Just what Teenagers need!

    While reading Luis Felipe Regaldos article, “powderitas” he explains how Palchol, meaning powdered alcohol,  is the new thing. This just sounds like a BAD idea. Aren't there enough drunk driving accidents? I also have to think about the fact that you don’t know when to stop, so you will most likely end up in the hospital or even worse. 

    Regaldos acknowledges to us that Republican State Representative, Charlie Geren proposed a bill to ban this extreme substance. This House Bill 1018 was postponed to July 4th when there were people questioning it. I, on the other hand, don’t know why people would be questioning it because it is straight up stupid. I mean if you’re going to legalize powdered alchohol, wouldn't you want to legalize a safer, more fun drug instead like marijuana? Regaldo stated, “they say it will be easier for those who are not 21 to consume such evil substance.” Although Regaldo thinks those “accusations are totally wrong,” I have to completely disagree. Any underage teenager could relate to this because it would be way easier to hide a powdered substance in your car then a bottle that cops can easily find. 

    Regaldo gives multiple reasons as to why powered alchohol should be legal. “I don’t think that any teenager would rather buy one drink for the price of four just to avoid any back injuries from carrying a bottle of vodka on their backs.” Looking at this view from a completely different direction, I think that most teenagers are stupid when it comes to trying a new substance and powered alcohol sounds like a whole lot of fun when you are not thinking about the outcomes. Regaldo also states that we should be more worried about fake Id’s. It will probably be a very long time before there will be an end to fake Id’s, yet we can do our best to control this extreme product and ban it. 

Why Do We Always Discriminate Texas?

While reading Kayleigh Johnson’s article over the DREAM act, I acknowledge the fact that this bill helps undocumented students, meaning foreigners have a chance to pay instate tuition for Texas schools. I completely agree with this act because everyone deserves an education without having to worry about the extreme costs. Johnson's article also states that just last morning Senator Donna Cambell tried to lay down senate bill 1819. Sen. Cambell has now made it completely impossible for undocumented students to have a chance with Texas education. “Leave it to a straight ticket conservative to manipulate the powers of helping the ones in need.” Johnson is making an extremely adequate comment and even though she is comparing a conservative being someone with a stick up there …, her comment fits perfectly. 

Johnson knowledges us that their is always a “right winger” when a bill is trying to be passed. So when Sen. Cambell had made had commented on why she was trying to pass this bill,  Texas Commissioner of Higher education, Raymond Peredes came in to put her in her place. I am ecstatic that Paredes put in end to this and gave back these thousands of kids a chance. 

Johnson's article states that there were 25,000 students using this bill. How could we take something from 25, 000 kids, just because they are illegal immigrants? This many kids going to college, also means that we are using this act! Johnson reports that in 2013, all these “illegals” payed about 50 million dollars for instate tuition, meaning that this is a whole lot of money and we all know Texans love a whole lot of money. Johnson comments the saying, “why mess with someone’s education?” I think that is a thorough question, everyone deserves a chance at education. 

Robert Evan "A Stick Situation"

While reading through Robert Evans blog, “A Sticky situation”,  I realize the importance of legalizing marijuana in Texas. Evan gives many opinionated view points on why Marijuana would benefit Texas. Evan questions whether it is fair that Marijuana should not be allowed in the freedom of your own home. I completely agree with his questioning concern because if Texans have the right to shoot someone in their own home they should have the right to smoke a little marijuana. 

Evans also informs us that Texans would bring in a whole lot of money legalizing marijuana. Evans makes an excellent point because the government isn't legalizing marijuana, yet would love so much more to have extra money in his pocket. Another point that Evans puts out there is that This would help put a huge stop to the overload of marijuana being smuggled in by Mexico. This would be just one more thing to add on to the list of saving money. 

The last point Evans makes is that Marijuana is safer than alcohol, yet alcohol is legalized and marijuana isn’t. I don't understand why Texas thinks this is okay? Alcohol has many harmful effects and risks peoples lives every day where marijuana has no bad outcomes from it.  Overall Evans made very good view points and I completely agree with his opinions. 

17 year olds shouldn't go to prison

Statesman presents an editorial over reasons why 17 year olds shouldn't be sent to prison. I am extremely against this editorial because 17 is just 12 months aways from 18 and you should therefore have the punishment you deserve. The Supreme Court has recently decided that it is not right to declare any one under 18 a life sentence in prison. This editorial explains multiple reason as to why this is so unfair, such as maturity and cost. Although this is a reasonable opinion, I do not think that 17 year olds should in any way not be able to go to state prison because of “maturity.” The state should do exactly what their doing and base their punishment on the extremities of what they did. 17 is not that much different then 18 and if they think its okay to let a murder go to juvenile because he's to young to know whats right is absolutely horrific. “Proponents say that while the initial costs are higher, the state will save money in the long run by treating 17-year-olds as juveniles because the recidivism rate will be much less” This is a good point made but you have to consider the fact that if you put a crazy young murderer in juvenile, they usually don't learn their lesson and there is not a lot that you can do to change someone with those intentions. Seeing at prison costs around 54 dollars a day and juvenile costs around 437 dollars we can conclude the obvious decision that we should pay the cheaper price and give the teenager with the fair consequence.  

Test Dilemma

Houston Chronicle posted an article, Texas Dilemma, on March 17, 2015 informing us on the effects of not passing a statewide test. According to this article, there are 28,000 diplomas withheld a year, based on just one test a student did not pass. This is extremely unfair to students because they can make perfect attendance and outstanding grades, and still not be able to pass high school when everyone else does. I don't understand how a student should be unable to pass high school merely to bad test taking skills or just having a bad day, especially when this can effect the rest of their lives. This article also informs the consequences students who don't pass high school will have. “cannot attend most colleges, join the military or qualify for even some minimum wage jobs”(Houston Chronicle)  Being unable to do any of these over such a small matter can change a student’s life. Senator Kel Seliger has passed a bill where the high school students that have failed tests are now allowed to pass high school through certain circumstances. Seliger's bill creates an individual graduation committee for the members of that committee to pass students by their grades and attendance. Although this is only a “band-aid” to this states problem we hope to one day not base a huge test on passing or failing high school. Although there were many critics disagreeing with Seliger’s bill, I completely agree because a student should not have that much pressure over one test.

DNA Testing Affecting Innocent Men

Statesman recently wrote an editorial on Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 about incorrect DNA testing causing innocent men to serve life sentences in prison. Michael Morton and Bill Smith have spent a third of their life in jail due to incorrect DNA testing. In Morton’s case, his lawyers pleaded to get a piece of evidence tested for years and without Senator Ellis,  he would be serving a life sentence.  These two testimonials are the outcome from Senator Rodney Ellis’s law, which is Senate Bill 487.  There were also 52 men proven innocent in Texas since 1989 and 325 cases proven innocent worldwide. Ellis passed a law that allows for new DNA testing on old criminal cases if it contains biological evidence. It also allows that there needs to be a“ reasonable likelihood” meaning if the judge agrees to it or not. Ellis’s logic is completely reliable in the fact that he is giving innocent people the right to prove their innocence. He is also revealing the hundreds of guilty men that have been out in the open for years. This surprises me because of the risk factor that comes along with multiple killers not yet found and how hazardous that is to our community.  I completely agree with this Ellis’s action because in no way is it fair to stay in jail over half of your life because of a misunderstanding. No innocent man should have to deal with a mishap caused by an incorrect analysis and especially not have an opportunity to prove themselves. Everyone should take this matter upon themselves and realize how important it is to have a fair chance because it does affect us all.

Austin Mayor Election

The article I decided on from the Austin Chronicle gives us an insiders look on Adlers election 

for Austin Mayor. It gives you brief information on what he was running against and his future plans for this city. This article enlightens us on the support that Adler is getting from multiple people. Adler tells how big of an opportunity Austin gives us, and how we can move forward. This article is important for everyone to read because Adler is now the governor of our city and we need to be in touch with what changes he is about to make.