Rape: the problem that doesn't go away...

Time to protect women:  rape reported on a world scale...

 

It is interesting and disturbing to view the number of rape incidents reported on a world scale.  The U.S., unfortunately, has the largest number of rape reported incidents of any country annually, although the numbers have reduced several years during each successive year.  Still there are many more UNREPORTED rapes that occur.  These and other reasons make it very difficult to accurately monitor the number of rapes in a country, or even in a national state by state review.  Perhaps education is the key to reduce rape incidents, but also stricter, more severe punishment for perpetrators is also needed.

 

“Statistics on rape and sexual assault are commonly available in advanced countries and are becoming more common throughout the world. Inconsistent definitions of rape, different rates of reporting, recording, prosecution and conviction for rape create controversial statistical disparities, and lead to accusations that many rape statistics are unreliable or misleading. According to USA Today reporter Kevin Johnson "no other major category of crime – not murder, assault or robbery – has generated a more serious challenge of the credibility of national crime statistics" than rape.^[1]
A United Nations statistical report compiled from government sources showed that more than 250,000 cases of male-female rape or attempted rape were recorded by police annually. The reported data covered 65 countries.”^[2]

 

There is a Wikipedia chart of 65 nations with some annual statistics from 2003 to 2010:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics

 

Education to males and females and stricter punishment for perpetrators may be the key to reduce the number of rapes each year.  It is a major problem that we need to focus on.  Communities must do more to protect women.  It’s time to act now.

 

 

Stop Bond Packages!

In response to ongoing bond packages...

 

The ongoing push for school and road bonds should be squelched!  This is nothing more than local governments overburdening homeowners because the State does NOT live up to its responsibility to provide financing for either one.

 

The longer Texans continue to vote for these bond packages the more it gives license to the State for not adhering to its Constitutional obligation to Texans.

 

So, Texans, STOP VOTING FOR BOND PACKAGES!!!

 

 

STOP VOTING FOR BOND PACKAGES!!!

In response to ongoing bond packages...

 

The ongoing push for school and road bonds should be squelched!  

 

This is nothing more than local governments overburdening homeowners because the State does NOT live up to its responsibility to provide financing for either one.

 

The longer Texans continue to vote for these bond packages the more it gives license to the State for not adhering to its Constitutional obligation to Texans.

 

So, Texans, STOP VOTING FOR BOND PACKAGES!!!

 

 

 

How to pay for Texas roadways...

I recommend the following collection of options that should all be used together to get Texas back on track with paying for roadways:

 

 

 

 

Ways to pay for roads

 

 

• Increase the frozen gas tax from 20 cents to 30 cents
• Charge a 2 cent road tax on all service invoices
• Use part of the tax on tobacco, cigarettes, cigars and alcohol strictly for roads and/or charge 1 cent more as a road tax on those items
• Increase sales tax half a cent to go towards road building and maintenance
• Use a minimum of $500 million of the Rainy Day Fund for roadways
• Charge 1 cent for every dollar spent on a lottery ticket for roads
• Charge a $1 monthly road payment fee on every new car loan
• Charge a $1 road fee per day on a hotel or motel room
• Restructure TxDOT to cut waste of Texas tax dollars
• Eliminate the CTRMA to save tax dollars, since toll roads are not needed
• Start paying off road debt of bonds and loan packages
• Stop tolls and road bond packages completely; these are private roads for the elite and NOT for all Texans.

Using all of the above will provide adequate tax revenue to build and maintain our roadways WITHOUT building toll roads and/or road bond packages.

 

 

What Immigration Bill?

Bogus Immigration Bill Filled with Unrelated Special Interest Objectives

 

pstern 10:17 on 22 April 2013 The so-called "Gang of 8" piggy-backed various unrelated special interest bills onto the proposed 800-plus page immigration reform bill.  Americans should demand their legislators kill the bill.  The members of "the gang" include Schumer, McCain, Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). Furthermore, even though we are told differently, the bill gives amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants, giving them a path to get citizenship by paying a small fine ($2,000) and filing applications for citizenship after a number of years. South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham wants more visas for the meat industry, a major employer in his state. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., pushed for special treatment for Irish workers; his state is home to a large population with Irish ancestry. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio sought help for the cruise-ship industry, a big business in his home state of Florida. And Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado wove in a boost for ski areas. Read more:  http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/04/22/immigration-bill-sprinkled-with-pet-projects/?test=latestnews   It's important to contact your Washington D.C. Senators and House Reps to vote against the bill. Contacts:  http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Driver's licenses for illegal immigrants in Texas?

re: House Bill 3206

 

House Bill 3206 is being pushed in the Texas State Legislature to provide ILLEGAL immigrants with a driver’s license so they may drive legally throughout the state, and therefore, legally in other states.  It is being touted as a different license from the regular Texas License for citizens; however, it gives illegals the right to drive here and to purchase auto insurance.  Fact is it also acknowledges and gives them the right to live here ILLEGALLY.

 

I wrote the following email to Texas House Speaker Joe Straus and to my state legislators, Senator Donna Campbell and Rep. Jason Isaac.  I feel strongly about my comment and urge you to contact the Speaker and your own legislators to stop HB 3206 and any other similar bill from being approved. 

 

This is NOT a racist comment.  It is comment regarding our immigration laws and the need to enforce them.

 

If you feel differently, that is your right, but I urge you to reconsider the repercussions of approving the bill.

 

Thanks.

 

P

 

 

To Texas Legislators:

 

As your constituent and campaign supporter, I expect you to vote against House Bill 3206 or any similar bill that pushes to provide ILLEGAL immigrants with a Texas license.  I also expect you to vote against any other bill that provides ILLEGAL immigrants in the US with any perks or opportunities without first becoming legal citizens.

 

ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL!  No rights, no perks.

 

 

Don't Murder Social Security...

To President Obama and Members of Congress:

 

Please do NOT cut Social Security.  Increase the Social Security Tax and stop diverting those taxes to other interests. 

 

We are told constantly SS benefits are “entitlement” but the real entitlement is that people are entitled to collect Social Security Benefits because they put money into the program their whole working lives and are entitled to collect their benefits when they become elderly and/or disabled. 

 

The President and Congress act as if we are taking THEIR money.  We paid for it in taxes and earned the right to collect Social Security Benefits.

 

Karl Rove: Gypsy Fortuneteller?

 

In his recent article Karl Rove tells us that Democrats are going to lose seats in 2014.  Why would ANYONE believe ANYTHING Karl Rove has to say? His inaccuracy is legendary. We need only look to back at his vehement opinion that Obama would not win certain states in the last election. He was dead wrong.

While I am not happy with the Democrats and Obama, I'm equally discouraged with the Republicans. The 2-party system has failed most Americans on so many urgent issues from health care to illegal immigration.

What did Bush and the Republicans do for us on the same issues. Nothing, which is why we are in such a mess. Obama merely added to an already dismal American status.

Can't we get any real leadership to resolve our urgent issues instead of all of them playing politics with each other and getting rich from special interests?

Important Battle over Private Property Rights...

This from Linda Curtis and Debra Medina...

Friends:

This, just in from Debra Medina of We Texans about the work to reform eminent domain laws for pipeline companies in Texas.  Please spread the word and, please, consider attending this important hearing tomorrow at the Capitol.  We apologize for such late notice.  

If you cannot be there, please contact your local state representative and senator (click here to find them) to urge them for the reforms contained in Rep. Oliveira's House Bill 3547.

Again, please GO to this hearing if you can get there!  This post is here on the Indy Texans' blog where you can share it!

Thank you!

Linda Curtis
Independent Texans

IndyTexans.org

PO Box 651

Bastrop, TX 78602

512-535-0989 office

512-657-2089 cell

In This Corner

The Battle for Private Property Rights in Texas

IMPORTANT HEARING TUESDAY 1:30 p.m. in AUSTIN.

There are two competing bills addressing common carrier pipeline designations currently working their way through the Texas House.  WHY? Well, because, one bill favors the industry, HB 2748, authored by Rep. Tryon Lewis and one attempts to create an objective process and oversight, HB 3547, authored by Rep. Rene Oliveira.

It is critical that Texas Landowners attend this hearing and share with the committee their concerns about the common carrier pipeline designation process (or lack thereof).

• Landowners need notice.
• Landowners need access to the courts.
• Texans deserve agencies that insure the industries they regulate follow the law.

WHAT: Business & Industry Committee Hearing on HB 3547
WHEN: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 2013 (or when the House stands adjourned, if that is later than 1:30 p.m.)
WHERE: E2.014, Texas Capitol Extension

Public Education going down for the 3rd time...

Texas Still Blowing Bubbles at Public Education

 

Sooner or later the State will have to deal properly with public education, which needs to be revamped and financed intelligently.

 

Instead, Gov. Rick Perry and his special interests want tax dollars to pay for vouchers to private schools.  That won’t fly.

It is better to let the local districts rule themselves. Keep government mandates out of education.  Get rid of the SBOE.  It is useless and too political.

For schools, they need to get back to basics and trim the fat.  Combine administrative positions.  Provide teachers with professional salaries and benefits if you want them to be professionals.  Get rid of merit pay proposals and idiotic State exams that prove nothing.

Private education should be paid for privately, by parents who want their kids to attend them. Public tax dollars are for public schools.

 

 

re: Expanding Medicaid and Obstructionist Republicans...

(in response to email from Rep. Lon Burnam, reprinted below my comment)

Nothing is ever completely "free" from the government.  There usually is a give and take.

I believe that the best way to provide health care for the majority of Americans is to expand on Medicare, not Medicaid.

In Medicare, people have contributed in part to the services they receive from it.  With Medicaid, most get this free from taxpayers.

The rules and reviews of the 2 programs need to be administered very differently.  There is too much fraud and corruption going on with both programs and it needs to be fixed before we increase the efforts.

In addition, there are still approximately 20 million illegal immigrants in our nation.  Much of the data on these people is undocumented and therefore many receive free or reduced medical and educational services paid for by American taxpayers. 

In response to Arkansas pipeline leak and the Keystone project...

How does pipe-lining oil from Canada to the Texas Gulf ensure that American oil and gas prices will decline?  

 

It makes no sense, since the oil will be transported overseas.  

 

Provide some of the oil to Americans at cheaper prices and then we can believe the claims.

For whom the road tolls...

Tolls pushed again for S/SW Austin

No one says that traffic is light in S. and SW Austin or that roadways built in the past lacked a futuristic insight of what traffic would be today.  And we all know that money is tight.  However, building more toll roads is a poor condition of meeting the demands at this point in time.

These days toll roads are usually the proposed cure for traffic issues and it is a big mistake.  Number 1 of several reasons is that it places our roads in the hands of a few regulators who think they know what is best for the community and gives them too much power & control.  They can raise or lower toll costs at any given time and for no reason at all if they wish.

The proposed underpass at MoPac and Slaughter is needed, just as the already built overpass at MoPac and William Cannon was needed and built several years ago.  At that time the authorities wanted to toll that overpass, but various people and groups banded together and refused to permit the tolling and they were in the right legally.  So, today, cars can use the overpass without paying any tolls.

That overpass would NEVER have been built had the authorities known beforehand that tolls would not be permitted.  It was a big mistake for them having built it first without the authority to toll it.  Be sure it won't happen again.  When they build the Slaughter underpass tolls will be collected.

However, you can't continue to toll people into the poor house.  Road building monies need to come from other sources besides tolling drivers and/or issuing road bonds that overburden homeowners.  Eventually, people can't afford to be tolled on every roadway and like the current issue with the newly built Hwy 130, "If you build it, that does NOT mean they will come [to use it]."

Bottom-line is that most roads should NOT be tolled, while a few could be.