Editorial - You don't HAVE to vote

The political season is now fully upon us, and with that comes the civic duty of all Americans to elect leaders and representatives with whom we share the same goals, opinions and dreams. Our forefathers have fought and died for our numerous rights, and it would be the most vile affront to their memory for the people of this great nation to sit idle while others make such important decisions for them. Everyone eligible needs to get out and vote this year... right?

Here's the short answer: no. While laws prohibit minors, felons, and those deemed by a court to be "mentally incapable" from voting, there is a sizable portion of our citizenry in Texas who shouldn't vote: stupid people.

Let me elaborate on this with an example: a man named Bubba registers to vote out of obligation not to seem un-patriotic in front of his co-workers. Although vaguely engaged in the political process, Bubba pays only passing attention to political debates. He skips through political reporting on TV and online, only focusing on major scandals and other issues which he may be caught in a discussion about later. In general, he learns very little about the issues at stake. The only thing Bubba has going for him is a faint association with one of the major political parties - most likely the party in favor by his colleagues and friends. So Election Day comes and Bubba heads to the polls, but with what? What is he really doing? There is no cause he supports. There is no underdog candidate, short on funds but long on character, in dire need of his support.

In simple terms, Bubba is blindly casting a vote - one which will help to shape the future of our state - based on the weakest of credentials. In many cases, this fictional character would vote for a candidate who would actually have a worse impact on the district than his opponent, but how could Bubba know? Without a working knowledge of the political system, as well as a basic overview of the candidates and their positions, Bubba's vote is much like a stray bullet: just as powerful as any other, but more likely to injure someone.

Closed-mindedness saturates The Lone Star Times... surprise!

In my recent venture to find a Texas-centric blog article with a less-than-100% partisan slant, I must admit that several hours into the ordeal, I wanted nothing to do with politics what-so-ever, nor the narrow minded automatons who blog about it. Therefore, with that spirit of frustration and disillusionment, I would like to introduce this article from the Lone Star Times:

In this piece ironically titled The Messiah, acclaimed political savant The Panda Man (Christian name: Jeremy Weidenhof) addresses his audience, which must certainly be described as hard-line conservative (to say that the United Rednecks of America are his target audience would be to venture into the well-worn path of Ad Hominem fallacies that Mr. Weidenhof has so explertly blazed; I'll try to keep it professional for you). Throughout his brief diatribe, the author makes several dozen points, but as you may have guessed, not one of them in any way reflect his political credentials (or lack thereof). To the contrary, by his cavalier attitude you can read a genuine disdain for "journalistic conventions" as well as other forms of "proof" that Texans would do well to take their bureaucratic cues from a "Panda."

Lack of ethical or logical appeals to reason aside, Mr. Weidenhof does have one strong suit which he tirelessly exploits throughout the piece: his emotional appeal. Colorful phrases and words abound as the author is set on a path to paint Sen. Obama as a Pied Piper, a socialist, and "Jimmy Carter’s second term." Not content to bash the liberal candidate alone, Weidenhof alludes to the Democratic Party as "Media Disciple Roadies... in their Yellow Media Bubble." While a painfully stereotypical culling of small-town xenophobes could be expected to endure this shallow sermon, the average reader will surely see it for what it is: a stalwart attempt to redefine the phrase "scare tactics."

Having read the article several times over, I am still at a loss as to how such insupportable fallacies can be labeled as journalism, much less find an audience. The Panda Man has contributed absolutely nothing to the political debate here, short of a virulent "us against them" attitude -- an attitude which only the most closed-minded sycophants must enjoy.

Acevedo Keeping APD Honest

Since accepting the position last summer, Chief of Police Acevedo has personally fired or coerced the resignation of over a dozen officers in the Austin Police Department. All of the officers in question have received this punishment after a breach of ethics on their part; from lying on an official report to excessive force, these men and women disgraced themselves and the city they served. In sharp contrast, however, these same officers may well have kept their jobs with little, if any punishment under the previous leadership of APD. Because of this perceived reversal of the old "us against them" mentality in the department, Chief Acevedo is widely viewed as an honest man bringing discipline and honor to his command. In this article posted in the Austin American-Statesman Editorials, the author clearly assumes this opinion, citing the case of Gary Griffin, a former APD officer who was fired in 2006 when it was determined that he used excessive force against a mentally ill man, costing Austin taxpayers $55,000 in the defendant's civil suit against the city. From the beginning, the author underscores Mr. Griffin's hypocracy by detailing how, under the former Police Chief Stan Knee and then-acting chief Cathy Ellison, the officer was reinstated and is currently suing the city himself. The author contrasts this with Chief Acevedo's no-nonsense policy on police misconduct and his lofty record of firings based on inappropriate conduct. In this editorial, the subject of APD officer misconduct and it's consequences is justly evaluated and presented to the residents of Austin, whom it may very well affect for years to come.

Amidst record oil prices, red tape prevails

With the price of gasoline skyrocketing across the nation, Texas has once again found itself at the center of an oil boom. According to state statistics, since 1999 the number of drilling permit applications received by the Railroad Commission has doubled, however the same Commission charged with overseeing the oil and gas industry has cut nearly 20 percent of it's workforce. The result: an estimated 29,000 permits will be issued this year, with an overall average wait time of 40 days. The Texas Railroad Commission is asking the Legislative Budget Board for $750,000 to hire contractors to fill the gaps left open over the past nine years. Although the Legislature does not convene until January, the Legislative Budget Board - composed of top elected officials, including Lieutenant Gov. Dewhurst - has authority to relocate State funds during an emergency. Signs that this issue will be resolved came from the Lt. Gov. himself, admitting "we've got a problem," while Rep. Warren Chisum (chairman of the House Appropriations Committee) agreed to convene a special panel on October 6th to discuss the matter.

This article demonstrates the process by which the Texas Legislature can accomplish tasks (sometimes) even when not convened. It also may introduce the reader (as it did for me) to the fact that Texas is once again in an oil boom that is already poised to be as big as the one of the 1970's. See here for the full Austin American-Statesman article.

Bud Light presents: Real Men of Genius - "Mr. Way Too Proud of Texas Guy"