I have posted a comment on my classmates blog regarding the proposed legislation to allow students to carry handguns on campus. I will post the comment below:
This has been the hottest political issue I've heard discussed on campus. To me the bill is extremely short- sighted. Throwing guns at guns doesn't sound like well drawn up legislation to me. While reasonable arguments can be made (stopping campus shootings and introducing responsible gun owners to campuses) they are only beneficial hypothetically. Imagining the same scenario the pro conceal and carry folks offer up, let us imagine a shooter lighting up our campus. The response of a young student who has a concealed gun will most likely be to freeze or to misfire due to pressure. Not only that, once the police respond, the young man may be confused for the assailant or simply slow down the retention of the guilty party. As a police officer having received word of a school shooting, how would you be able to decipher a well intentioned shooter from afar. I imagine this would be quite difficult. While shootings happen every so often they are quite rare by society's standards and college campuses remain a relatively safe place to live. Another concern of mine is the fact that theft is the number one crime on campus, so a gun that isn't properly put away could end up as a future tool for a student who broke into a gun carriers room. The only positives to passing this piece of legislation are all speculative, those who live in reality realize the grave mistake of such a reckless policy. That's my two cents. I enjoyed reading your article, it's a great starting point of an important discussion.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Show Me the Taxes!
We don't raise taxes in the great state of Texas! We have magically created an oasis for big business and the common citizen to live without the fear of big nasty government interfering in our lives. Does this sound too good to be true? Well it is, just don't tell Rick Perry.
Governor Perry, in accordance with the state's Republicans, has created an illusion in terms of how the state creates revenue. He touts the fact that Texas has no income tax, which has created a haven for businesses moving in from other states creating a surplus of jobs. This is a bold statement considering we have no proof of how many jiobs this has actually created. Not only that, the businesses that do come over don't give the state aduquate income in tax money, because the state has slashed those taxes enourmously.
To add insult to injury, the lack of funds created through corporate and income taxation, the amount of money and support given to local governments is appauling. City and local governments are now surviving by raising property rates (taxation), raising fees and fines (taxation), and even setting up speed traps to create any kind of financial support (taxation). The lack of revenue at the state level has forced local governments to act out of desparation and possible turn more to the private sector for help, which could be a goal of the wealthier Texans, who fund Perry's campaign. So while pandering to the Republican base of the state, who covet economic freedeom, he has actually created more of a burden on the taxpayers themselves.
The simple fact in this fast growing and signifigantly underfunded state is that we must raise taxes and the longer we wait, the more we'll have to pay in the future. If we don't, the form of government closest to us, will also be the one in the most disrepair.
Governor Perry, in accordance with the state's Republicans, has created an illusion in terms of how the state creates revenue. He touts the fact that Texas has no income tax, which has created a haven for businesses moving in from other states creating a surplus of jobs. This is a bold statement considering we have no proof of how many jiobs this has actually created. Not only that, the businesses that do come over don't give the state aduquate income in tax money, because the state has slashed those taxes enourmously.
To add insult to injury, the lack of funds created through corporate and income taxation, the amount of money and support given to local governments is appauling. City and local governments are now surviving by raising property rates (taxation), raising fees and fines (taxation), and even setting up speed traps to create any kind of financial support (taxation). The lack of revenue at the state level has forced local governments to act out of desparation and possible turn more to the private sector for help, which could be a goal of the wealthier Texans, who fund Perry's campaign. So while pandering to the Republican base of the state, who covet economic freedeom, he has actually created more of a burden on the taxpayers themselves.
The simple fact in this fast growing and signifigantly underfunded state is that we must raise taxes and the longer we wait, the more we'll have to pay in the future. If we don't, the form of government closest to us, will also be the one in the most disrepair.
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