High Speed Chase

http://whygovernment.blogspot.com/2010/05/high-speed-chases-are-killing-people.html

In regards to my colleagues article about thinking outside the box on police car chases I agree. Some other facts about the chases however though is the fact that police numbers right now due to the economy are way under. It is a lot easier to always catch the bad guy when the number of law enforcement officials is proportional to its jurisdiction. I looked on the Texas Department of Public Safety website the other day and they are wanting to hire 400 more officers in the next few years. 400, that really does show you how under staffed they are right now. I know in Colorado they have a no chase law that seems to be working for them very well. But, there should be steps put in place for which officers do call of a chase such as speed, neighborhood, other driver's safety and so on. On the yahoo the other day I saw a new spike strip they are testing out in which it is mounted to the officers vehicle and deploys on a stick that the officer can drive under the offenders wheels. With technology and thinking outside the box, I think the catch rate of 25% will begin to increase. Her comment about following for a certain amount of time though I do disagree with. The police got the numbers and can have cars with full gas tanks till the offender runs out. There should be no time limit on a chase. Safety obligations,yes! Time limit, no! What is this talk about raised fines? Really, have you had a ticket in the last few years, there already sky high. I know in Phoenix, AZ they have cameras on there highways that will send you a ticket in the mail just like red light cameras do now. There very spaced out and slow down the speeding through the area very well. The article had some good and bad points, but in the end I still agree with the article.

Texas or Tejas

One of the biggest topics in national government right now is Arizona passing a new immigration law. if you have not already heard about this new law in AZ here are the basics: Immigrants must have there immigration papers on them at all times and state law enforcement may ask someone for their papers at any time. So should Texas being a border state pass a law like this as well? Illegal immigration is a problem in TX that does need to be dealt with in a more serious way then just patrolling our borders since this has not been working well lately. I am not opposed to immigration, but illegal immigration should be stopped. There needs to be harsher criminal punishments for employers hiring these illegals as well as they promote more illegal immigration into the state. I don't understand how people can say Arizona's law violates human rights when a citizen is required to have a legal identification on them at all times and a law enforcement official can request this at anytime. How is it so different? Yes every persons deserves to have rights, legal or illegal, but the fact of a simple request to carry legal papers at all times should not be so hard. We will have to wait for future statistics out of AZ to see how this new law performs. If it really does work then TX should highly consider putting this law into effect here to help join the fight in illegal immigration.

Comments on my Colleagues Immigration Post

On my fellow classmates post about immigration I agree with the side of illegal immigration must stop. However, there was not enough facts for me to feel obligated to take her side in the post from what was stated. I feel as an outsider looking in on the issue that I still have no clue where the writer had the facts to show how bad of a problem this really was. Also, there was no clear opinion stated on the matter except a very soft ending paragraph about how he or she was anti-immigration and businesses should be penalized for hiring illegal immigrants. There is a lot more out there to on this issue to back the information of anti-immigration such as these immigrants are using fake social security numbers and not paying any of the FICA taxes that legal American citizens have to pay with every paycheck. Also, how most do not have car insurance so when they get in a motor vehicle accident which they are at fault, the other motorists must pay out of their insurance which cost thousands of dollars a year. I do agree with my classmate but fell there was much more substance to be put in on this article to back his or her point.

The Perry Train

In sticking with my theme thus far I will continue talking about Governor Rick Perry and his influence to Texas government. If elected this term, and completing the 4 years to which Perry is elected to, Perry will be the have the longest tenure at Governor in any states history in the United States. Is that crazy or what? Perry must be a popular person in Texas, or doing the right thing. Perry did beat a very popular, powerful senator, Anne Hutchinson this primary run off in which some thought in the beginning might be a close race. One of the right things Perry is doing for the state of Texas is the fact that in such a low economic time for the entire US, Perry has yet to accept the full salary offered to him of $150,000 a year. Rather Perry has elected to stick with the amount he originally received at his start. How can you not like a guy that turns down a huge sum of money? Not me. Yes, we all know Perry is a Republican, so I understand some people, democrats, are just not going to like the guy for that fact alone. During this recession, Perry has kept Texas as one of the top markets in areas of jobs, housing, and total income. Other reasons some people just do not like Governor Perry, well yes he was a cheerleader, a male cheerleader at that, but for Texas A&M University none the less, but yet resides in the Capital of Texas, Austin, home of the Texas Longhorns. The hate felt by the orange blooded horns is some what understandable. But really folks, is Perry doing such a bad job so far with Texas through his tenure that we as Texans cannot all get over the fact that he is an Aggie Republican ex cheerleader? So far Perry has used his line item veto power to was away more than $3 billion in spending. That is a giant number that has a giant impact on Texans. This is Texas, the leader in having the most state citizens serving in the military, and Perry did do his time as a pilot in the Air Force in the 1970's, that should alone give him some respect from every citizen across the country for that fact alone. Governor Rick Perry has played a major role in Texas government that will one day be study in books throughout the education system of Texas.

Perry Unhappy Healthcare Bill Passing

Rick Perry Rails Against Socialism

For me, being neither right or left wing, I get to grab the popcorn and sit back to watch the show of the political parties go at. The winner of this battle however goes to the Democrats as the Obama administration finally gets something done this term. Governor Rick Perry is not a fan of this bill being passed though. Perry goes on to say how this phenomenon will costs Texas taxpayers billions more. One question though Perry, what good thing is free now a days? I don't know many. As a person that will always have a pre-existing medical condition this bill will help me for life getting insurance. Do the people that are against this bill stop and think about anything besides the money part? Yeah, economy sucks, were all broke, but you can't put a price on life. This bill will help so many people, including Texans. Perry, thanks for trying to keep some more money in my pocket, but I am willing to spend a few bucks to save my life, and even more important, the lives of my fellow Texans. The author of this article is definitely writing this article for her fellow Democrats, as she tries to gain support for a cause that has already been signed into action. The author kept her opinion short, while putting mostly facts and some commentary from Perry to support her story which gives her a lot more credibility in this post.

Perry's Getting Salty

Ken Herman of the Austin American Statesman wrote an editorial about Gov. Perry having his primary night party at the Salt Lick in Driftwood, TX. Herman found this important because of Salt Licks owner Scott Roberts working the governmental system to his favor. How you might ask yourself did Roberts do this? Well Roberts owns a lot of land out in Dripping Springs, TX area that he has plans of developing but needed more money to fund his project. So he worked the system to eventually get a higher tax at his restaurant in order to make up the funds. So the question here is if this is right? Well one must be business smart so Roberts raising his prices at the Salt Lick would not help him be competitive in the market, however bbq in Texas is never cheap, and where Roberts restaurant is located is not exactly the most convenient place, so is usually a planned out trip. I say yes he could of just raised his prices in order to make his profits larger in order to fund his project. Does Gov. Perry anti-government theme go along with this kind of act? I couldn't honestly answer that question because there's no clear connection between Roberts and Perry besides the fact that he is having a party there, but so do a 1,000 other people every year. Herman might just be trying to stir up peoples thoughts about Perry having a different agenda but the facts are just not there. In the article he states that Dripping Springs was not the only special district created last year to collect taxes but there were 10 others. This has to do more with the world of business then really government. Let Gov. Perry just enjoy his Salt Lick, I know I sure would.

Perry Leads Primary Race

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/newspapers-poll-perry-has-comfortable-lead-as-voting-237070.html?srcTrk=RTR_95609

Governor Rick Perry had a great start Tuesday to the early voting for the primary race in Texas for the Republicans. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson will have to try to close the vote between the two while Debra Medina is still a long shot. On the Democratic side of the race, former Mayor of Houston Bill White, seems to still be the clear cut winner. According to the Statesman voters who like Hutchinson may not vote for her in the primary because they still like her appeal in Washington as a Senator for Texas. Hutchinson may have been doing to well of a job for herself in Washington for her followers to let her out. Perry however has been governor of Texas for 10 years now and may be getting a little to comfortable in office. Is it time for a change? Texas will have to decide that in the coming months. Texans should read this article to keep up to date on the primaries so they have a better understanding of the candidates as some Texans still do not know who the other candidates are besides the big names of Perry and Hutchinson. Also, an educated society will be better prepared for the head-to-head vote between the Republican and Democratic candidate for governor in the upcoming months. Should be a good one Texas.