This Texas Politics article by Bobby Cervantes from the San Antonio Express News posted on 02/25/2011 discusses the suggestion to eliminate the death penalty in Texas.
The article discusses, how although the notion is already a long shot, if not a shot in the dark, in the 'tough-on-crime Texas' state, there has been no statewide study on the total cost of capital punishment on the state's budget to date yet and it would be in the state's interest to do so. The argument states that now is a perfect time for a re-evaluating the necessity for capital punishment, being that it is very, very expensive on the state and the costs only seem to continue to rise. This piece suggests, that by eliminating the death penalty, the effect will help contribute in saving the state a lot of money and improve the Texas economy.
The evidence and numbers presented are said to vary by many anti-death groups but a common estimate is 1.2 million dollars per capitol case, from start to finish and often times more, when including post conviction litigation costs including the execution itself. This estimated figure can be multiplied by the 315 Texas offenders currently on death row to see a clearer picture on the size of the impact that this is having on the economy.
The argument that was made in part by the author for presenting the article and mainly from a reader, whom the author cites as making the original suggestion, says that the Texas economy is currently struggling and the costs for capital punishment are only going to continue to go up and so now is the ideal time to consider changing the state's very firm position on the topic and issue.
I have to say that I disagree 100%.
Capital punishment is a sensitive issue and should be treated as such since we are dealing with life and death, issues of morality, governing society and consequences from citizens' actions when horrible and unthinkable deeds are done to other people. That said, I don't believe that the economy or financial revenue is a valid enough reason to make such a drastic change to the system that is in place. The state may presently be in a bind needing money but problems like that will always come and hopefully go with the times and can be addressed in other ways, with other solutions and this proposal, although might help, would not fully fix the current problem of the economy on it's own.
Money should not be a reason to change our moral standards of dicipline and ethics of right and wrong and certainly not worth bargaining over issues of principles, otherwise we are just simply selling our souls or whoring ourselves out like prostitutes as a society.
If we were to make a change like that, it should not be for monetary gain at all but instead change it for an ideal of better morality and better principle, or leave it for the ideal that it is best in place to preserve a safer and more secure world to live in, where the weight of one's actions comes with heavy consequences, up to and including fatality.
Capital punishment- the death penalty for crimes committed, weather you believe in it or not, or support it or not, just needs to remain something that is not changed as a way to save ourselves money, even when we need it, or to help balance our pocketbooks and reduce deficits. There are other ways and things the state can do for that, there are other corners that can be cut, taxes to be levied in balancing the budget and other taxes that can be raised, before we sell off our most sacred ideas on government and lifestyle.
The writer's suggestion can also easily be perceived as a smoke screen and a hidden agenda, by those that oppose the death penalty all together. The reason given is not good enough for me.
We could tax the price of tobacco even further to something like fifteen dollars for a single pack of cigarettes to raise additional money, or the state legislature could propose to tax the cost of booze and alcoholic beverages even further as well. We could levy a sales tax for on-line purchases of things that are bought on websites such as Amazon.com or eBay that currently have no sales tax associated with buying items. Furthermore, the citizens of this state could even hold our government representatives responsible and their jobs accountable for the current state of the economy, by voting to change political power as a statement of example of what happens when government doesn't do it's job.
What we should not do, is allow our own moral codes of conduct, to be put up on a chopping block and to be bought and sold, in such a fickle way, as if we have lost our dignity and humanity all together. The decision regarding weather or not capital punishment is alright, should not be a topic associated with finances at all, regardless of the current dilemma of the state economy, especially since it currently does not hold the single power to make or break it.
Not a fair exchange.
Austin, TX skyline concept
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Rural schools, communities suffer in the face of Texas' budget cuts
$10 billion proposed reduction in direct school aid could drive small, rural school districts out of business. This Statesman article by Kate Alexander, discusses how
lawmakers are now considering a two-year budget proposal that is without the ten billion dollars owed to school districts under our current law, this would amount to a fourteen percent reduction in total state and local education spending. The schools across Texas will be struggling at best, without money to operate and continued funding to teach the future leaders and residents of the state.
This news article addresses the state of emergency that the schools of Texas are in at this time, as well as small communities, specifically one that is in a path of decimation and obliteration in the face of Texas budget cuts by state lawmakers. These are same lawmakers tossing around these proposals, who were voted into office by the trusting citizens and voters of the state, elected to enhance and preserve the quality of life, not cause it to suffer.
The article I feel is important in a very ambiguous way, but I feel a major point I want to air out is that this is what happens when the people and citizens, fail to exercise their democratic power to vote, or do so properly over they're state and local governments. It's what designates the jobs of these lawmakers. They need to be held accountable. It is also important because as a resident of Texas, this is affecting everyone directly or indirectly. Oddly enough, it still remains that the same incumbents and political regimes continue to rule the politics of this state.
Miles is the small town and target in the spot light here, built in 1904 it is home to a traditional vintage opera house along the red-brick main street once showcased "The Mikado' by Gilbert Sullivan and the oratory Mark Twain. There is clearly a lot of history, heritage and pride for the towns people there. They now pack the school auditorium a few blocks away for every student play and band performance, "it's the only show in town" they proclaim. For residents of this tiny West Texas farming community, the school district is central to their identity, history and way of life.
Miles now faces a serious threat to it's survival from the school budget cuts taking place in the Texas Capitol. The possibility of reduction and loss of state aid has superintendents across Texas fretting about school closures, layoffs and fewer programs for students. For Robert Gibson, the superintendent of Miles says the worst case scenario could mean the end of his town. Under the proposals floating around the Capitol, the district could be out as much as 15 percent of its total budget.
Another issue of point to consider is the drawing of districts. Texas' population has grown twenty percent over the past decade, according to estimates from the Texas State Data Center. At the same time, rural communities have held steady in sheer numbers but fallen from sixteen percent to thirteen percent of the total state population.
The more residents in urban and suburban communities mean more representation in the Capitol, a gap that will widen with the decennial redrawing of legislators' districts this year.
The result is that rural school districts that are struggling in West Texas and elsewhere could have their voices drowned out.
Consolidating with another district and closing the schoolhouse doors wouldn't really save much money. Yet it would be even more devastating to Miles than the great drought of the 1950s. "If the school wasn't here," Gibson said, "the community would blow away."
The article is insightful and simply keeping us informed on what is happening within our Government and society right now and the changes taking place. It also hints at the idea of consequences of the legislators gerrymandered districts and non accountability of the same politicians in power. People need to understand that unless they exercise their right to vote, their lives are directly affected and to some degree dictated by someone who is paid a lot of money to do just that. Like a carrot and a stick. Representation for personal way of life is of the up most importance when dealing with government. The vote is our power.
lawmakers are now considering a two-year budget proposal that is without the ten billion dollars owed to school districts under our current law, this would amount to a fourteen percent reduction in total state and local education spending. The schools across Texas will be struggling at best, without money to operate and continued funding to teach the future leaders and residents of the state.
This news article addresses the state of emergency that the schools of Texas are in at this time, as well as small communities, specifically one that is in a path of decimation and obliteration in the face of Texas budget cuts by state lawmakers. These are same lawmakers tossing around these proposals, who were voted into office by the trusting citizens and voters of the state, elected to enhance and preserve the quality of life, not cause it to suffer.
The article I feel is important in a very ambiguous way, but I feel a major point I want to air out is that this is what happens when the people and citizens, fail to exercise their democratic power to vote, or do so properly over they're state and local governments. It's what designates the jobs of these lawmakers. They need to be held accountable. It is also important because as a resident of Texas, this is affecting everyone directly or indirectly. Oddly enough, it still remains that the same incumbents and political regimes continue to rule the politics of this state.
Miles is the small town and target in the spot light here, built in 1904 it is home to a traditional vintage opera house along the red-brick main street once showcased "The Mikado' by Gilbert Sullivan and the oratory Mark Twain. There is clearly a lot of history, heritage and pride for the towns people there. They now pack the school auditorium a few blocks away for every student play and band performance, "it's the only show in town" they proclaim. For residents of this tiny West Texas farming community, the school district is central to their identity, history and way of life.
Miles now faces a serious threat to it's survival from the school budget cuts taking place in the Texas Capitol. The possibility of reduction and loss of state aid has superintendents across Texas fretting about school closures, layoffs and fewer programs for students. For Robert Gibson, the superintendent of Miles says the worst case scenario could mean the end of his town. Under the proposals floating around the Capitol, the district could be out as much as 15 percent of its total budget.
Another issue of point to consider is the drawing of districts. Texas' population has grown twenty percent over the past decade, according to estimates from the Texas State Data Center. At the same time, rural communities have held steady in sheer numbers but fallen from sixteen percent to thirteen percent of the total state population.
The more residents in urban and suburban communities mean more representation in the Capitol, a gap that will widen with the decennial redrawing of legislators' districts this year.
The result is that rural school districts that are struggling in West Texas and elsewhere could have their voices drowned out.
Consolidating with another district and closing the schoolhouse doors wouldn't really save much money. Yet it would be even more devastating to Miles than the great drought of the 1950s. "If the school wasn't here," Gibson said, "the community would blow away."
The article is insightful and simply keeping us informed on what is happening within our Government and society right now and the changes taking place. It also hints at the idea of consequences of the legislators gerrymandered districts and non accountability of the same politicians in power. People need to understand that unless they exercise their right to vote, their lives are directly affected and to some degree dictated by someone who is paid a lot of money to do just that. Like a carrot and a stick. Representation for personal way of life is of the up most importance when dealing with government. The vote is our power.
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