Keep Austin Charitable

Juanita, thank you for your very informative editorial regarding the homeless citizens of Austin. I do agree that the homeless citizens in Austin are judged harshly by conservative republicans and that there is plenty more to be done to help get the homeless into safe shelters. My only argument with your article is that it makes it seem as if all of Austin is ignoring the situation at hand, which is false. Recently, Austin found a unique way to help out homeless citizens during the famous week long festival South By Southwest. The article "Homeless people turned into walking Wi-Fi hotspots in 'charitable experiment" posted on FOX News, addresses the hotspot situation. Austin decided to hire homeless citizens to wear "WiFi hotspot" shirts, and allow customers to access WiFi in specific locations for the festival. There was some controversy as to whether or not this was charitable, but I believe this was a very creative and beneficial way for Austin to help out the homeless. Why pay a teenage SXSW groupie to wear these t shirts when you can help someone who really needs the money? It just goes to show that Austin is by no means ignoring the situation at hand, they are just trying to find alternative sources to tackle the issue. Afterall, we do take "Keep Austin Weird" literally.

 Speaking of our famous slogan, an organization called "Keep Austin Housed" was created to aid social service agencies in Austin, who are also trying to decrease homelessness in the city.  Keep Austin Housed promises to " providing services ranging from emergency shelter and basic needs to case management and permanent housing" to help citizens in need. Although the government has been enforcing laws against homeless, there are still many organizations in Austin who dedicate time and money to keeping our streets safe and helping citizens find shelter. I do agree that a lot more needs to be done for this good cause to be successful, and that involves more then just charitable organizations. Our government needs to pay more attention to the issue at hand if we want to make significant progress in solving this crisis. 

Texas Changes Its Curriculum

A controversial change in the textbooks circulating around the state of Texas recently caught my eye. As I looked further into this, I found many changes to be reasonable but one struck me as unconstitutional. In the article posted by "Need to Know" on PBS "Texas School Board Approves Controversial Textbook Changes", they address the situation and lay out the changes being made to our textbooks. 

One of the most controversial ideas discussed when evaluating the content of Texas students' education, is whether or not Christian influences should be added to the curriculum. Cynthia Dunbar, a conservative member on the board states, "I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book and the spirit of the savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses....a Christian land governed by Christian principles." Given that our country is famous for its slogan "America: The land of Opportunity"  this addition to textbooks seems extremely contradictory. Although I believe recognizing our founding fathers' strong attributes and ideal characteristics should definitely be present in our textbooks, the need by strong conservatives to spread their individual beliefs to millions of students isn't necessary. 

Contrary to all of the school budget cuts being made in education by Texas Government, the education of Texas students is taken very seriously. The curriculum taught to students in our state should reflect Texas in the best manner.  I believe the power that the school board officials have over children is definitely overlooked. Students deserve the right to form their own opinions and beliefs regarding religion, but as individuals and off of school property. If we want Texas education to be taken seriously, we need to focus more on the lack of difficulty in subjects that help students further their future careers and succeed in the demanding society, and stop focusing on our own biased opinions regarding religion. 

As a student in high school I see pros and cons of this textbook change. On one hand, teaching good morals, which can be found through religion but also through many other things, is very important in a high school's unstable environment, where students are exposed to some negative influences which can lead to making bad decisions. On the other hand, this is also a time in which students are begining to develop as individuals and are finding their place in society. While they are still discovering their beliefs and opinions in this stage of life, it is completely unprofessional for the school board officials to try and inflict their own beliefs through education. 

Contrary to Cynthia Dunbar's beliefs, I don't believe our nation should be considered "a Christian land governed by Christian principles". I understand that there are many aspects found in the bible that are similar to statements found in the Declaration of Independence, regarding the humanity of citizens in the United States. That being said, it is also true that as citizens we are endowed to the unalienable rights which guarantee us "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". Not everyone falls into the category of "The Christian Nation" and I believe that's how our founding fathers anticipated it to be. Texas guarantees its citizens free education to  prepare us for our future and help us succeed, not to establish beliefs and religious views. Give the students a chance to voice their opinion on this matter because they are the ones being affected.

RE: The Bright Side of Suffering

Chloe, I strongly agree with many of the points you made in your "The Bright Side Of Suffering" article posted on your blog. Your passion for women's suffrage is something I can understand and this is a serious issue that should be dealt with. I agree with the point made in regards to the law passed that requires a sonogram 24 hours prior to an abortion.  It seems wrong and unjust. The ethos persuasion tactic used by the government to try and prevent abortion is unconventional. 

A similar article posted on ';We Have No Choice': One Woman's Ordeal with Texas' New Sonogram Law addresses the same issues with the new Texas Abortion Law. A point made in the article that I strongly agree with was the fact that the sonogram law passed isn't effective in instances where the mother must terminate a baby that is terminally ill. The emotional tactic the government uses makes the experience much more traumatic then necessary. It is even worse in a situation like in this article, where the choice had to be made for specific health reasons. The mothers states "But what good is the view of someone who has never had to make your terrible choice?" in other words, officials that have passed this law cannot comprehend the difficulties a mother deals with when aborting a child. 

In conclusion to the points discussed above, the new sonogram requirement for an abortion is unnecessary and emotionally scarring. Although Texas government finds it its duty to persuade women to refrain from having an abortion, I don't believe their strategy is morally just. Chloe, thank you for your informative article in regards to the Texas Abortion law. I agree with the points made, and hope for a change in Texas law. 

West Texas Oil In The Hands Of A Lizard?

The slithery species of Sagebrush lizards that roam the lands of West Texas may control the fate of our state's domestic oil and gas production. As the production of oil and gas in West Texas grows rapidly, the land in which it inhabits must increase in size as well. This is where lizards come into play. The Sagebrush lizards that occupy West Texas live in small shrubs called shinnery oak, and according to the federal government this species may be considered endangered. If the vote is unanimous, and the lizard becomes listed as an endangered species, West Texas can kiss its oil behind. 


One thing the federal government may not have taken into account, is the serious consequences they will face if the production of oil is shut down. For one, our nation is heavily dependent on this source of energy. By shutting down one of its leading producers, we are putting ourselves into a dangerous position. 


Another negative aspect of stopping the oil production is the loss of billions in royalties. Private oil companies in Texas have paid billions to public schools and universities in order to be able to explore the land in West Texas for oil. When oil is found, large sums of money are paid from income royalty to public school funds. 


No one wants to kill a harmless species of lizard, but the serious effects of shutting down this region are too drastic for our economy to face. If it wasn't for the lack of conclusive evidence that this species is actually endangered, the issue would be more problematic. Since, the Fish and Wildlife Service has not managed to prove this, it is ridiculous to even consider. Texas may be fond of its Sagebrush lizards, but the nation cannot handle a setback as large as shutting down its leading source of energy.

A Dollar A Day Keeps The...Tax Dollars Away?

The Article A Dollar For Your Thoughts posted on Empower Texas July 18th, 2012 by WasteWatch, directly addresses the more conservative Texans who are concerned with the proper use of our tax dollars. I was first attracted to the article by seeing a picture of a dollar bill being burned. After reading the article I realized the relevance of the picture. WasteWatch enlightens its readers by showing a letter being sent out by the US Department Of Commerce to "randomly selected" citizens. The letter includes a real dollar bill and a questionnaire asking about citizens' shopping habits and recent travel expenses. It is clear to the reader that the author finds this letter as an improper use of our tax dollars, and bases his argument off logistics and textual evidence.

The author seems credible. He clearly evaluates the situation by informing his readers with statistics about how much money these letters are actually costing the state of Texas. He made a very convincing point, by the time each letter is stamped, sealed, and stuffed with a dollar bill, the price increases. I understand that staying involved with Texas citizens is very important for its government, but I do not see this as a conceivable way to do this.  I can't say I agree with every statement the author has made throughout the article. WasteWatch seems to believe that Texas is constantly wasting its citizens tax dollars. Although I do find this survey tactic to be a bit ridiculous on our governments part, I don't think they are just disposing of our money left and right. The government has definitely put some of our money to good use, and this was just an error in the system.

For the most part, the argument made was convincing and the Republican mentality of keeping taxes to minimum was definitely revealed throughout the article. When first reading it, I actually found this editorial to be quite humorous...and then a little worrisome. The author has opened me up to new concerns I've never been exposed to. Texas recently refused to participate in the national health care plan in order to keep taxes minimal, and then I hear this? Even though the cost of sending out a few thousand letters doesn't compare to the price of Medicaid, our government may need to evaluate its priorities and find a way to compromise with the big issue of our Texas tax dollars...but maybe not communicate it through letters this time. 

Not Every STAAR Shines

In the editorial appearing on Wednesday June 20^th, 2012 in the Austin American Statesman, Testing is good, but STAAR my not be the author addresses the issue of whether or not school officials have made the right choice to institute the new standardized STAAR test. His editorial is directed towards the school board officials and parents involved. His main point in the argument was that the test seems to be beyond the students’ academic ability and that the dropout rate for high school students may increase if they are not capable of mastering the material to pass the test. The author of the editorial uses hard facts to validate his argument by presenting the statistics of the 9th grade students’ test scores after taking the STAAR test.

I believe this author is very credible. He clearly evaluates the issue at hand by analyzing the students’ test scores and using logic to back it up. Being a student in high school, this article is very relevant. The new standardized test is a serious challenge to the incoming high school students, and if a change isn't made, the likelihood of student dropouts is bound to increase over time. Another point was made that I strongly agree with, which is support for the new mandate to disable the rule that allows the STAAR's test scores to count as 15% of the students’ final grades. Although the students should have accountability for their test scores, they also rely on their grade point average to be admitted into college. Just because a new test was enforced and the school board has to adapt immediately to the new curriculum, does not mean that the students should suffer serious consequences. 

Overall, the argument made was convincing. I already had my doubts about the new standardized test, but the author has confirmed my belief that the STAAR test may not be a viable option for students. I have learned from the editorial that although test scores may be important, the school board officials are not seeing the bigger picture. Students may not be ready for a change this drastic in standardized testing.

Politics Over People?

     This article posted on Dog Canyon addresses Rick Perry's refusal to participate in Obama's Medicaid plan. It is clear throughout the article that Glenn Smith believes that Perry has made an absurd choice and sides with the president’s current health care plan. It is important to read this article to be informed on a current issue that is sweeping the nation, which is whether or not each state wants to implement Obama’s current health care exchanges called for by the Affordable Care Act. Being a Texas citizen, it is important to understand how each individual is affected by Perry’s refusal to accept it, and whether or not we are reaping the benefits from his decision. From a political standpoint, Perry is trying to cut back on state spending which benefits the state by keeping Texas taxes minimal. Unfortunately for Texans, by cutting costs Perry sacrifices the health care for millions of citizens. In the article he quotes “Politics have always been more important than people to Rick Perry,” said James Moore, Director of Progress Texas PAC. I agree with this editorial. Although cutting taxes is very important, we should not put politics over the health of millions of Americans.