Defund Planned Parenthood

In the article, Texas Should Fund Planned Parenthood, the author discusses the benefits that Planned Parenthood provides for families, children and women. Texas has the highest number of uninsured citizens and I believe that there needs to be organizations that help fund healthcare for patients. The author makes a valid point about the expenses of medical care and the need for organizations like Planned Parenthood to provide assistance.

However, the author failed to mention the recent discussions about Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is allowing women to abort their babies in order for them to be harvested for their body parts. I am all for research and being an organ donor but to perform a partial birth abortion on a perfectly healthy baby just so you can receive money is not saving lives but rather killing them. An article I read, mentioned that doctors were performing abortions at 24 weeks. Abortions should not be performed after 20 weeks considering several studies have shown that at 5 months the fetus can feel pain. Some people see Planned Parenthood as beneficial to the society but I disagree with this and think that allowing individuals to abort a fetus so their body parts can be harvested is murder. The author mentions that Planned Parenthood protects women’s rights, like the decision of abortion, which is not a choice I think women should be able to make, especially at a certain term of their pregnancy. Although the author made some valid points about Planned Parenthood providing services for low-income citizens, I think they missed the biggest issue that Planned Parenthood is advocating, which is why I disagree with the author and think Texas should not fund Planned Parenthood.

Implement the Death Penalty

Texas is ranked the highest state in the country for the number of death penalty executions. So why has Texas declined to send a convicted killer to the Texas death row this year when it was the number one state in executions? Some attorneys mentioned that the death penalty is no longer a go-to method that prosecutors once regarded it to be. As a matter of fact, statistics show that the death penalty cost almost three times the amount it costs for someone to be imprisoned at the maximum sentence. Also, there have been several wrongful convictions of people that were on death row. If the jury refuses to use the death penalty as a sentence, how will this affect the crime rate, victim’s families and even our society?

The state prisons are becoming more corrupt with employees being lured into relationships with criminals. Employees are also threatened by inmates, leaving them with no choice but to provide assistance to them. For instance, the incident that happened in New York with two convicted killers had a prison worker help them escape. As Americans, especially family of the victim’s, we should not have to worry or fear that a killer will walk the streets again. If this is the case, why would we want to place more convicts in prison for doing a brutal crime, which are overcrowded to begin with. I know the death penalty cost so much more money, but someone who kills another person should not have the option to potentially walk the streets again. People may also be worried that they convicted the wrong person but if there is physical and testimonial evidence there should be no reason why someone shouldn’t get the death penalty if they have committed a first-degree murder. Texas should start implementing the death penalty more often, in order to provide justice for victim’s families, as well as to keep a rigorous judicial system.

Minimum Wage Shouldn't be Raised

In the article, Minimum Wage Raise, the author raises concern about raising the minimum wage in America. Obama and the Democratic Party are trying to pass a bill in order to increase the minimum wage, which several others are fighting for as well. As the author mentions, the congressman and other political groups do not understand what raising the minimum wage will do to the economy. Most people think by raising the minimum wage the economy will prosper and they will receive more income to provide for their family. As a matter of fact, by increasing the wage everyone will increase their prices and everything will end up more expensive than before. Therefore will this bill actually benefit the economy and American citizens?

Raising the minimum wage will especially hurt small businesses because they will be required to pay their employees more, which most small businesses can’t afford. The author makes a good point that “competitive pressures will usually prevent business from boosting prices” which will cause them to either lay off employees or receive less income. Although the author makes a valid point about the minimum wage hurting businesses, the author mentions that big businesses will be affected as well. I disagree with this portion of the article because the larger corporations have several contracts with other companies so if they raise their prices they will most likely still get the business from their loyal customers compared to a smaller business. Another thing the author did not discuss in their article is the impact this bill will have on employees that make more than the average minimum wage right now. I feel like this is an important portion of the topic that needs to be discussed, considering thousands of employees in Texas make more than minimum wage. Will their income increase as well, or will it remain the same? If so, how is it fair for someone that earns a college degree or works hard to be promoted to make close to the same amount as someone who works at a fast food place? If this bill were to pass it would most likely hurt the middle class the most. In all honesty, I see no benefit or positive outcome from increasing the minimum wage and think it is only going to hurt the American economy. 

Two Countries, One Border and Too Many Problems

Immigration has been a controversial topic over the years but has profoundly been brought to Americans attention recently by one of the 2016 Presidential Candidates, Donald Trump.  Trump has made valid points, maybe not in the most professional way, but he brings up issues that many Americans feel need to be addressed. This problem of immigration, especially in Texas has increased tremendously over the past decade. Illegal immigration has become a serious problem in America, which most immigrants are coming from Mexico, causing an increase in crime and violence.

Don’t get me wrong, not all illegals are criminals but when there is already problems with crime (rape, drugs, murder) why would America want to escalate this percentage from people that should not even be here? This is why America and Texas should protect the borders to allow no illegals over without going through the correct process and receiving the right documents. If you want to be an American citizen, go through the appropriate procedure, like a criminal background check, and pay your fair share of taxes. As an American citizen, I find it extremely provoking when illegals get handed free or reduced items, like groceries and health care that taxpayers eventually pay for.

As Trump has expressed and what many other politicians agree with but are too reluctant to speak up, illegal immigration from Mexico needs to be stopped because it is not only hurting our economy but is bringing danger to our society. Right now, the U.S. and Mexico border is not secure, with an increase in trafficking and easy access for immigrants to cross. We know Mexico has no intention to protect the border because Mexican officials are corrupted and have no desire to stop their citizens from seeking a more prosperous lifestyle. Texans and Americans need to address this issue or else the American economy will collapse from trying to support thousands of illegals and the crime rate will surge exponentially.

Mental Health Law Vetoed

On July 23, 2015 the Dallas Morning News published an article by Michael Nagle titled Abbott sided with Conspiracy Theorists to Kill Mental Health Law. In this article, the author discusses the Senate Bill 359 that Governor Greg Abbott decided to veto. The Senate Bill 359 would have given hospitals the power to hold a patient for 4 hours if doctors felt that the patient was thought to be in danger to themselves or others. These 4 hours would have given law enforcement enough time to evaluate the patient before he was released from the hospital. So why would Governor Greg Abbott decide to veto this bill if the senate and house passed it and if it could potentially help protect individuals from harm?

According to the author, Abbott said there were constitutional concerns with this bill and sided with fear mongering and a coalition group called the Citizens Commission on Human Rights instead of valuing medical expertise. The author’s intended audience is for doctors, law enforcement, and the mentally ill which this bill would have helped if it were passed. I agree with the author that this bill would have provided a safer environment for both the patient and the society that they encounter. Abbott wrote that only law enforcement should have the right to detain someone but not doctors who are medically trained and experienced to know if someone could be of danger to others. The author makes a valid point that this puts law enforcement at risk, the patient, and society if this patient is psychotic and is released without being evaluated before hand. The author uses other sources to validate his point. If a conspiracy is more important than providing authority to hold patients that present immediate danger, than our legislation is placing more danger into our society and is not focusing on the real problem.