A Sucessful Summer Session

I want to thank you professor Seago. I've learn alot in this course and I had fun constucting the blogs. I hope you continue this method in your future classes. =)

Replying to "a look at Texas Politics" Article

Reply to a look at Texas politics “B Honor Roll” Article

Interesting, I have not also heard about this loan but it seems something students should take advantage. But then again, if the government can not come up with their end of the bargain, how can we be so sure to get this loan. Yes there are other ways to get money to pay for school such as financial ad, grant, and etc. I agree with you, it is not right for the government to deny loan. What is the point of this loan program existing if the start of it was to give out loans that had no restrictions? It seems like the reason this government loan program was established was to help students. This way a student does not have to fit a certain requirement and made it easier for them to get money and get an education. If only a certain number of students can only get the loan, where is the justice to this program?

-“They should assume the responsibility and "forgive" the loans that have been given out, and in the future, prevent this from happening.” – A fellow Colleague K. Huynh

The Orginal Article I Replied To:

B Honor roll
The state of Texas has agreed to nullify loans given out to students who maintain a B average and complete their college education in 4 years, or 5 depending on their major. There is no interest rates, no restrictions on family background, just finish school and do well. This year, the legislator has not been able to allocated enough money to fund the program, consequently, some students will be denied the loan this year, which is about $5,000.

I had no idea this loan existed. Finish college on time with a B average is a grand idea. The government has decided to deny some students loans, and I believe this is not fair. There was an agreement and the government is not following through. Bob the students entered college relying on the government to pay a portion of his tuition, the government backs out halfway through, where will Bob get the money to finish his college education? The agreement was broken by the state of Texas and I believe that all loans prior should be forgiven even if the student does not meet the requirements.

There are options to attain funds to pay for college. Personally, it's difficult for me to get scholarships because I do not meet the requirement of being an American citizen. Fortunately, I have been able to receive grants and loans to pay for college. Other options I've discovered was to participate in the work study program or jst go get a high paying job.

Many of my friends do no apply for financial aid because they believe they're family is too wealthy to be considered. I'm not really sure if this is an unfortunate case, but generally the parents are paying for off the college tuition. If their family decided not to support them, they're financially independent and should be able to apply for financial aid.

It's clear there are alternatives and it's not the end of the world for students who are in this loan program, but this doesn't make denial of loans by the government right. It's a breach of contract and they're at fault. They should assume the responsibility and "forgive" the loans that have been given out, and in the future, prevent this from happening.

The Injustice of the Texas Capital Punishment System

Capital Punishment also known as the death penalty is legal in 38 of the 50 states including Texas. Capital punishment is used for many reasons by the states but usually it is used when a person has committed a murder. Texas has the highest leading number of executions out of those 38 states.

Is it morally right or wrong to kill another human being in today’s society. From a political standpoint, one must consider whether or not it is even legal. A mixture of Supreme Court ruling and individual Texas laws, one must assume that it is flawlessly legal to carry out a death penalty sentence. For Texas on the other hand, there are a plenty of things the state can do to improve their capital punishment system but probably the worst would be Texas Law of Parties.

Texas Law of Parties is probably one of the worst and most unconstitutional law there is dealing with the death penalty (ironic huh?).

THE STATUTORY BASIS OF THE LAW OF PARTIES

Section 7.02 of the Texas Penal Code outlines the following:

A person is criminally responsible for an offense committed by the conduct of another if “acting with intent to promote or assist the commission of the offense he solicits, encourages, directs, aids or attempts to aid the other persons to commit the offense” or “If, in the attempt to carry out a conspiracy to commit one felony, another felony is committed by one of the conspirators, all conspirators are guilty of the felony actually committed, though having no intent to commit it, if the offense was committed in furtherance of the unlawful purpose and was one that should have been anticipated as a result of the carrying out of the conspiracy.”

Perhaps the big question is it fair that those who actually did not commit the murder are being mistakenly convicted and sentenced to death? Under the Law of Parties, people convicted and sentence to death when this punishment is completely disproportionate to the crime and should never have been enforced. This system states that capital punishment is kept for the extreme criminals and saved for the atrocious crimes committed but there is a person sent on death row who did not commit a murder. Is this fair? I do not think so. Surprisingly, there has not been a group of politicians who has yet stand up and fought against this issue. When will a voice be raised about this issue?

The Organization of Alive Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty e.V.developed goals and objectives to help this cause:

1) Gather willing groups to help reach out to other death row inmates tried under the Law of Parties so that we can see who can qualify under the Supreme Court criteria of persons who should not be on death row.

2) Upon these findings, initiate an official study about these Law of Parties cases and create a handbook (similar to Deadly Speculation and Lethal Indifference) that can be widely distributed to the public and media.

3) Formulate a write-up to adjust the current 7.02 Law of Parties Statute.

4) Build support and exposure around the above and take it to the Texas Legislature to be implemented.

Will this injustice in Texas ever be abolished?

Articles involving a man named Kenneth Foster who is sent to death because he didn't kill the man?:

Backward Texas law may make man pay with life for deed he didn't do

Kenneth Foster and the Texas Death House

Free Kenneth Foster: Support Rally This Saturday

Give Texas a Pat on the Back for Decreasing High School Dropouts but then Again, Teen Birth Rate Remains the Highest.

It is great news to know that Texas’ high school dropout rates have decreased but it is not great to know that not only Texas teens’ birth rate is high but the highest in the country. From the Kids Count, it is reported that there are 63 births per every 1,000 females aged 15-19. Texas has seemingly to decrease their birth rate, but still have the highest birth rate among the 50 states. According to Frances Deviney of the Center for Public Policy Priorities, she says that because Texas has a high percentage of Hispanics, (35 percent of Texas population and rising) and Hispanic teens have higher birth rates than other groups. This implies that culture plays a factor in the state’s statistics.


What can we do to help decrease Texas’ teens' birth rates? The state and local government needs to concentrate on this issue similar to the way they did with high school dropouts. If we can improve the declining numbers of students dropping out of school then Texas is much capable of lowering the teen birth rate. Are sex educators even really explaining about this issue well? Texas schools have focused on abstinence in sex education classes. Yes, abstinence is one answer but they lack focus on other approaches. Every topic is important in this issue and they all need to be elaborated on. Topics such as STDs,
HIV/AIDS, if they happen to have sex; the use of condoms, what abortion is and etc. It is hard as a teen to raise a child and because of that, it is important teenagers are better informed. Parents have to be involved as well for teenagers to take notice. If more parents can talk about this issue I believe Texas can reduce the statistic in this state.

I am just one person, lets see if other people will see this issue and help Texas leave the number one ranking in teen birth rate.




For this Article:Fewer Texas kids dropping out: But new report shows state teen birth rate, infant mortality remain high.

An Elementary School at a Former Chemical Site...you do the Math.

The Leander school district plans to open an elementary school in a former chemical company site. And why would they do such a thing? Because the school district thought by buying the site with six buildings would be cheaper then buying an acre site and having to build the school as well. Like any other parents would be, it’s only a natural instinct to be worry that their child is designated to go to that school. According to the commission, it is rank four out of five (five being the highest possible hazard). In my perspective, I am appalled that they would even consider the thought of running an elementary school full of little children and all people in general at a former chemical company. Even though the district are asking the school board member for money to help clean up the school, the plan for opening the school there should be cancelled.


For the Complete Article:State agency finds school has hazard concerns