We Don't Care How You Feel About Abortions Perry

http://kennaf.blogspot.com/2012/05/in-response-to-price-to-womens-health.html#comment-form
I have to say that I am in total agreement with both of you ladies. Anything to do with Rick Perry draws me in. He's like a real life cartoon character. So, he sat down with a lady who is a product of a rape pregnancy, that is terrible and beautiful at the same time, and would question anyones stance on abortion. But, whatever his feelings are today, clearly different from yesterday, has no merit. It is not up to him, nor will it ever be, to decide the course of a woman's decision with her own pregnancy. Unless you are a victim of incest, been raped, or your pregnancy is detrimental to your health, you have no room to pass judgement. Even then, there's no reason to judge because everyone handles their own situations or traumas differently. Rick Perry is a flip-flopper and shouldn't be taken seriously anyways.

Texas Adapts the The Tort Reform Law

        On September 1, 2011, Texas put into action the new Tort Reform Law.  The TRL"s intent is to decrease the amount of frivolous law suits brought into Texas courts.  It introduces a "loser pays" rule for motions dismissed in a civil action law suit.  The loser pays rule requires that the losing party in a litigation pay the fees and costs of the prevailing party.  The law was tweaked in committee to only allow prevailing parties to recover costs and fees at the motion to dismiss phase.  This leaves the plaintiffs to strongly weigh their options and to really decide whether their case is sufficient enough to survive a motion to dismiss.  Defendants are scarce to file because of the fear of obtaining all the costs of the prevailing party.  And guess who backed this bill 100%... Gov. Rick Perry.  The Gov. will put his stamp of approval on anything that will screw the financially less advantaged.
        I'm not knocking the TRL all the way because there is some decency in it.  For example, it does free up our courts a bit so that there is room for the cases that really need attention.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with sorting through the junk cases, filtering out what is irrelevant because, obviously, not everything deserves it's day in court.  The part I'm in disagreement with is Perry's full, undying support of the loser pays provision.  Other states have used the Tort Laws to their advantage without issuing the loser pays rule.  This is just another way to coddle big corporations, not to protect the commoners.  This is yet another way to wrap a warm, fuzzy  blanket around the financially elite.  Thanks Gov. for keeping the rich warm.

Texas Abortion Law Actually Makes Sense

        As of Oct. 1st 2011, Texas state law requires that all women seeking an abortion must make at least two visits to the abortion facility.  One of the visits must be at least 24 hours before the scheduled abortion time for an ultrasound.  Although an ultrasound has always been a typical procedure at the time of the abortion, this new law allows for time between the initial shock of the ultrasound and the time of the actual termination.  This allows women the time needed to actually process the reality of their final decision after seeing the fetus.
        I'm so glad that I came across Maria F. Jaramillo's post, "New Texas Law on Abortion", because I had no idea that this new abortion law existed.http://morethanjustastate.blogspot.com/ Maria touched on something that is very important.  The implementation of this law is not to take away the woman's right to choose what she will do with her own body, but to make sure to enlist everything necessary so that it is at least an educated decision.  Education is the key word here and a very powerful tool.  To educate the potential mothers on what an abortion really entails, will hopefully make women more aware of ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
        I am in no way here to judge anyone that is for or against abortions, that is not what this is about.  I personally, have been in many different situations where people close to me have terminated pregnancies because they were not ready to be a mothers, and sadly others were forced to terminate for health reasons.  Whatever the reason, I commend Texas on making an educated decision to put this law in effect.  The law is not forcing anything down anyone's throat, but subtly trying to initiate change in the right direction.  Who said Texans couldn't be subtle.  

Funding Planned Parenthood

         It is incredibly disappointing that Gov. Rick Perry is targeting organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, because of their involvement in abortions and contraception. The Texas Governor is attempting to leave planned parenthood out of some very important funding changes in the states health care fund distribution that would leave almost a half million Texas women without a primary health care provider. 

        There is a large portion of women that rely on Planned Parenthood as their sole care provider here in Texas and all around the country.  This is an attack by Rick Perry on our lower income women because of some political game.  

        The Republicans are waging this "life at conception" war on women and women's rights for their right to choose what goes on with their body.  What's so idiotic about this battle is the fact that while they are so-called protecting these unborn baby's, they are also destroying the health of the women trying to have a baby responsibly as well.  Planned Parenthood has always vowed to protect the reproductive health of their patients and general health as well.  This is a much better  "vow" than what the uninformed Republican-led group of male and shockingly female vowees have made.

       I think Republicans have made their point that their religious or moral values direct the way that they handle real issues.  I think now its time for  us to get back to reality and stop pretending that this  political volley ball both sides are playing isn't really affecting human beings. I can see how a man who is worth around three million dollars has a hard time understanding how not only poor, but poor women, feel about this issue, but almost no women back him up here.

       Fact: 99% of all adult women use or have used contraception at some point in their lives. Fact: Planned Parenthood is not a abortion drive through, they perform relatively few abortions compared to the amount of women that that give general health care to. 

       I must say, that if this was not blown out of proportion by the liberal media and democrats alike, the republicans would most likely not have taken it this far. Regardless, its time to stop shooting from the hip Mr. Governor, there are lives on the line, and you have responsibilities to us. 

       We can only hope that by women standing up and talking about this all over the state that our "leader" will get the point. We need health care and that means we need you to care about our health.

Apple takes bribe (legal or not)

There is an article recently posted on the local Fox News web site that explains how the multi-national (most profitable company ever) electronic engineering tycoon, Apple, decided that they were going to build a new facility here in Austin that would employee nearly four thousand people (http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/money/Apple-to-Add-3600-Jobs-in-Texas-with-State-Help-20120309-ktbcw). This is exciting news, surely, except for the fact that this company, who's budget knows no bounds, was possibly, only interested in opening a facility here in Austin because they were offered money by our governor Rick Perry? Certainly the 21 million dollars that this company will receive from the tax payer's from this state, to in all likely hood, simply just apply for the opportunity to do business here, will do a great service to all the unemployed and underemployed folks here in this state. From now on, assuming that Apple not just takes this money from our state, but actually opens a facility here, we will be able to almost touch the incredibly miss-valued engineering before we send it over seas to produce an incredibly over sought  product possible of destroying lives on its way back to our vintage jean jacket pockets. All I am saying is,well... this shouldn't take a student to realize that we are not gaining anything from this form of representation. This blog is short, way too short. Actually the Apple logo is larger than the article. I think that this is the exact sort of "for profit" media and "for profit" representation that we have come to know and accept. The creator of this very simple blog probably meant nothing but to inform their most likely republican readers of the possibility of a big company showing in town and "creating" some jobs. But, in all reality, this very simple blog was a slap in the face to hard working tax paying blue collar citizens that just try and live their lives, while their governor gives away their hard earned dollars to companies that have not only seen made money off of our economic decline, but made record breaking profits..... I guess thats Fox news for ya.

There is an article in the Austin American Statesman called, "Listen to locals' issues with energy" by Bill Hammond, that exposes the Austin energy crisis.   http://www.statesman.com/opinion/listen-to-locals-issues-with-energy-2176074.html   Hammond, current president and chief executive officer of Texas Association of Business, leads the state's most influential business and chamber organization.  He clearly provides detailed mishaps of the City of Austin's energy provider, Austin Energy, desperate attempts to go "green".  In return, all Austin Energy has accomplished is increasing our taxes, adding millions to our city's budget, and raising rates for individual homes.  With the mention of taxes, the author brings to light that the people on the outskirts of Austin are being taxed on services from Austin Energy that they don't even provide.   Mr. Hammond states that there are ways to reverse the unfair damage caused by our local government in allowing this to continue.  The City of Austin should trust us to do our part in taking some personal responsibility for helping the "green" movement.  I agree with Mr. Hammond is saying that the City of Austin should be holding themselves and ourselves more accountable.  We should not be monopolized by Austin Energy, but instead follow the trend of other cities that have actually reduced costs of energy instead of jacking it up.

Perry Bashing... Anyone in?

Rick Perry is such a mess.  I can't believe he is the Governor of anything.  I read this article, written by Michael King Jan. 27th, in the Austin American Statesman called, "Point Austin: Shameless", and found it quite fitting.  Not that it's not easy to laugh at Perry on our own, the article is full of key moments in Perry's demise.  I know that we can all make fun, but the article is well-written, funny, factual, and eye-opening.  What I found interesting is that as time goes on, moments of Perry's failures pass, and we move on.  But, when you put it all together, it's really embarrassing for everyone involved and especially Texans.  How have we allowed this guy to be our governor for the longest period of time in the history of Texas!?  As he surrenders to the Presidential race and passes his support to Gingrich, I will stand by and wait for the day he steps down from Governor as well.