Laws are here to protect us.

I agree with your analysis "Up and Down," regarding Texans and their constant fight to keep personal freedoms. It is like none I have ever seen before and you are right, in Austin its worse. Imagine if "Americans" in the mid 1700's had gotten away with everything they wanted then, we probably wouldn't have a government like the one we have today. Early settlers wanted want they wanted and when they wanted it, even to their demise or death. I feel like that attitude is resurfacing again and when is enough? How far must the envelope be pushed?

I believe your statement; “we can't regulate stupid" hits the nail on the head. Texting while driving is just stupid. I cannot count the number of times I have had a car swerve into my lane only to look over and see a phone in their hand as they wave an "oops" hand at you. Or better yet, when you honk to get their attention, in hopes that they won't hit you, they flip you the bird as if you've done something wrong. I just want to say "just saved your life, stupid." California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York already have the Hands Free Cell Phone law, which if caught will cost you $50, and I 100% agree with it here in Texas.

As far as the seatbelt law, I know several people who have been pulled over for no other reason. It's funny and not funny at the same time. My theory is your life is worth the 3 seconds it takes to put it on, or at least the $100 you just spent for being stupid. In Florida the law states that you cannot be pulled over for a seatbelt violation alone, but if you are pulled over for something else and are not wearing it (by the time the officer walks to your car window) that's an added $100 fine. I truly believe that laws are made with the intent to serve and protect and should not be tampered with, especially when the statistics show a significantly decreased number of death or injury after they are in place.

Texas Voters Come Alive! Or Not?

The Presidential Campaign more than interesting this year. It seems 2008 marked the beginning of a new collection of voters choosing to use their voice for a change, or maybe just for a change. According to the State Legislatures report in March 2008 there were 12,752,417 registered voters in Texas and in November there were 13,575,062 registered to vote. That means that 822,645 voters felt the need to register for this election after the Republican and Democratic Candidates were decided.

What’s even more interesting is that of that 13 million plus, only 59% showed up to make their vote count. I wish there were numbers on those that registered from March to October to see how many voted compared to those who registered to belong to a movement. Considering to staggering population numbers of the State of Texas it is still surprising that only 8,053,036 voted. That is like saying only the residence of Houston voted.

So the question is, what stops people from voting, from using their rights and freedom as citizens of the United States of America to show up and make their voices heard? In light of this blog stage, I asked several random people I have run into this past week and here were some of their responses:

8 people said: “I knew Obama would win, so there was no need to vote.”
5 people said: “less than half the Nation makes the call for the rest of us, so who cares.”
6 people said: “I’m sure I’m not the only one who didn’t vote today.”
7 people said: “I’m not registered to vote because I don’t want to be called for Jury Duty.”

Have we become a Nation callus to our rights? Easily assuming that it’s all in someone else’s control and feeling as is all is well because you’re not the only one, in my mind, is not the best choice one can make. Not voting just because you don’t want to be called for Jury Duty is at best, a cop out. It is amazing the numbers of people from around the world who flock to our land of the free and want the opportunities and rights that we have available to us when many Americans fail to see the value in it.

I asked several of my friends who have became Naturalized citizens, and this year was their first year to vote for a President, if they voted and there was an overwhelming, “yes, it was an honor and I was proud to have a voice.” In my eyes, that’s a quality very much missing in this land of the ungrateful. Many Americans take their rights and privileges for granted. Many do not look past their own lives to learn anything about anyone else, to see the struggles going on worldwide, and to realize that they have life much better than 95% of the Earth’s inhabitants. God Bless America.