The Infamous Texas Death Penalty

For or against, everyone has an opinion and an argument of both sides of the proverbial barbed wire fence. One of the few things I like about Texas is the fact that it has the death penalty and is not afraid to use it. For me personally, I believe the hard core death row killers ought to experience the same death their victim’s endured, instead of a nice sleepy shot. I am positive that is a whole other blog.

What I want to discuss this time is the costs associated with the death penalty versus life sentences without parole and a new bill aimed at curtailing some of the expenses and possibly giving someone a better shot of not being wrongly convicted. Most people I know when asked, believe that it is bound to be cheaper to put an inmate to death rather than house and feed them for the rest of their lives. I have always thought the same as well, without considering the complete process the death penalty conviction involves. Several research sources have begun adding up the seemingly endless expenses that are occurring. Wow. It is adding up to be in upward of a million per case. Crazy, but due to allowable processes inmates are entitled to multiple appeals. Within that lies, paid expert witnesses, juries, prosecutors, paperwork processors, doctors, and consultants. The list is long and adds up very quick. So I read it costs 47.50 per day to house and feed an inmate. To make this even more real, a minimum wage employee makes 58.00 per 8 hour day before taxes. You do the math. With that said, I have no desire to feed, house and medicate a hard core, death penalty qualifying criminal for the rest of their lives. It seems so far to be a “no win” either way.

There is one bill in the works that finally makes some sense and seems to be aiming towards the right direction. The bill would require DNA testing before a death penalty trial begins. Not only does it have the potential to cut major expenses, it has the potential to help ensure we do not inadvertently sentence an innocent person. This could be huge since technology has advanced so far. May this help end the far too long processes, personnel and millions wastefully spent on someone that should suffer a similar fate as their victims instead of prolonging the time the inmate can kick back, be housed, fed and have access to health care. Some simple luxuries hard working people go without.

Hollywood In our Homes

Blue Dot Blues blogger MJ Samuelson, of Travis County Texas, February 25, 2013 blog is titled, "How Hollywood just won the political talking point war of the week". See the original blog here:  Hollywood to Texas and Beyond

Many people either grew up watching the Oscar awards or at a minimum know of it. They award each other, praise each other, and we watch intently each year. The author of this blog is not any different. He watches the Oscars simply for its entertainment value. He watches movies throughout the year to relax and take a break from our everyday world, he states he does politics for a living, and likes a reprieve  Like many of us he needs a break. Me personally, I watch it simply to see what they are wearing. I do not pay much attention to who actually wins the Oscar award or what any of them have to say.

No matter the reason people have for watching this event, Hollywood has managed to inundate this show, making it a personal political venue. Why? Maybe, because they can? Maybe because the viewers allow it? The author of this blog looks forward to the antics of Hollywood's infamous, not their political views. I am unsure why the actors and actresses political views matter in the first place. Hopefully the star-gazed, UNEDUCATED voters in our state are not swayed simply by someone that makes a living portraying someone or something they are not. I am sure no politicians pretend to be something they are not. Could the influence of Hollywood ever change us from a red state to a blue state? I overheard that conversation recently at work and that is why this blog interested me as a reader. Two of my favorite quotes in this blog are, "leave your politics at the door and wear a fabulous dress", and "Not everything has to be political". Well I guess the appearance of Michelle Obama squashes that one. That can be a whole other blog post itself. Seriously what do the Oscars have to do with her, except maybe Hollywood helped put her in her big White house? If in fact they did help put her in the White house, what influence do they have on the voters in our state?

The intended audience of this blog could be all of us. Those of us that want to be entertained for a few hours. Democrat or Republican, I have never known either to watch the Oscars for its political enlightenment. Everything has a time and a place. I agree.

In conclusion, what two topics have many of been told our whole lives? Avoid talking about politics and religion in certain settings. Maybe Hollywood could adopt that policy as well.

Congrats, We Look Stupid...

"Perry's California slam is all business-business as usual" by Peggy Fikac an Express-News columnist is hysterical. Perry's California

It begins with a comparison between Texas Governor Perry aka. Gov Goodhair vs. California Governor Brown aka Gov Gandalf. So Gov. Perry spent 24,000 dollars in an attempt to persuade California businesses to move to Texas. Ok great, I do understand working to build your states economy. Although it seems like Gov. Perry's attempts have become somewhat of a joke. Gov. Brown said, and are you ready for this one... "Perry's attempt was not a burp. It's barely a fart". Now in searching the credibility of this piece, I found many articles with the same quote. It definitely got its time in the spotlight. The author, had many great quotes from other politicians, columnists, newspapers and business people.  The late columnist, Molly Ivans said about Texas, "it's a low-tax, low-service state- so shoot us. The only depressing part is that, unlike Mississippi, we can afford to do better. We just don't". Of course, as one would expect, California had its opinions as well. I found another quote from another article I could not resist sharing as it seems to coincide with the topic here. 

“Check out a state that ranks dead last in the percent of its population with high school diplomas. Come check out a state that is last in mental health expenditures and workers’ compensation coverage. Come check out a state that ranks first in the number of executions, first in the number of uninsured, first in the amount of carbon dioxide emitted and first in the amount of toxic chemicals released into water," the editorial board wrote in the paper. Check this corresponding article

Now that is priceless. If we cannot fix these things in our state for the people already here, other then the tax thing, what else do we have to offer? Football? I think Perry needs to come to the table with a bit more then he arrived with. People will read this article because they are followers of Perry's antics. Others will read it simply for a good laugh.

Ultimately, the whole thing is beginning to to look like a giant contest to see which state or which governor is bigger or better. Can they get past the hair and benefit both states. The author gave examples of both sides of the fence, but I definitely believe she showed us that Texas looks unprepared to take on California.

Misplaced Priorities

Everyone has their own set of priorities. Everyone almost always has an opinion about whether or not a persons priorities are headed the proper direction or if they are misguided. Day after day, across the country we watch, read and listen to our elected officials. We typically hope they are spending their days working for us, for the betterment of our state or country. We hope they are not wasting their time, effort and our tax dollars in the process. So I ran across this article in the Dallas Morning News as well as the Texas Tribune that absolutely made me laugh and shake my head. I thought to myself, "Really?! Is this seriously what we elect our State Representative to do?" I thought let's not focus our efforts on education, economy, or the welfare of the state. Texas claims to be far and above the rest, correct? So in Texas let us do this:                                                     HB 778
                                           Bill Proposed by State Representative  
                                                               Ryan Guillen 
This newly proposed bill would require UT and Texas A&M to play each other in a football game annually. Again I say, "Seriously?" I go on to read further, not only does this bill propose they play annually, it proposes a penalty and restrictions on athletic scholarships if there is non-compliance by either institution. Now I personally love a good rivalry game as much as the next person, i.e. the Red River Shootout. Since I am from Oklahoma, you can guess I am not wearing orange. As fun is this game is for both states, in the event it were to end, I would gladly move on and hope that our elected Representatives spend that extra time proposing and passing bills that protect our kids at school, and people at their work place. That list can go on and on. This article displays a misguided priority by State Representative Guillen, in my opinion. He said, "I think the people of Texas want a game, and we're trying to give them one." I can only hope the people of Texas set higher priorities and standards for this state, come election time. I recommend taking a moment to read these articles to see what Texas priorities are these days.

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