Texas Schools

          Texas schools are no longer shielded from state budget cuts. Budget cuts are coming, and they are going to hurt. In Central Texas, school enrollments continue to grow. People are still moving here, and they are bringing their children with them. Legislative leaders have not said whether they plan to cover the $2 billion school districts are projected to need for new students. No decisions have been made about how to cut the state’s public education budget. One of the ideas being talked about is to eliminate $2 billion in grant programs from outside the foundation school program, which includes the $400 million teacher incentive program and more than $200 million for prekindergarten. The protective bubble that shielded public schools from the full force of Texas’ budget crisis has evaporated. 

Accountability

            While reading my classmates’ blogs, I found and interesting blog written by Darrin Nikolaisen called, “ Who Can You Trust?” The blog discusses about how the political system is based all in false statements, that most politicians are dishonest and misleading. I agree, that we should hold politicians accountable for their false statements and dishonesty.

            For example, Gov. Rick Perry makes an eye-catching claim on his campaign earning him a “pants on fire” on politifact. Perry claiming that his border security efforts have led to a 60 percent drop in crime along Texas-Mexico border. The calculation he touts doesn’t consider crimes committed in cities and towns when most border residents live. Crime may have subsided in some rural aread of the border region, however, it’s not clear how much of any decline can be traced to the state’s investment in security.

            The bottom line: all politicians’ are locking out for number one, them self’s. 

            

   

            

Legalize Marijuana

            Government’s own studies have shown that marijuana has efficacy, the only hurdle now is the political one. The movement is gaining momentum around the country. Medical marijuana sold in California is subject to sales tax. It will be a tough sell in Texas, where the idea didn’t get far in the last legislative session.

California, New Mexico and other 12 states have legalized marijuana as a medicine with a doctor’s prescription, and a Dallas group (Texas Coalition for Compassionate Care) is pushing for Texas to be the next. The DEA spend 10 billion dollars fighting marijuana use, but the prohibition is not preventing people form growing it, selling it, or using it. Twenty-five million people a year are smoking marijuana illegally; the prohibition in 1937, is a total failure its time to take a new approach. Letting the states regulate marijuana and tax its sale, like alcohol, a move that could mean billions of dollars for the cash-strapped state. Medical-Grade marijuana can sell for $3,000 per pound, and is the largest cash crop in the country. Pot is, after all, responsible for $14 billion a year in sales in California. And is a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions. 

Why not? The state is in desperate need for money. It will help the Texas budget; our budget is now as bad as California’s the one state where balance budgeting goes to die.