, raising taxes is a pariah for the majority of representatives in both the house and senate. Clever politicians have been successful at generating additional revenue by what is known as “loser’s fees”, which is a surcharge added to fines against the few who get caught violating a law by many. By eliminating occupational license’ to first time DWI offenders, the state simply loses money.

The fees associated with this license may not add up to much individually but Texas has continually ranked high on the list of U.S. states of DWI fatalities. And the numbers support this argument.

The second reason is more symptomatic than amoral. This is simply the fact that state agencies such as the DPS are mired in bureaucracy and workload. In brief, there are too many requests for an occupational license and not enough judges.

This is another example of how a government “exemption” so to speak; creates more problems than it solves.

On an ethical level, this is unacceptable. If someone drives under the influence, kills someone, is charged with manslaughter and can be sentenced a very lengthy prison term; the first incident of being convicted of driving under the influence should be treated just as sternly. 

At What Point is Enough, Enough?

There is no question that the next Texas Legislative Session will be one for the record books.  State agencies have struggled finding ways to cut their budgets to the tune of 15% off the 2012-2013 biennium numbers.  A cut of 5% was also implemented in the current 2010-2011 budgets.  The Austin American Statesman (Link) reported Monday that there could even be another round of cuts in the near future.  Agencies such as Texas Education Agency (TEA), who were shielded from the previous cuts, will not receive the same protection they once relied on.

This comes at the same time as a promise by the state that the budget shortfall, estimated to be 18 Billion, will be reached without raising taxes.  This sounds nice but in reality how far are they willing to go before critical services are affected and people start losing their jobs?  Texans need to wake up and start realizing what is going on.  We as Texans have failed to become educated citizens when it comes to the finances of our state.  It seems as though many of us have idly stood by while the capital has made poor financial decisions left and right when it comes to spending.  Governor Perry has forgone governmental procedures which in turn has lined his and his colleague’s pockets with cash.  And we re-elected him?  Of the public eye, many have come to a general consensus that Texas’ finances have been superior in comparison to other states.  On the contrary, the opposite has shown to be true.

As Texans, we need to transition from being inactive to actively educating ourselves, since our state’s financial future is in jeopardy.  With every budget hole and oversight comes the chance to fill those gaps and repair our economic outlook.  It should be our duty as Texans to demand honest analyses of our state’s budget and for the experts of our state to feed us with honest opinions to help prepare realistic solutions as the budget shortfall looms ahead.

Bully with a Badge?

Austin Police Department's Chief of Police, Art Acevedo, has yet again fired Officer Leonardo Quintana.  Quintana lost his job earlier this year after he was arrested for drunk driving. 

Many people may also recall the highly controversial officer involved shooting death of a Nathaniel Sanders, who was killed in an alleged altercation with Quintana in which the two were reportedly wrestling over a firearm that Nathaniel Sanders possessed.  In that event I may mention that Quintana's dash cam recorded nothing of that incident because Officer Quintana did not activate his patrol car camera.  This was a highly publicized issue that had the local media buzzing for months.  It has been a while since the media frenzy finally lost steam and fell out of the front pages of the papers, but guess what?  Officer Quintana is making headlines again.

Not a week after Quintana was reinstated back into uniform; Acevedo once again fired him for altercations involving another police officer.  That other officer had been romantically involved with Quintana.  After the statements from Lori Noriega, it appears as though Quintana committed assault and battery one night against her. 

With Quintana’s character becoming less and less creditable why was he given his job as a police officer back in the first place?  I think he should have never been put back on the force to begin with.  Driving while intoxicated is a horrible thing, and I’d expect an officer who knows the dangers of drunk driving and has first handedly had to deal with the damaging effects they cause would have enough thought not to be as carelessly irresponsible.  I understand that the police department is made up of non-perfect human beings, but many of them do not need to be representing the law, let alone carrying the power that they possess by the badge.  I also know that there are many outstanding individuals among those serving in APD, but you’re only as good as your weakest link.  How many weak links does APD have? 

I used to think that there were only a few bad apples in our police department.  Now I am beginning to believe that there are more than just a few.  Are these the kind of irresponsible bullies we want representing our communities?  We do not need these types of aggressive drunks on the force.  We need people in law enforcement who are capable of self-control, the ability to pass good, honest, and moral judgment.

Undermining Texas

It has been reported that Gov. Rick Perry has approved an award of $4.5 million to a start-up company founded by David G. Nance, a campaign supporter of Perry.  Some might think, so what?  Who cares?  Well I care, and I think all Texans should care about Perry’s complete disregard of ethical principles while governing our state.  Phillip Martin (author of “Rick Perry’s Political Machine Is Selling State Government”) and I both seem to be bothered by his unscrupulous business practices and miss use of state funds.

The $4.5 million given to Nance and his company (Convergen Lifesciences Inc.) was awarded from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.  The funds are earmarked for new business start-ups that meet the requirements of the statewide advisory board and committee.  There is an application process to receive such funding, followed by a review by the committee in order to award new tech companies state funding.  Gov. Perry completely bypassed the review process of the tech fund board, who by the way denied giving the $4.5 million to Convergen, and handed over taxpayers’ money to his “buddy”.  This is a governor who seems to do whatever he wants and uses his executive powers in an exploitive fashion to benefit himself, his campaign supporters, and his cronies. 

The evidence of corruption in Perry’s executive office couldn’t be clearer.  A man that bypasses his own legislation at his own personal discretion is a man that Texan’s do not need in office.  If this isn’t a wake-up call to voters, then I don’t know what is.  This is just one example of a plethora of shady business standards that Gov. Perry has displayed during his reign.  How long are we going to stand by and watch?

School Board of Education?

Currently there is a concerning buzz humming around The Texas State Board of Education.  There is an effort by the board to remove and/or censor history based on political views by today’s ultra religious conservatives.  The State Board of Education is again on its way to embarrassing the State of Texas and its educational system. 

Let us start off by recognizing that when it comes to educational ranks among the United States, Texas is not keeping pace with front runners.  An editorial from the Houston Chronicle points out some alarming political pressures are showing up on the state boards agenda with regards to the content showing up in textbooks. 

The Texas State Board of Education is making a mockery of the public school system by essentially trying rewrite history.  Examples include efforts to push evolution out of the curriculum, replacing words that some say evoke negative connotations toward certain political parties(right wing neo conservatives), and even managing to slice out Thomas Jefferson’s philosophy of the separation of church and state. Christian conservatives are now trying to censor school textbooks on mentioning information pertaining to “gross pro-Islamic/anti-Christian distortions”.  Then, “warning they will be looking into rejecting future submissions that continue to offend Texas law…significant inequalities of coverage space wise.”

I agree with the author’s opinion as this relates to being an “attempt to capitalize on the current hostility toward Islam”.  I think it’s important for us, as citizens of Texas, to teach our children real and accurate history. This includes talks of Christianity along with worthy mentions of other religions, including but not limited to Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism.  We should be teaching our students to be culturally sensitive, and no matter race creed or origin, as a society we must learn to live and respect each other. 

Here is an excerpt from the Chronicle showing that some people, regardless of religious affiliation or cultural views, are working together to create a harmonious neighborhood for themselves and their children.

"Not all Texans share the xenophobia. In the Clear Lake area, for example, a mosque was built last year on the same plot of land as a Unitarian-Universalist church, which had been there 18 years. Currently, reported the Chronicle's Safiya Ravat on Sunday, the two congregations share parking, recycling facilities and sometimes child care. Now that's something our kids could learn from."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/7220827.html

Political Mudslinging

With the governors race heating up it should be no surprise to us TV watchers, that a barrage of negative campaign ads are on their way.  Is it me, or does it seem that instead of highlighting positive accomplishments and providing examples of qualifications for leading the state into the next biennium, politicians decide to resort to good 'ol fashioned trash talk.

As if those negative TV ads were annoying enough, the information and truths conveyed in such ads aren't as reliable as one would hope.  In an article from politifact.com three shots aimed at Bill White, by the Rick Perry, are merely falsities or half truths at best. 

I know, big shocker right?  Politicians not telling the whole truth!

What concerns me most is that people, once exposed to such ads twisting the facts about another candidate, will believe such accusations toward said opponent.   

This article is worth reading because it helps try and set the facts straight about some of the claims Governor Perry has alleged against Bill White's record as mayor of Houston.  I'd like to thank W. Gardner Selby for publishing this article, revisiting Perry's ads, and for lifting the blinds to show more of the truth.

http://www.politifact.com/texas/article/2010/sep/17/rick-perry-assails-bill-white-three-ads-salted-fam/