The Weltschmerz Zeitgeist

Last review of classmate

2009-05-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

I read a classmates blog on how victims families should have a say in court before sentencing to share their feelings on the matter. No matter the circumstance, if a potentially guilty party is allowed to comment on the case, so too should the the victim. It seems nonsensical that this law has survived as long as it has in a state that is death penalty happy. Anyway, I agree, blah blah blah, Texas is disappointing, and enough. Well written, concise and very to the point. Good post.

On a side note, thanks for the instruction over the last year. I really learned a lot about the shortcomings of our country and our state. Even though I am more focused on the national level, Texas is my home and it stings a little to see its many failures. That being said, I have just one more semester here and I'm out! See you around Mr. Seago. Have a great summer and really, thanks again.

The finish line is only the beginning...

2009-04-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

So, I was reading this article about the TAKS scores being lower than they were last year, and it gave me a heartfelt laugh. I honestly thought the youth of this state were better prepared for this ridiculous excuse of a test. As you probably know, you need to pass this test every year from like 9th grade on to graduate high school. If you don't, you get put into a class that reviews specific questions so that when you do re-take the exam, you pass it. It's freaking insane how dumb the youth is now. I simply cannot fathom what it is like to worry about the TAKS exam as a serious issue. I MURDERED that test without even trying. To see people sweating and freaking out over it was actually humorous.
But this brings up a serious and critical issue. If the next generation of students cannot achieve on this exam, where does this leave us as a society? Eventually, some of these kids are going to run for office, or get jobs that can seriously have an impact on a large number of people. But more likely, we will see a large proportion of them working at jobs where they cook up patties and the like.
So a few questions arise. Do we dumb down the test for the dumbed down public? Do we keep it the same and improve out preparing methods? Or do we throw away the test in exchange for something that better targets the new needs of a new generation?
It's amazing to think that 100 years ago people were only getting smarter. Intelligence was rapidly expanding as people realized the potential they had within them. We were able to invent many new items and create new jobs for all sorts of people. This continued for some time, until in the past decade or so that things have been decreasing more than increasing. People are less informed on the going-ons of their national, much less local, governments. They are watching more television than ever before. Money is a problem for most people. Humans are working jobs they hate to purchase items that have no use at all. Pollution is killing off species and working on the atmosphere. But to the credit of out race, at least we don't have to hunt for food anymore... yet anyway...
If kids cannot achieve a passing grade on this simple test, we are in very deep shit. It wasn't too long ago that I remained an optimist about our race, but more and more as of late, I find myself trying to think through problems that seemingly have no solution. It's incredibly depressing to see the direction of the future, and to know there's so little one can do about it. To see the problem in full view and not do something about it because of lack of funds or whatever is totally ignorant. This is the future of our nation that we are talking about, and it is on the down slide in Texas.
Always, I have believed in education as a tool to make the world a better place. Tell people about the situations in Africa where people starve to death everyday and they might think twice before ordering a whole mess of food, and throwing half of it out. Show them the effects of pollution and they might see the advantages of recycling. But it seems that people are far more interested in their own agenda then anything else. It always seems like a losing battle to push the world forward for the better.
Someone commented on my last blog where I called for a revolution and made a very valid point. Basically the argument was government is corrupt and so on and so forth. But they said that the harder I push the issue, the more I will be made out to look like Alex Jones. I have to say this was a shocker, because I had never thought of it before. Just thought I'd finish off this last original blog with some things that have stayed constantly on my mind since I first started taking government nearly a year ago. And from this whole experience, I've learned that people will always believe what they want, no matter the circumstance, and that there is so very little that one can do about it. But as long as there is a small glimmer of hope, I will always try my hardest to resist this stereotype, and try to help people see the way things could be, instead of how they are.

Review of classmate blog

2009-04-11T07:25:00.000-07:00

I must say, I've read quite a number of blogs from my classmates over the last 2 semesters at this school, but I am truly moved by this particular example. The blog name is, "Is it really a democracy, and if so who is in control?" Not only did the author bring to light the selfish attitude of the citizens of this country, she also concluded that they voluntarily give the right to choose away in preference of entertainment and leisure. If you want to study power, study the corporate model. Really fantastic comparison. She finishes the article with the statement that she lives in an elitist society, where the power, and consequently, opportunities are concentrated in the hands of the few.
I am very impressed with the articulate manner the author put her thought into order. The post is very streamlined and very easy to read and understand. Examples are used appropriately, and with cause. She gives the definition of a democracy so that she can compare the US to the ideal model, only to find it is not even close anymore. It is true that we do not live in a democracy. When 40% of the wealth is controlled by 1% of the population, how can we? How can ordinary people rise up and claim that they had an equal shot at the top, when they are shooting for half the pie? How can the average citizen rise up to realize their full potential when they have limited resources at hand? I hear people call the US a republic instead of a democracy, and feel this definition is much more accurate. The country is indeed ran by a small handful of people with extraordinary connections and seemingly endless power. These captains of industry lobby our government into it's own political agenda. And by doing nothing, the American republic lets it happen. No wonder there is so much corruption in the country! If the candidate with the most money usually wins, then all these gigantic businesses would have to do is fund a person whom they wish to be in office, and there you have it! It doesn't help much that people rarely vote, and when they do, they think they only have 2 choices of people on the ballot.
It's indeed a sad day when the people would rather watch American idol, over resisting the sheeping the wolves are trying to put on them. Is it only a matter of time until those at the top stop pretending that people have a vote and just install a military dictatorship? With the massive military budget, it isn't that far fetched anymore. They say history repeats itself. I say, look back at Nazi Germany, and see how it began. It is only a matter of time before the same thing happens to this country. Good post, good argument, good sight.

I just don't understand...

2009-04-08T00:36:00.001-07:00

Wow, it took a long time to find something worth speaking about. I finally did happen to come across something that caught my eye though. The Senators of our fine state have approved the construction of any new toll roads in the future through 2015. As long as the burden falls not heavily on the taxpayers and the state, the roads can be built as soon as the lowest bidder can start.
The city of Austin is becoming more and more like Houston everyday. It used to be a smaller city, where I knew the locations of many ponds and places to play. Most of those places are gone now. I guess it's an inevitability that all good things should come to an end, but honestly, I am furious that the toll roads we have now are making billions. Getting around in Austin in hard if you don't take these roads. There are unnecessary lights, and seemingly dumb intersections. It really feels like the goal of the city was to make taking any other path, unbearable. For example, if one were so inclined to take a toll road to Lakeline Mall, the travel time is around 10 minutes from my house. If not, all the lights and obstructions make the trip around 45 minutes. Is it worth it to save the money on gas and time to pay the $.75 cents? Probably, but I'm sick of these politicians thinking about ways they can gouge more money out of my pocket. I've never taken a toll road and I never will. It's just unfortunate that our governments care so much about something so little. I realize now that it IS too much to expect anything from the television watching public. That leaves us with maybe 15% of the population. I'm all about standing up for my state and country, but I've had just about all I can take. The ones who made this for us did not intend for these things to occur as they have. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Revolution is imminent. I feel it coming closer everyday. People are going to be scared for sure. But I've lost all hope for the country, and I'm beginning to lose hope for the species. Far stretch from being tolled to use roads that should be free, I know. But when shit hits the fan, I'm going to be on the front lines, dying for what I believe to be right.

What to do, what to do

2009-03-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

On the BurkaBlog website, there is an article written by a one paulburka about the $800 million dollar deficit Texas is going to be stuck with in unemployment claims. The article can be found here. In the article, the author wrestles with the advantages and disadvantages of accepting the federal stimulus money, $555 million, and ways to deal with the unemployment dilemma. There are strings attached, however, that force Texas to make changes that limit fraud and other types of misuse of funds to qualify for the money, which by the way, has to be paid back. The author goes back and forth and lands on the decision to take the money, and then proposes a solution himself, which I'm not going to describe here, but which I found very appealing. If the money is not taken, then businesses will carry the burden of financing this in the form of new taxes! So, as the decision looks right now, we either take the money and make the changes, or we tax the hell out of our businesses so that they can tax the people and lay off employees to keep profits high.
Honestly I don't think that taking the federal stimulus money is a good idea at all. The economy is in a recession, duh, and all our government has come up with is throwing money at the problem, and a ton of it. If Texas takes this money, it still will be $50 million dollars short of the intended $800 million, so businesses are already going to have a tax levied on them anyway. You'd think that by now, the brains of this country would have come up with something better than printing up cash and devaluing the currency! But that's beside the point for this exercise. What it boils down to in the end is that Texas is going to HAVE to find this money somewhere, and in a starving economy, it's going to be slim pickings. Eventually Perry will take the money, even though he says he doesn't care to, and the necessary taxes will be applied to raise the rest of the capital.
It's so funny to me that the state can raise more than enough money to rebuild the Governors Mansion, but when something like this occurs, they are absolutely clueless on what to do. It's also unfortunate that recessions are built into the economic system, and that this is never brought to light! Would we have these problems if people were more educated about purchasing decisions, or if lenders were responsible? What if people were patient and saved their money for emergencies instead of fighting credit cards? Would it even matter if people did these things?
Once again, I'm sorry that my opinion isn't even a drop in the water. No matter what I think, until I'm in a position to do something, my hands are tied. My greatest fear at this point in time is for those of us who can't even find a job. For those of us who don't even qualify for unemployment benefits. What do we do, when those with degrees and experience can't even find work?

On a side note, the unofficial debt for the U.S. is over $11 trillion dollars, while the unemployment rate is at 8.5%. The actual numbers, based on many sources and tons of research on my part and others, is around 15%. The national debt is impossible to calculate right now. Thought I'd bring it up, seeing as we are still in Iraq...

Is this 1764, or am I going crazy?

2009-02-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

Anyone remember the famous Sugar Act? The act that England imposed on the colonies to collect revenue in order to help pay off its tremendous debts? Remember how it failed a year later? Ah, good times, good times. But back to the point. The memory of gasoline's dumbfounding prices are freshly tattooed in our minds. It did fall, to be fair, but it took the onset of a global recession, and maybe a national depression, to make it occur. So we can be sure that when things are on the upturn, that they will rise again.
The author of an article aptly named, Raising Gasoline Tax Makes Sense, argues just what said title expresses. And the author rather intelligently decides to remain anonymous. It was written Tuesday, the 17th of the current year in response to a Ben Wear column. In the article, this anonymous renegade argues quite diligently, that the gasoline tax makes perfect sense. They argue that the gas tax was last raised in 1991, and that it hasn't kept up with inflation. But they fail to speak up about the fact that wages haven't either. The article goes on to claim that the bill is carried by a member of the homeland security committee. I feel like I'm in crazy town, because whenever something is proposed that seems unpopular and harmful, my first thoughts are occupied but my gut feeling that homeland security must be involved. And they usually are! I must sound like a conspiracy theorist. But anyway, the proposed increase is only 50%, or 10 cents a gallon. And that's just for starters. After that, the bill could be indexed, which means that it will be put in a place where it can be added to when the time is right. So what will happen is the modest increase of 10 cents, and then when times get better, and people have more money, they can pull the bill, and appropriate it for inflation. Gotta get that taxpayer money at all costs! And what a surprise that our 'beloved' Governor, Dick Fairy, does not oppose the tax at all. It seems like ages ago that we had a decent public office figure... oh wait, we do, you just never hear about him because he does his job. Cough Cough.. Ron Paul..Cough. The author concludes the article with a dramatic statement about the elected officials knowing they need the money, but the final statement claims that taxing the people, instead of ending pork or using the tax money efficiently, is the most logical and efficient way to get the money.
I disagree with this article so violently, it makes me physically ill. Pretty mush for the aforementioned reasons, but for some more too. We are in a severe recession, and the topic on the minds of the representatives is how they can squeeze more money out of an anemic public? It doesn't surprise me, its just very disappointing is all. Have these people forgotten where they came from? How does a subject like this even come to light? And what about all the money being wasted in Iraq? I notice that since this economic recession hit, Obama has completely ignored a fat waste of revenue in this pointless war. Change is not coming as I see it. He has not done anything different than the president before him, and I feel like nobody else sees this. It's called multi-tasking Mr. President. How about while your twiddling your thumbs behind your desk, you follow through on some of the promises you made to the people who had to vote for you? I guess being the president is a harder job than I thought...
This tax is a dumb idea, and endorsed by an even dumber congress. The author's opinion makes no sense to me, and the argument is shallow and lacks any thought at all. It seems like they are just trying to play the part of the Go America citizen that will endorse the policies spit out without any thought. I bet that they believe the farce the government shoveled down our throats about 9-11. Are we doomed for another middle age of ignorance? I'm afraid so friends, I'm afraid so. Arm yourself with knowledge.

A new way to get you

2009-02-15T17:50:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows that if you are pulled over by a police officer, and you are asked to give a breathalyzer, you can refuse. You WILL go to jail, and then have your license suspended for 6 months, but that's the price you pay for freedom. Now the fine folks who brought you unfair, bring you a new way to get ya. Fingerprint devices will be carried by officers in select locations very soon, and based on the success, maybe all of the city. The article referred to can be found here.
The official use for them will be to help identify suspects in crimes by capturing their fingerprint and sending it to a database. Then the database will kick back any information it finds, or none in that instance. Is it just me, or is that a violation of the Constitution of the United freakin States of freakin America???? Although it doesn't DIRECTLY violate the Bill of Rights, it is obvious based on the wording in the Constitution that this kind of power would not be OK. Of course, i am talking about people who could have no idea that things would be this advanced, so I'm assuming quite a bit. But still, does this not fall into the realm of unreasonable search and seizure? How can the cops just decide that I'm suspicious and run my prints for say, a speeding ticket? I guess the same reasoning will be used that is used for the right to automatically run the plates of your car and see if you are a bad citizen. And what a surprise that this was worked out with the homeland security office, and no, I won't capitalize something that is the reincarnation of Hitler's Gestapo.
The police will have to ask consent to use the scanners on the suspect, but if they refuse, and I quote Matt Simpson, "As long as people are voluntarily doing it, it could save people from going to jail". Pretty reminiscent of the breathalyzer test, if you ask me. so the one big question that pops into my head is thus. How long, because this will be very successful, will it be until this is standard operating procedure for all stops?

Profit from disaster?

2009-01-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

Anyone who pays any attention at all to the state they reside in knows that the Texas Governor's Mansion was Molotov'd in December, burning it to the ground. Nobody was hurt, thankfully, but the response time as slow at best. But that is beyond the point.
A number of oil and gas companies have donated to the building of a new mansion. Conoco Phillips and Valero, just to name a few, have pledged $100,000 and $50,000 respectively, and they aren't even the largest contributors. This makes me a little uneasy. Why are these gigantic oil tycoons pledging money to give the governor a new home? What is there to gain from doing this?
These companies are definitely not known for being nice people, or doing the right thing. There is always a catch with them, and I doubt this is an exception. Although Perry's press secretary has stated that, "Any assumption that those who are contributing to the restoration fund would do so for purposes other than restoring a great treasure is unfortunate", it fails to answer a big question in my mind. If this is so, why didn't Perry make the statement himself?
So on the other side of the equation, because we always want to be even, I don't want my tax dollars going to work on some outlandish home that I will most likely never step foot in. That would be a misuse of public funds, and would drive the people of this city nuts, even if it weren't surprising. So what to do?
Do we naively believe that these giant companies will not expect preferential treatment down the road sometime, or do we understand that special interests really do run the government now and voice our frustrations? I don't have the answer on this one. One way or another that mansion has to be rebuilt, although I could not tell you why, and it will happen. I guess we have to understand that the system that used to put its taxpayers first is flawed, and tends to favor big money and corporations now. Maybe one day there will be someone that can change things, and set them right again. As for this specific issue, it looks as if these giant donations are going to fund the construction of this mansion. I will be curious however, to see the bill at the end of the job, and to see where the remainder of the funds will go.