Don't Take From The Needy...Stop The Abuse

I read Carrie Sanders post, Taking from the needy, and I absolutely agree with some of the points she made. First, it is without a doubt indisputable that many people use the government system when they are not actually in need of assistance. Articlebase’s, Kyle Krannebitter, hits the nail on the head by stating, “Recipients find new ways each year to prolong their dependency on the system.  It is not fair to hard working tax payers who are giving their well earned money to greedy, lazy Americans that are able to work, but do not choose to.” This abuse ruins many government officials, along with many American, views on welfare programs, and in turn brings about bills such as the Farm Bill Carrie described in her article.

As always, there are pros and cons to each and every case, which inevitably leads to groups of supporters and groups of opponents. However, I do agree with Carrie that there are a lot of people that are in dire need of assistance, which is why it is so unfathomable that our government would take such assistance away from those whom are in need. Like Carrie said we need stricter regulations to stop the abusers and help the needy. President Bill Clinton took such action on the national level during his presidency. Articlebase’s, Kyle Krannebitter, states, “Welfare programs have proven beneficial in helping people and families that are in need.  Because of the program's abuse, new state regulations were needed.  Statistics show that the reform program implemented by Bill Clinton back in 1996 is working.  It has succeeded in reducing the number of families and people on assistance.”

So, why not follow in the former presidents footsteps by implementing such regulations on a state level? We as a state need to figure out how to continue to help those in need, sadly most of which are the elderly and children, and cut off those who are abusing the welfare system. Austin American Statesman, Hank Perret, touched on the sad statistic by stating, “Last Wednesday, the Agriculture Committee of the House of Representatives voted to pass dramatic cuts to the Farm Bill. If it passes in Congress, the legislation will remove $16.5 billion from food and hunger relief programs that directly benefit children, seniors and families.” We cannot let such nonsense take place. Although there will always be law breakers, cheaters, and those who abuse privileges, it should not ruin the chances for those who follow the rules and truly need the assistance. 

Krannebitter, Kyle. "Regulate the Welfare Abuse." Articlesbase.com. Articlesbase.com, n.d. Web. 14 Aug. 2012. <http://www.articlesbase.com/economics-articles/regulate-the-welfare-abuse-592020.html>.

Perret, Hank. "Perret: Cuts Would Affect Hungry Central Texas Kids, Seniors." Perret: Cuts Would Affect Hungry Central Texas Kids, Seniors. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Aug. 2012. <http://www.statesman.com/opinion/perret-cuts-would-affect-hungry-central-texas-kids-2419803.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage>.

Texting And Drviving, Is It Really That Bad?

Texting and driving, is it really that bad? I would argue yes. Shamefully, I am one of the people that have this problem. I try to avoid texting and driving, but at times I tend to forget. If the state of Texas made texting and driving illegal statewide, it would be harder for people to tend to forget, and hopefully then there would be less accidents and possible fatalities.

No matter how you look at it, texting and driving is dangerous. Every person learning to drive has to take a driver’s education course. From the get-go this course teaches us that at all times we should keep both eyes on the road and keep both hands on the steering wheel. So why would anyone argue that is safe to be reading something while driving, or taking their hands off the steering wheel in order to type a message on their phones? The Los AngelesTimes stated in an article that, “According to researchers from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Ft. Worth, texting behind the wheel accounted for 16,141 deaths between 2002 and 2007.” As you can see, that significant number only totals for the years up till 2007, we are now in 2012.

With growing technology, such as the new and improved iPhones each year, the demand to be on our phones has grown. Not only are people text messaging while driving, but now they are checking facebook, checking their emails, checking their schedules, and so on. So, presumably with the continuous growth in technology the fatality rate most likely will continue to increase. The International Business Times stated, “Deaths due to “distracted driving” rose 28 percent in three years to 5,870 in 2008 from 4,572 in 2005, an analysis of federal data on road fatalities said.” Can you imagine what that percentage is right now in 2012?

If government does not take action that number will continuously increase. I will be the first to admit that it will be hard to stop texting and driving completely, however, if there is a law in place and enforced, it will make a person, including myself, think twice before they pick up their phone. This is not something that is going to change overnight, but it is something that can change and that needs to change. We are endangering not only ourselves, but also innocent bystanders. You would think that alone would make a person want to change their habits. Although some opponents to this law, such as Governor Rick Perry, argue that such a law defies the rights of adults. I, however, would argue that adults are human, and humans do not always make the best decisions, so laws in general are in place in order to protect the people from possible bad decisions.

"Texting While Driving Killed at Least 16,000 in US." International Business Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Aug. 2012. <http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/66405/20100928/texting-while-driving-road-accidents-in-us-texting-and-driving-road-accidents.htm>.

24, September. "Researchers Calculate the Death Toll from Texting While Driving." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 24 Sept. 2010. Web. 09 Aug. 2012. <http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/24/news/la-heb-distracted-driving-20100924>.