What's the Big Deal?

In Texas, possessing 2 oz. or less of marijuana can land you in jail for up to 180 days. And while most minimum possession cases don't go that far. That penalty still seems like too much for Texas people. According to a poll ran by the Texas Lyceum, seventy-four percent of Texas adults say the maximum punishment for being caught with pot should be changed from a criminal penalty to a ticket or fine. I am certainly in favor of such change. This is because marijuana does not have a single known case of overdose. And we all know, there are plenty of people smoke a lot of the green leafy substance. This contrasts greatly with alcohol, and plain pharmacy drugs which account for 16,000 American deaths. All this does not mean Marijuana is not to be taken seriously. And legalizing in Texas is a whole other subject. But, I wonder who pays for all the minimum possession prosecutions of Marijuana in Texas? Well, that would be the labor force of Texas, me included AKA the taxpayers. When other issues arise regarding cuts on very particular or specific areas of Texas government spending, they just overlook this particular subject, for now at least. 

Comment on "Convenient Accuracy"

Voting turnout in Texas is definitely an issue. The fact that, as you mentioned "There are more people unregistered than people who actually vote." gives reason for concern. I like the very feasible solution to the problem. That is, making registration easier by providing more locations to register in a simpler manner.

Source Material - Convenient Accuracy

Cutting Corners

         In the past few months, it seems as though the Texas Government has been focusing efforts to eradicate planned parenthood within the state. An institution that was founded nearly 100 years ago, because of controversial actions that exclude their patients. Regardless of the care they have provided to many women during the course of their time. Planned parenthood is being accused of selling fetuses for so called science practices, it is also being accused of Medicaid fraud.  The government has issued  intrusive subpoenas that in the eyes of the average person seem ridiculous. These subpoenas include personal information requested from planned parenthood workers. It might seem as though the government would like to find these people and independently accuse them for misconduct, but up to this point this is not the case. The Texas Government is after the organization as a whole, with no solid proof of Medicaid evidence, or hard evidence on bad practices within the company. 

         I do not want to come off as one sided, as there might be a shady side of planned parenthood that I do not see, nor do most people for that matter. But the side that I do see, is the clinic that helps women especially those with low incomes. The informative guidance that women get from this organization, such as their preventive, STI, and breast exams is essential to our society. It is sad that the organization that has strived to help women throughout the years is involved in misconduct, but I believe it is even sadder that our government does not nearly attempt to fix the situation. For instance, to levy heavy penalties and/or warnings towards this company. Instead they insist on defunding it, without taking into account that there are currently not enough clinics that can help low income women with their reproductive issues and preliminaries.