tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55933732710631354992024-03-08T09:53:36.777-08:00Texas And Its PeopleTexas And It's Peoplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14424135668140559323noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593373271063135499.post-77863296588365231182012-08-14T09:17:00.001-07:002012-08-14T09:19:28.845-07:00Don't Take From The Needy...Stop The Abuse<br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">I read <a href="http://atexansperception.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carrie Sanders</a> 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. <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/economics-articles/regulate-the-welfare-abuse-592020.html" target="_blank">Articlebase’s</a>, Kyle Krannebitter, hits the nail
on the head by stating, “<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">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.</span>” 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 <a href="http://atexansperception.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carrie</a> described
in her article.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">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 <a href="http://atexansperception.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carrie</a> 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 <a href="http://atexansperception.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carrie</a> 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. </span><a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/economics-articles/regulate-the-welfare-abuse-592020.html" target="_blank">Articlebase’s</a>, Kyle Krannebitter, states, “<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">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.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">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.<a href="http://www.statesman.com/opinion/perret-cuts-would-affect-hungry-central-texas-kids-2419803.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage" target="_blank"> Austin American Statesman</a>, Hank Perret, touched on the sad statistic by
stating, “</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">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.</span>” 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. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">Krannebitter, Kyle. "Regulate the Welfare Abuse." </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-indent: -48px;">Articlesbase.com</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">. Articlesbase.com, n.d. Web. 14 Aug. 2012. <http://www.articlesbase.com/economics-articles/regulate-the-welfare-abuse-592020.html>.</span>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">Perret, Hank. "Perret: Cuts Would Affect Hungry Central Texas Kids, Seniors." </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-indent: -48px;">Perret: Cuts Would Affect Hungry Central Texas Kids, Seniors</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">. 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>.</span>
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Texas And It's Peoplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14424135668140559323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593373271063135499.post-33417260180376568112012-08-09T08:17:00.004-07:002012-08-09T08:19:00.415-07:00Texting And Drviving, Is It Really That Bad?<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">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.
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">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? <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/24/news/la-heb-distracted-driving-20100924" target="_blank">The Los AngelesTimes</a> stated in an article that, “<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">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.</span>” As you can see, that significant number only totals for the years
up till 2007, we are now in 2012. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">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 <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/66405/20100928/texting-while-driving-road-accidents-in-us-texting-and-driving-road-accidents.htm" target="_blank">International Business Times</a> stated, “</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">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</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">.</span>” Can you imagine what that percentage is right now in 2012? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">"Texting While Driving Killed at Least 16,000 in
US."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>International Business Times</i>. 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>.<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">24, September. "Researchers Calculate the Death Toll
from Texting While Driving."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>Los Angeles Times</i>. Los Angeles
Times, 24 Sept. 2010. Web. 09 Aug. 2012.
<http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/24/news/la-heb-distracted-driving-20100924>.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Texas And It's Peoplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14424135668140559323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593373271063135499.post-28032632963232848982012-07-31T07:20:00.002-07:002012-07-31T08:27:37.772-07:00Why Planned Parenthood Is Good For Texas Commentary<br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I read <a href="http://tandersontexas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Robert Anderson’s</a> article, Why Planned Parenthood Is
Good For Texas, and I have to say he brought a lot of key points to the
surface. Much like what Robert said Planned Parenthood is a business, or shall
I say their belief in pro-choice, that causes a lot of controversy amongst
different political groups. Being a person who does not identify one hundred
percent with either political party, it is tough for me to take a side on
abortions should be a choice. However, I do think
it is necessary for Planned Parenthood to be around regardless of their stance
on abortion.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">After doing my research on Planned Parenthood I fail to see
how Roberts’s statement on Planned Parenthood is accurate. In his article <a href="http://tandersontexas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Robert</a>
stated, “However what
many fail to see is that abortions are not being done by Planned Parenthood,
but in fact by entirely separate corporations.” On <a href="http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/planned-parenthood-glance-5552.htm" target="_blank">Planned Parenthoods</a> website
they state it plain as day by saying, “<strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">Three percent</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> of all
Planned Parenthood health services are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">abortion services</span></strong>.” This statement proves that Planned
Parenthood does offer abortion services, however, they are only offered in
certain Planned Parenthood clinics, which by state law, such clinics are not
funded by the state.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppaustin/board-directors-3727.htm" target="_blank">Planned Parenthood</a> stated it perfectly on their website by saying, “<em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-style: normal; padding: 0in;">In order to comply with state regulations effective June 1, 2005,
Austin Planned Parenthood is divided into three separate but affiliated
corporate entities: Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region (PPTCR),
Planned Parenthood of Austin Surgical & Sexual Health Services (PPASSHS),
and Planned Parenthood of Austin Family Planning (PPAFP). PPAFP is supported by
state funds—no state funds are used by Planned Parenthood of Austin Surgical
& Sexual Health Services or Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region.”
With that being said it is obvious that </span></em>Planned Parenthoods name
backs the affiliation companies. So, isn’t it safe to say that Planned Parenthood
does offer abortions, although only at certain locations that abide by state
laws and regulations? And doesn’t this knowledge still make conservatives look
like idiots because factually Planned Parenthood is not using the state funds
for the abortion clinics, but instead are only using them for their <em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-style: normal; padding: 0in;">Planned Parenthood of Austin Family Planning clinics.</span></em></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-style: normal; padding: 0in;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></em></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-style: normal; padding: 0in;">These
clinics, not the ones that perform abortions, help hundreds of people a year,
and in turn deserve the necessary funding. Planned Parenthood has abided by the
rules and kept clinics of controversy separate, so why cut their funding when
they are doing it the right way. Just because this company believe in
pro-choice, and has unrelated clinics that allow the exercise of pro-choice, does
not mean that the state should cut their funding for the specific clinics that
are providing so many other services. <a href="http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/planned-parenthood-glance-5552.htm" target="_blank">Planned Parenthood</a> states, “</span></em>Planned Parenthood provides
sexual and reproductive health care, education, and information to nearly <strong style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">five million women,
men, and adolescents worldwide</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> each
year.</span> Nearly three million women and men in the United States annually
visit Planned Parenthood affiliate health centers for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">trusted health care services and
information</span></strong>… Planned
Parenthood health centers focus on prevention:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">76 percent</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> of our
clients receive<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">services to prevent
unintended pregnancy</span></strong>. Planned Parenthood services help<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">prevent more than 584,000
unintended pregnancies</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> each year.</span> Planned Parenthood
provides nearly <strong style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">770,000 Pap tests</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> and nearly</span> <strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">750,000 breast exams</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span>each year, critical services in detecting
cancer. Planned Parenthood provides <strong style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-weight: normal; padding: 0in;">more than
four million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections</span></strong>, including HIV.” Are the people of our
state blind? These clinics are necessary for so many Texas citizens.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">By
the state cutting Planned Parenthoods funds they are only hurting the people
they are claiming to represent. I think Planned Parenthood is doing a wonderful
job at keeping the services they provide separate, as well as using the funds,
or should I say the funds they use to receive, for what the government intended
it for. I think the controversial issue is just that, controversial. People let
their own beliefs affect the lives of some many others. I am not one to agree with
abortion, however, I do think woman should have the right to choose. So many
men simply walk away from their responsibilities as a parent, and are only held
accountable if and when the courts get around to it, while woman on the other
hand are usually stuck with the responsibility for the rest of their lives. To
me this is not fair. I believe that allowing a person the choice, whether I
believe it to be the right choice or not, is what makes the American way of
life so appealing to others.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Planned
Parenthood, like <a href="http://tandersontexas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Robert</a> said, is a good organization for Texas. Abortion is
only one aspect of what Planned Parenthood represent. The other aspects, which
are stated above, should prove just how important the provided services are to
the citizens of Texas. One service alone should not outweigh all the good that Planned
Parenthood is doing. Their services help so many people many to stay healthy,
stay informed, and to have choices!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">"Board of Directors."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>- Planned Parenthood</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2012. <http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppaustin/board-directors-3727.htm>.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">"Planned Parenthood at a Glance."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>Sexual & Reproductive Health</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2012.
<http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/planned-parenthood-glance-5552.htm>.</span></span>Texas And It's Peoplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14424135668140559323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593373271063135499.post-24328086577444206562012-07-27T09:34:00.003-07:002012-07-27T09:34:43.660-07:00Texas Up In Smoke<br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The cool
thing about being an American is having the freedom to have and to express our
own beliefs. We do not have to succumb to what others are doing; instead, we
have the right to make our own path. So, why ban the use of plastic bags in
Austin? Shouldn’t government be focusing less on this issue since it should be
our right to choose whether we want to go green and use cloth bags, or whether
we want to use plastic bags as means to hold our groceries? Also, should such issues
as the ban of plastic bags be what take up our government’s time, or should they
be focusing on issues that lead to greater problems for our state?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">For me going
green is not my fist priority. I especially think that when concerning the
plastic bag issue, there are much larger problems that should be taking
priority when speaking of our government. One issue in particular is the Texas fires
that took place due to our excruciating drought conditions. Instead of our
government focusing their attention on cutting back on the plastic bag usage, they
should be focusing on greater issues such as peoples littering of cigarette
butts.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">This is not
saying that plastic bags are not at all a problem. I do agree to some extent that
plastic bags probably cause harm to our environment. Sarah Coppola, with <a href="http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/cityhall/entries/2012/03/02/austin_passes_bag_ban_1.html" target="_blank">Austin America Statesman</a>, explained it by stating, “</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">But
city leaders have said the bags often end up as litter or landfill trash and
cause environmental harm</span>”. I believe this to be a true statement, <span style="line-height: 115%;">however, it cannot possibly be more harmful then people losing their homes
and businesses due to the lack of government action. During the fires that took
place in Bastrop the<a href="http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2011/09/04/fires_raging_throughout_centra.html" target="_blank"> American-Statesman staff</a> said, “The
fire in Bastrop County has been confirmed to have burned 14,000 acres and has
grown to become an estimated 16 miles long, said Mark Stanford, fire chief of
the Texas Forest Service”. With that being said it should be no wonder
government should take greater action when concerning cigarette butts being
thrown out the windows of cars. These fires did not necessarily start from the
littering of cigarettes; however, it is statistically undeniable that littering
of butts poses great risk of such fires.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">According to <a href="http://kutnews.org/post/top-morning-stories-120811council-voting-parks-smoking-ban-water-may-be-cut-farmers" target="_blank">Kut News</a>’, Crystal Chavez, a lot of fires
are started by the littering of cigarette butts. She states, “</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tobacco related litter is the most common form of litter and
over 40,000 cigarette butts have been collected from 39 Parks and Recreation
Department sites this year. Cigarettes also pose a significant fire risk.
According to the Austin Fire Department, 9 out of 10 fires along our roadways
are caused by cigarettes and at least 25% of all wildfires have been caused by
cigarettes”. So why are we not focusing more time and attention on cracking
down on the littering of cigarette butts, and less on plastic bags. It seems to
me that government has its priorities all wrong. While we spend more money
producing and distributing durable bags, our state will be going up in smoke. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Chavez, Crystal. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">"Top Morning Stories 12/08/11:Council
Voting on Parks Smoking Ban, Water May Be Cut Off for Farmers."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i style="background-color: white;">KUT News</i><span style="background-color: white;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2012.
<http://kutnews.org/post/top-morning-stories-120811council-voting-parks-smoking-ban-water-may-be-cut-farmers>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Coppola, Sarah. "Austin Passes Bag Ban."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>Austin News, Sports, Weather, Longhorns, Business</i>. N.p., 02 Mar.
2012. Web. 27 July 2012.
<http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/cityhall/entries/2012/03/02/austin_passes_bag_ban_1.html>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">"Fires Raging throughout Central Texas."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>Austin News, Sports, Weather, Longhorns, Business</i>. N.p., 04 Sept.
2011. Web. 27 July 2012.
<http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2011/09/04/fires_raging_throughout_centra.html>.</div>Texas And It's Peoplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14424135668140559323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593373271063135499.post-8418998078455992292012-07-24T10:32:00.001-07:002012-07-24T10:34:28.536-07:00Austin's Local Businesses Being a Prime Example<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; line-height: 115%;">As we know the U.S. economy took a nose dive when the United
States headed towards the recession. One thing that has remained constant is Austin’s
ability to have a successful economy and to stay alive regardless of the economies crashing around them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; line-height: 115%;">Austin is probably one of the only places that have a street
dedicated to unique food trailers, which capture the interest of not only
tourist, but also locals. Unique businesses, such as the food trailers, are what people of Austin tend to gravitate towards. The citizens of Austin are paying less attention to the chain businesses and more attention to the local businesses which make Austin the funky place that so many people love. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Joe Deshotel, with the <a href="http://www.burntorangereport.com/" target="_blank">Burnt Orange Report Blog</a>, did
a blog about how local businesses are helping Austin’s economy to stay alive and
progress in an upward direction. Deshotel explained how supporting local businesses, such as
the food trailers, not only helps the businesses succeed, but also strengthens
are economy. By supporting everything local we are boosting the amount of money
being made in Austin and the availability of jobs for the local citizens.
Deshotel states it perfectly in his blog when describing how other areas should
f</span>ollow Austin’s lead. He states, "As one of the nation's fastest
growing cities and strongest economies maybe this forumla for success isn't so
weird after all and can serve as a shining example to areas still struggling
from a global recessions". </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Austin is without a doubt a city that takes
pride in its people. It is no wonder local businesses are what help the economy
to be successful. If all places took pride in their city, like the citizens of
Austin do, than the overall economy might take a giant shift in the right
direction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">Deshotel, Joe. "A Little Competition Goes a Long Way for the Local Economy." </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-indent: -48px;">BOR: Our Eyes Are Upon Texas Politics.</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;"> N.p., 22 July 2012. Web. 24 July 2012. <http://www.burntorangereport.com/>.</span>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>Texas And It's Peoplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14424135668140559323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593373271063135499.post-53827552858382681032012-07-20T19:20:00.002-07:002012-07-20T19:24:52.197-07:00Health In Texas<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After reading an article on <a href="http://www.statesman.com/opinion/for-better-health-pay-perry-no-mind-2416602.html" target="_blank">Austin American Statesman</a> about the lack of insured people in Texas, it was very clear that the Editorial Board was determined to reach out to a specific audience. T<span style="line-height: 115%;">his audience consisted of those who do not
possess medical insurance, the elderly, most of which rely on Medicaid for
nursing home care, the group of people who are not Governor Perry supporters,
and the large population of poverty stricken people. The Editorial Board of
Austin American Statesman pointed out rather factually that most Texan
citizens, many of which relate to the groups I described above, are uninsured
due to the lack of health insurance coverage, the lack of Medicaid expansion,
and the lack of determination by our state to help increase the chances for the
less fortunate to qualify for government assistance programs. Austin
American Statesman states, "Most Texans enrolled in Medicaid are women and
children; about a quarter are elderly and disabled. Yet most Medicaid spending
— 58 percent in 2010 — went toward meeting the health care needs of elderly and
disabled Texans. Nursing home care contributes significantly to the cost of
Medicaid. Expanding or not expanding Medicaid won't change that
fact. Patients with a household income at or below 133 percent of the
federal poverty level are potentially eligible for Medicaid. The Affordable
Care Act expands Medicaid to cover patients with a household income at or below
138 percent of the federal poverty level. That's roughly $15,400 for an
individual and $31,800 for a family of four". It is no wonder Texas is
number one when it comes to the amount of people uninsured. We as a state, meaning
our government who should be speaking for the people, are not taking the
necessary actions to make sure all of our people are taken care of. This in
turn cannot and will not benefit the people financially. The Editorial Board stated
it perfectly by saying, "A key question lawmakers
should ask, though, is whether the cost is more significant than the costs that
will shift to insured Texans and Texas taxpayers if millions of Texans remain
uninsured and continue to rely on emergency rooms for even minor medical care.
Hospitals pass along the costs of treating uninsured patients to insured
patients. Taxpayers in hospital districts, such as Travis County's Central
Health, absorb the cost in the form of higher tax rates". We, as a state,
will pay the ultimate price for allowing so many of our people to go uninsured. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">"For Better Health, Pay Perry No Mind." </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-indent: -48px;">For Better Health, Pay Perry No Mind</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2012. <http://www.statesman.com/opinion/for-better-health-pay-perry-no-mind-2416602.html>.</span></span>Texas And It's Peoplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14424135668140559323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593373271063135499.post-43705078508314151612012-07-16T18:40:00.000-07:002012-07-16T19:03:13.253-07:00Pointing The Finger<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">In this day and age one would think that pointing the finger would be left to the children of our world. One would never guess that adults, let alone ones representing the state of Texas, would be pointing the finger in order to gain votes. In the <a href="http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/politics/senate-runoff-hopefuls-increase-attacks" target="_blank">KXAN</a> article Senate runoff hopefuls increase attacks, it was reported that Republicans Ted Cruz and David Dewhurst, are lying and accusing one another of wrong doing. In the KXAN article Cruz is accusing Dewhurst of trying to cover up past support for certain immigration programs, while Dewhurst is accusing Cruz of representing a person involved in a bribery scandal. Both parties are claiming that the allegations against them are untrue and they go on to justify why and how the allegations are false. As the article continues both parties continue to point the finger and attack one another in order to gain votes for the upcoming and most likely final debate. The article is a pretty interesting read when focusing on how people will go to any extent to get what they want. We as a whole, no matter our degree of influence, position in the world, or education level, will still act in child like ways, such as pointing the finger, in order to get exactly what we want. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>Texas And It's Peoplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14424135668140559323noreply@blogger.com0