Commentary on the Blog: Texas government-summersession2

Hi!
First I want to say your blog was very interesting.

I agree on the fact that "some" prisoners should be fully compensated for their wrong-doing. But I disagree with you on the answer to "Is killing people really the ultimate 'punishment'?" One thing that I totally agree on with the Texas legislatures is the death penalty policy.

Do you really believe that executing is really a favor to a prisoner? Do you really believe that if a prisoner only had to choose between death or life imprisonment that prisoner would choose to be executed? Maybe for few but not for most. If a father was imprisoned, would they want to live until they see their children grow safe and healthy? For most, they will risk their miserous life in prison to witness their family through. I have never been to a jail, but I bet that it means a lot when their family comes to visit them. Its counterpart, Death, will end their life and it might end their families life. We should understand their familys' situation as well.

Also I admire you when you say that we should not kill people to emtpy prison rooms, but do you think that our Texas legislature has implemented death penalty to empty prison rooms and save money? Although very minor reason could be financial burden of having so many prisoners, it is not safe to believe that idea.

In latest bust, police overestimated pot plant numbers by 20,000

" In fact, the marijuana farm found this week near Mountain Creek Lake in Grand Prairie consisted of fewer than 10,000 plants", DEA officials said Friday. Dallas police flew over Dallas-Fort Worth area and found long plantation of marijuana. The discovery, though, still is a large one among the string of large pot field finds near the lake. These long fields of marijuana is irrigated and " the latest set of plots employed watering systems similar to the PVC pipes and canals of the other farms", DEA spokeswoman Terri Wyatt said. Dallas police is trying investigating to see who might be under this massive plantation. Some police intelligences are pointing at possible Mexican drug cartels, but it is not certain. DEA agents and Dallas police are sweating and heaving trying to dispose these green marijuana plants. Although the article has its title "In latest bust, police overestimated pot plant numbers by 20,000", it is absolute that 20,000 is still a massive amount. It is a shame that these massive plants are still around and it lets us to question the effectiveness of our nation's homeland security. Lets not worry so much about what is going on outside of the nation, and lets concentrate on what is really going on inside. These massive plants are numerous in number and most of them are still unknown in its location. Drug markets are still prevalent in this society, and our government should use whatever that is necessary to remove and prevent these illegal markets.

For the complete article: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/080407dnmetpotbust.2be91b9.html

Come back of West Nile Virus

Harris County that covers Houston Texas has found a victim of West Nile virus in which it is the first time that this deadly disease has hit this area. A 52-year-old Houston woman has been reported from The Department of Health and Human Services as a victim of West Nile Virus and there could possibly be more victims to this deleterious disease. Experts have reported that West Nile Virus does not spread by human-to-human contact but from mosquito bites. These special mosquitoes, known as Culex Mosquitoes have difficulties reproducing in wet conditions so Harris County's Mosquito Control is on massive plan to spray out these killers before the weather gets drier. It is very depressing to know that more and more fellow citizens will be vulnerable to this deadly disease, but it is relieving to know that killers can only reproduce in dry condition, in which the current weather is more wet and humid.

My suggestion is that because one of Texas's city has reported the finding of West Nile Virus, Texas Department of Health let all Texas Counties be sprayed to kill possible Culex mosquitoes in other areas. These are bugs that have high reproduce rate and just to be on the safe side, Texas should require all other counties to be sprayed.

For the complete article http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5003996.html

Hands are together for Senate Bill 49

Hopes are high and shaky in Texas as Senator Judith Zaffirini takes another rescue mission for financially-burdened college students to execute Senate Bill 49. With this Bill, Senator Zaffirini takes another shot at Tax-Free textbooks to save Texas college students from paying heavy sum of tax when they are already struggling financially from other college-related expenses. This bill, if passed, would allow Texas college students to purchase their textbooks without paying a tax during 10-days period before each semester. Although a similar bill has failed to pass the House in 2005, situation now is different. More colleges and their leading organizations are united as one to fight for this new bill. If this bill gets passed, students will save about 30-40 dollars of tax money each semester. This bill will definitely be beneficial for those students who live day by day with federal loans and grants. If this bill gets passed, it will lift the spirits of Texas college students and their pride for being Texans.
For the complete artcle: http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/legislature/entries/2007/05/08/another_shot_for_tax_free_textbooks.html