No more Free rides

With unemployment rates at 6.3% In Texas, and more tax’s taken out of the working citizens paycheck I can speak on the behalf of all of us, we are tired of giving out handouts to the un-needed. Unemployment benefits come from an employer-paid program that provides temporary help for qualified workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Of course one can’t predict if they are receiving a lay off and have to receive unemployment benefits to pay the bills. It is a nuisance to the working citizen to hear or witness someone collecting benefits and being a druggie. Texas lawmakers are considering a bill to require drug testing for people who receive these benefits. Is this ethical?

Absolutely it is. In todays society most companies perform background checks, pre-employment drug screening, and some require a credit check. If one is collecting Federal funds from the State, it should be a requirement to take a drug test and possibly random tests while receiving benefits. Of course it would cost the State additional funds to extract the tests, but it would narrow out the inconsiderate citizens that abuse the program. If one can’t pass a drug test on while receiving benefits, how are they supposed to pass pre-employment drug screening to obtain a job?

In my opinion we are giving out too many “handouts” to the people that abuse the system. I’ve included a picture above to conclude my point on abusing funds. A friend of a friend found a receipt in the parking lot that was from a grocery store, and the individual that was on welfare (food stamps) bought porterhouse steaks and Lobsters and used there “Debt Food Stamps” card to pay for it all. It’s obvious that they aren't buying the bare essentials and are doing well on our tax funds. The Taxpayers pay for these programs and too many people are “riding for free” without any requirements. The key factor is the requirement that people receiving benefits are actively seeking employment and that job seeking is verifiable. It is very interesting to know that Liberals want to limit the ounces in my soda can, or how many bullets I can buy, but cannot admit to unemployment drug testing would be in their best interest. Hopefully Texas will pass the “drug testing” requirement for Government benefits, whether it is for a lay off or welfare. I mean 36% of your paycheck is due to taxes. If we have to pay them, lets make sure our money is not being given to the drug addicts.

Blog Stage 4

Blog Stage 4

Texting While Driving ban passes the House Committee

Karen Brooks Harper wrote an editorial on March 5th in the Dallas News Blog (Trail Blazer) contradicting texting while driving. As we all know texting and driving is just as bad as drinking and driving. A proposed ban is was set in front of the Texas House committee March 5th. There are different aspects to this, Governor Rick Perry is expected to veto the bill again as he did two years ago, as he states, “texting and driving is reckless and irresponsible”, but disagrees with the fact to micromanage the behavior of adults. According to the author, 39 states have banned texting while driving. Twenty-five Texas cities also have passed local texting bans. This article is indeed presented towards the citizens of Texas, as it will affect them. A study done by the Highway Loss Data Institute, which analyzes insurance loss statistics, compared insurance claims in four states before and after each had passed a texting-while-driving ban. The institute found a slight increase in collision claims after texting bans were passed.

According to the authors credentials Governor Rick Perry statement, “texting and driving is reckless and irresponsible”, is correct as well as the studies done by the Institute, if you choose to text and drive you will be penalized. If you don’t text and drive you will go on with you’re daily lives.  Everyone is capable of making their own judgments, and the laws are meant to serve a purpose. Even though it is a law to drink and drive, people still do it on a daily basis, it will never change. I think if we had this law passed, it would only encourage citizens to try and hide it, which takes more time off the road. We always hear of a family member or a friend that was involved in a car accident and sometime led to a fatalities, if the law pass’s we can discipline those that choose to text and drive. There has to be some sort of penalty for someone to recognize a law, whether it is there pocket book or intuition they will make a change. First citation is $100, and there after is $200, this includes reading or actually texting, as well as laptops, and electronic devices. As for the ban, there will have to be some kind of “judgment call” between the office and citizen. Standing up in court, most likely it will be the officer that wins. So do you’re self a favor and don’t text and drive!