Keep Texans Safe

Opposed to sobriety check-points??  Senator John Carona is proposing a bill for sobriety check points to be set up in Texas.  There has been much debate as to whether this violates people’s civil liberties or not.  Sure there is a good argument that pulling people over can seem like opening a can of worms on who to target, etc.  But the same argument could be made about airport security and full body scanning.  But if sobriety check points keep the number of drunk driving fatalities down isn’t it worth it?

Texas has the highest rate of drunk driving fatalities in the country.  I don’t understand why anyone would want to argue restrictions placed on drinking and driving.  There is much more that could be done though.  As a born and raised Washingtonian I noticed a different drinking culture in Texas when I moved here.  It seems like everyone drinks in Texas.  Beer is the most popular and seems to mix with almost any social gathering.  If you go to the lake you bring beer, if you go to the movies you drink beer, if you hang out at the park you bring beer, trick or treating with the kids bring beer.  I have never been to so many activities where drinking is a norm.  Even a 5K will warrant cocktails after it.  Drinking is a huge part of society as is drinking and driving.

I have also noticed the culture in the bars.  Texas makes it mandatory that anyone who is serving or selling alcohol go through TABC training.  This is all well and good but is not enforced.  TABC certified servers are not supposed to serve someone if they are intoxicated.  In Texas being TABC certified just means that the bar you work for isn’t liable if you serve someone who is intoxicated.  Servers are sometimes uncomfortable cutting people off because often times intoxicated people get very angry when you won’t serve them.  Servers also get better tips when people are more intoxicated.  Tips are a big part of it being that Texas pays servers 2 dollars an hour.

The culture in Texas needs to change in regard to drinking.  Drinking and driving kills innocent people, period.  There are many things that can be done about this, not just sobriety stops.  Tougher sentencing for DUI’s is a start.  Many of the traffic fatalities that occur because of drunk driving involve repeat offenders.  Texas needs to enact a no tolerance policy so that repeat offenders are not given the chance to kill innocent people.  TABC servers need to stop serving people that are intoxicated and Texas needs to pay these servers better money.  More funding towards prevention and safe ride programs would be good too.  Maybe we need to make it easier for people to get home if they do have too many to drink.  Deferred prosecution programs for DUI offenders are a joke and have become a game between lawyers.  Defenders seem more concerned with getting a lesser sentence for their client than public safety.  

Whether we like it or not Drinking and driving is a public safety issue.  Sobriety checkpoints are a hassle for those that have to go through them and haven’t been drinking.  But if check points are one measure that ensures safety for others than we need to implement it.  Texas legislators need to stop being so concerned with civil liberties where public safety is concerned.  Implementing DUI check points and other DUI prevention programs is a good start towards lowering traffic fatalities in Texas.

Passion may Ignite Change??

I am writing a personal commentary on Dan’s Blog five titled, “ Education…The Governor’s Responsibility”.  I had not planned on critiquing this particular student’s piece of writing because I did not feel it would be good “sportsmanship” since he critiqued mine.  But after reading all of my classmates’ blogs (twice) I realized Dan’s blog was the only one that left me even mildly interested.  I am quite confused about the point of Dan’s commentary but I think it vaguely resembles some sort of gripe about politics/education.  Although I may be unsure about the writer’s point to the whole blog I do respect his straight forward attitude about things.

 I may not believe in bringing corporal punishment back to the schools in order to teach discipline but I do understand his point.  The idea that parents need to quit treating schools like a daycare does not fall on deaf ears either.  I appreciate the fact that he has put some thought into the fact that our kids don’t have as much respect as they used to and that parents are not held accountable for their kids education.  As a parent I would disagree but he has a valid point. 

While I may disagree with Dan’s strategies to fix the problem of education in Texas (including the lack of discipline towards the little dirt bags that need it), I agree with another point he makes.  He states, “Politicians always spin what they say and never give direct answers”.  This to me is the whole point of this article.  We can sit around spinning which way looks right but nothing is going to change because none of it is real.  It is all for show.  Dan makes the point that Texas spends 40% of its budget on education but the schools still suck!  So here we are again.  The Right wants to spank the kids and the Left want to provide services to people who may not deserve them.  Neither of these approaches comes anywhere near solving the problem of the sub-standard education that our kids in Texas receive. 

Until politicians stop trying to feed us full of crap on what is going to solve the “education crisis” nothing will change.  I propose that more politicians need to be opinionated such as myself and my classmate Dan.  It seems neither of us is afraid to say what is on our mind.  Left and Right need to duke it out in a way that makes sense, that leads to something. I have more respect for someone who preaches to bring back the wooden paddle than I do for someone who just tells people what they want to hear.  Our politicians need to reignite their passion for issues that need changing instead of worrying about whose butt they are going to kiss today.  Thank you for an article that invoked a little bit of feeling!  :-)