Critique On My Colleague's Blog Stage 7

Jordan Pocket's  article published on Friday, November 29, 2013 which he titled

"INCOMES TAX HER? I HARDLY KNEW HER" reminds me of comparing apples and oranges which do not make sense because apples and oranges do not physically look the same neither do they have same chemical composition.

In the area of revenue collection, the federal government and the state government differ very significantly. First of all, the federal government  and the state government have good working relationship in terms of revenue creation/allocation. Most business are situated in the inside cities, municipalities, local governments, and then state government, therefore the local government are in better position to collect taxes be it sales or income based taxes

We live in a representative government; therefore to say that Texas does not penalize employed individuals by taking part of their wage before they can spend it themselves is a wrong comparison to the federal income tax systems.  For the simple fact that we’re compelled to pay sales tax each time we buy certain things simple means we’re paying tax we have no control over, period.

While consumer ism has worked well for Texas, it is not by itself good for all Texans. If a state imposes 6.5% tax every time you buy something, you are forced to pay such by law whether you call it volunteerism or free willingness. Money is earned in order to spend in exchange for the things we need.  Why would Michael dell for example pay the same tax as me since Michael dell gets so much tax incentives from the government to build and operate his business? Michael for example gets to write off his business expenses while the poor worker gets not to write off when I buy shoe to go to work or earn a living.

 I think it is not fair that low income should pay the same tax s those in higher income bracket

How fair is it that tourists who come to Texas to spend money on our products get to be taxed for such exercise?  It would have been proper for the sake of argument for my colleague to specify how this could have worked well on the federal government level.

How could the federal government possibly collect sales tax; by deducting  from total state sales tax; maybe if the state collects 10 percent, for example, the federal takes the first six percent then living the rest for the state. The federal government will now depend on the state to generate her revenue.

Many companies and individuals would probably in trade by batter in order to avoid paying those taxes. Many people will result what I will consider to be ‘Craigslist’ market systems where good will exchange hands without anyone paying taxes. This will live the federal government broke, thereby wakening it.  

It is no secret that small percentage of population own most of the resources in this country, therefore why would such people pay the same tax percent s someone like me

Critique On My Colleagues' Blog Stage 7

First of all, I must commend Savannah Williams on her article “Going Green” for her candid observation of something most of us living in Austin would not consider relevant or important enough to address as an issue in our quest to make Austin an environmentally-friendly atmosphere for all of us to live.

Williams was meticulous in her observation of the things that go around in her neighborhood and something that appear to seem minor could have adverse consequences if unchecked.  While pointing a finger at a specific flaw about a problem at the city planners as in the case of the dog park in her neighborhood, she is also raising conscience of every one of us in Austin who bothers to care about how we manage our natural resources, and how small effort by everyone can make a huge difference.

I am somewhat disappointed for the simple fact that she failed to proffer a solution on how this wasted running water could have been better utilized in a more efficient way. I am not sure if my Williams is aware that it is against the city ordinance to let water run out of sprinkler onto the street. I would have also appreciated it if she had cited some positive efforts or measures that the city has taken so far in making Austin a more environmentally-friendly city such as the ban on the use of disposable plastic bags.

In the second paragraph of her write up, She cited several examples of how the city planners have failed by not providing more recycle/compost in more huge shopping centers, and how citizen throw away on continuous bases plastics, coke can etc. well it will take more than the effort of the city to get everyone to get on board to recycle. Every one of us must do our own part by making a conscious effort to recycle.  The save our springs’ coalition (SOS) was initiated by ordinary concerned citizens before it gained a city wide support, so let us all do the little that we can do before we blame everything wrong on the city, after all, we are the ones that voted for these people into office. While I applaud Williams  for making us aware of some of her concerns or observation, I would suggest that  she should have demonstrated a more balanced approach by citing some areas the city has done while pointing areas it could improve on, otherwise it would have sound like” giving a dog a bad name in order to justify a reason to kill her”.

Fallout From Texas Voter ID Law in November 2013 Election

According to article by Aviva Shen on December 23, 2013, in the thinkprogress.org, a Texas Judge was almost blocked from voting due to new Texas Voter ID law. Texas legislature enacted a new voter ID law effective November 2013. Proponents of this new voter ID law claim that it was intended to prevent voter fraud in Texas. Opponent of the law have argued that the law was intended to diminish the new emerging minority group (Hispanic), Women who traditionally vote democratic, and the young who were mainly responsible for President Obama’s victory both in the first and the second elections respectively. The Hispanic population, single mothers,  young people are becoming increasingly democratic in the last elections, and could make a huge difference as  to who gets elected in the next several elections in Texas. 

 Texas Legislative branch which is presently controlled by Republicans have recently enacted several provisions into law to check mate this emerging trend; be it cutting days from early voting,  Gerrymandering of legislative districts, to now the famous voter ID law. It is a known fact that Texas has no widespread voter fraud issue; in fact only about four persons have been prosecuted in Texas for voter-fraud related crime in the last 12years. It is sad news that during the last election, in Dallas County alone, over 13,939 voters were caught by this provision according Dallas morning news analysis.  The problem here is that only about 6% of Texas registered voters turned out in the November election. If a turnout of about 59% of Texas registered as was the case in the last presidential  election were to turn out in the next general election, Texas may well  experience long lines at the polls and this could translate to several hundreds of people either not vote or be disfranchised .  It is also documented that both the democratic candidate for Texas governorship  seat, Wendy Davis and her Republican opponent Greg Abbott  were delayed from voting in the last election due to minor disparities on their voter id card and those on their state issued driver’s license cards.

 There were also reports that a great number of minority voters, young people and the elderly population were largely affected by the new provisions. Since Texas has experimented with this new law and the results do not seem to auger well with the intended outcome of the law, this law should be scrapped immediately to avoid potential money costing law suits. Texas Legislators should be prudent enough and realize that this is a bad law and should rescind immediately. Those Texas elected officials who are good at pointing accusing fingers at the federal government when it makes mistake should stand up and defend the voters of Texas from this insane, and backward voters’ provision law. Texas Governor particularly who claims to be advocate of the tax payers of Texans should weigh in on this issue.

A Commentary on My Classmates' Blog

 (Jack Harry Smith — Will the Oldest Man on Texas’ Death Row Die of Old Age Before He is Executed?

           There is no doubt in my mind that the above mentioned case is one of  its kind, and  an odd one, considering how long this man, Jack Harry Smith has been on the death row. It is no secret that Texas is known as the execution capital of the nation; the last count was 500^th execution since the Supreme Court lifted a ban on execution. Reading my colleagues’ write-up, one would come to think that Texas is becoming soft on crime but that is not the case. In fact I agree with my colleague and the original author of the article that State of Texas has failed her citizen so far by having this man still breathing 35 years after he was sentenced to die for the crime that he was convicted of.

          
          I disagree with my peer that rushing to execute this man at this point in time is a noble thing to do. It seems to me that it would by killing him at this time, Texas would be making his wish come through; an honorary exit out of current misery. I will suggest that allowing him to die a slow and a miserable death due to his failing ill health will be a better option at this point in time. The purpose for which death sentence is imposed in the first place is to serve as a deterrent but in the case of Jack Harry Smith, execution at this point in time would only serve his purpose of notoriety in the national media; he has already broken a record as the longest serving death row inmate so why such a rush?

          Let Jack Harry Smith live and suffer a slow and lonely time in the death row till he dies a lonely death, and not noticed by anyone but himself. If we can wait for 35 years, why not wait a little longer.

I am also critical of both my colleague and the original writer of the article for their failure to give me (reader) more useful information as to why this man remained in the death row for these many years. There has to be some underlying issues either legal or otherwise that caused such a long delay because a number one state in numbers of executions cannot be considered lenient on such issue.

        
          I would have appreciated my colleague, and the original writer if they had devoted their effort in explaining why the delay is taking place, and maybe ways to reconcile the situation

An Editorial Commentary

When I was going through Houston Chronicle which  came out on October 15, 2013, and wrote an editorial titled “why we miss Kay Bailey Hutchison”, while it sounds like self- deprecating of its former endorsement of Senator Ted Cruz of Texas several months earlier, it is in fact commendable and noble for a news organization to try to get right what it once did wrong.  It all reminds us of how fast today’s world changes before our own eyes.

          I give Kudos to the Houston Chronicle for being bold enough to correct its mistaken endorsement of Senator Ted Cruz. Up until 2009, and subsequent to 2013, Texas senators were known for their intellect, leadership skill, and of course commanded great respect on corridors of power in our nation’s capital, Washington Dc.  Texas Senators were looked up to in times of great crisis, and they have always made our country and our great state of Texas proud. It would be fair to say that Senators from Texas in the late 1980’s dominated Washington power house; looking back at the presidency of senior George Bush, and later his son. Most presidential candidates looked up Texas senators as potential vice presidential candidates, and several were considered at least the last runners up. Senators Lloyd Bentsen for example, a Texas senator guided the passing of the employee retirement income security Act (ERISA). He championed the creation of individual Retirement Account (IRAS) legislation improving access to health care for low income women and children and tax incentives for independent oil and gas producers to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Under President Clinton, Senator Bentsen helped champion the Clinton economic plan that contributed to $500 billion in deficit reduction and the longest economic growth of the modern time  Senator Phil Gramm on the other hand sponsored several economic initiatives with the cooperation of some Democratic senators; senators Gramm, Senator Fritz Hollings and Warren Rudman devised means of cutting the budget through across the board spending cuts. These Senators worked together regardless of their party in the best interest of the nation.

Senators Gramm and Bentsen provided America purpose driven quality leadership and at the same time brought about jobs and several projects to the state of Texas.

          
          Compared to what we have today in Washington Dc in the names of Senators Ted Cruz, and John Cornyon, we have obstructionist and dialogues who are more interested in being identified as most conservative of the tea party movement, rather than as of leaders. Texans have great reasons to miss Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison who worked as hard as these former great senators for the interest of Texas but at the same time “who understands the importance of reaching across the aisle when necessary”. Under Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s leadership, several high tech companies, oil and gas industries enjoyed and got great attention from the white house. At a time when people can agree to disagree on issues, Todays Texas Senators are too busy playing ideological politics, rather than taking the leadership role their predecessors were known for. In all of these, the American people are yawning for leadership. It is only a matter of time that Texas will no longer become influential  in the nation’s capital, and I guess the voters of Texas may wake up this reality sooner than later.