Classmate’s Article Commentary

On April 26, one of my classmates published in the Political Texans Blog a commentary called “Future Austin Compost Regulations,” this commentary is based in the article published at Austin American Statesman about composting rules for the small business.  I totally agree with my classmate’s commentary because the city of Austin is developing projects for the future to improve the living conditions and clean the environment.

            Composting is a mixture of decaying organic matter as from leaves and manure; it is used to improved soil structure and provides nutrients.  The city of Austin has the idea to collect all this compost and picked up from each location.  As my classmate mention in the comment “This new regulation is to help the city of Austin achieve its zero waste goal by 2040.”

            I think that my classmate bring a very good commentary about the excellent idea from the city of Austin, first because most of the people is concerned about the environment and second because master gardeners believe that compost is great for improving the soil.

Fertilizer Plant Explosion at West

On Tuesday 23, 2013 the Austin Statement published an article titled “Blast damage in West more extensive than anticipated.”  This article shows us about the terrible explosion that happen in a fertilizer plant in West, Texas on Wednesday 17.  This is a sad notice because the massive explosion damages many houses, apartment complex and mobile homes.  More than 200 people were injured and 14 were reported death.  The funeral services for some residents will start the next week, few have their families living in Mexico and they have to get special visas to assist to the funeral of their loved ones.  The state is making an investigation to see what is the damaged reported in dollars.   Also the state authorities restricted access to the devastating area.

Few residents and some insurance companies are accusing the owner and employees of the plant for negligence with the equipment and they plan to sue the owner of the fertilizer plant.

Some critics says that the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, is the agency responsible for investigating industrial accidents involving chemicals, but the board officers  are saying that the small annual budget makes meaningful investigations almost impossible.

 Now the eyes of Texans are over Governor Rick Perry, if he can have a solution to avoid future disasters of this magnitude, especially government over-sight when it comes to safety regulations for this kind of business.

It could be accident or negligence but we know that many people are suffering consequences; in this situation we have to show compassion and solidarity with the people from West, Texas and give them our support and prayers.

Comments on a Colleague's work

On Friday, March 29, the Blog Spot of Austin Kotch, one of my colleagues at school published an article titled “Safety is Important. We must allow open carry in Texas”   His article is very important because it refers to concealed carried guns in Texas.  I agree with part of his comment, because crime rates could be dropped in Texas if the law of carrying concealed guns to public places is approved.  My colleague says that the weapon should not be hiding in other words it should be shown in a gun holster as it was in the old West, and I don’t think I agree with that part because first it is against the law and second that under certain circumstances could cause public alarm especially in the places where it is a peaceful environment.  Also open carried guns can make you a target of an angry or unreasonable law enforcement officer or that robbers can target your gun and try to get it violently or clandestinely.  We have to considered the advantage of surprise that we lost with open carried guns.

Austin Disposable Plastic Bag Ban

On Tuesday, March 5, the National Association of Convenient Stores (NACS) published an article titled “Austin Disposable Plastic Bag Ban Take Effect.”  This article is talking about that Austin gives a policy that retailer’s stores, pharmacies, and any convenient store are not allowed to use plastic bags with their customers. 

 Austin should not Ban the plastic bags because it affects the majority of residents of Austin.  Those bags are small compared with the big ones that the store is selling now or the paper bags that are not resistant enough to carry all the shopping.  In my personal opinion the plastic bag ban doesn't make sense, the plastic bags with handle that the stores provide to the shoppers was very healthy because customers do not expose their food or lose the small products that they have purchased, the handle plastic bags also were one time use and disposables or you can used at home in something else like for example in the trash.  It is understandable that no one carries their clothes bags everywhere, or buys the plastic reusable bags that they are selling.  The reusable plastic bags has a lot of bacteria including the E. coli if it is not appropriate cleaned after load your bag with produce or meats like fish or chicken.  And I am asking what is going to happen with the big plastic bags that are used to wrap big items like mattresses or those to dispose the trash or clean the yard.  Austin should become with a better plan that does not affect the economy or the health of people.

Resign of the Pope

On Monday, February 11, In the Pink Texas Blog was posted a comment titled “Pope Spring Eternal.”   I agree with this comment of Eileen Smith the editor of the liberal blog In the Pink Texas, because the resignation of the Pope Benedict XVI is like a disaster for the believers in the catholic church to the extreme that many of them thinks that those are signs of the end of the world. 

Probably Benedict XVI has a few personal reasons to resign but he should put at front the great responsibility that he has. He was the leader; the head of the biggest religion in the whole world.

Many catholic people still do not come out of their surprise moreover some of them decide do not believe because they do not want to trust in the church.  The Bible teaches about “love your neighbor as yourself” the things happen in Rome are far away from that teaching.

The Catholic Church is now without a leader and they feel insecure, they feel like a sheep without a pastor is time that they will open their eyes and start exercising their faith and hope that the sacrifice of Jesus in the Cross was not in vain.  

In my personal opinion the Catholic Church needs to reform certain points of their organization.  Probably being more open to the election of Pope giving more opportunity to young candidates also not tolerating the ones who committed abuses with children, which is one of the main problems and scandals of the church.

On Wednesday February 20, 2013 the Austin American Statesman published an article titled "Child Therapists push for Medicaid changes."  This is an argument that involves medical care for children and adults that do not have enough income to pay a private health insurance.  Unfortunately for poor families the governor and the legislature do not care about these problems.  This one of the biggest challenges; Texas must address the health care crisis, and come with a solution.
Critics and leaders of Texas wants to ensure that is something done, they give their support to the SJR8 a constitutional amendment that gives Texan voters the rights to decide whether Texas expands the Medicaid program.  Texas should increase their accountability for doctors, clinics and hospitals that provide Medicaid services.  Those kinds of changes would mean lower costs to the state overall and a higher quality of care for those on Medicaid.
Despite Governor Rick Perry opposes to the health reform, democrats remain optimistic that 2013 legislative session can lead a lead that will bring billions of additional dollars to improve Medicaid programs.
I think that if we expand Medicaid through managed care plans, we will not have problems, because when doctors see the money available, they will participate in the program.  Also expanding Medicaid will help people with longer sickness and diseases to have their sickness in control with frequently visitations to doctor's or therapist's office at the same time will save in longer hospitalizations.  One of the things that therapists are doing, agree with the argument, is that they are trying to push legislators to avoid the cut of budget for Medicaid purposes and for 2013-14 will make better use of Medicaid dollars and support local health solutions.

On Tuesday, February 19, the Austin American Statesman published an article titled “Cruz calls for Second Amendment protection at gun manufacturer visit.”   Ted Cruz is a Republican Senator.  He visited the plant of gun manufacturing at Leander Texas, gives support and talk about defending the guns rights.  This article is very interesting and very important for all students to read because is a lot of controversy about that matter.  For one side is the second amendment that mention about the right to bear arms, but the other hand is that guns are sometimes used for people with a lot of anger and many psychological problems that put in a risk the life of children an innocent citizens