Passing up more money?

While taking a peek around Grits for Breakfast, the blog by Scott Henson, an article caught my eye. The article was “Comments due soon on Driver Responsibility rules.” It brought up something that had never even crossed my mind, since it had not ever affected me. Henson brought up four key suggestions for the PSC (Public safety Commission) but focused on an Amnesty program.

The DPS (Department of Public Safety) had proposed an Amnesty program but it was dropped from the current proposal. His reasons for saying the program was most important were, resolving backlog of noncompliant drivers, and it would generate revenue. In fact $100 million if 1/3 of the 1.2 million of noncompliance drivers paid an average of $250 each.

The proposed rule as of now is too use peoples tax returns to determine indigency. In his opinion this is a bad idea, using his own example of since he lost his job last year his tax return is not evaluation of his current income.
He also brings up how DPS chose to waive surcharges for indigents, even though in 2011 it will be required by state law. In both his and my eyes it seems very counter productive and unnecessary to change a law that will be changed right back the next year. On a side note he brings up how the law going through in 2011 does not go far enough. It only affects those 125% under poverty level. There are people that make more that still need help.

When all things are weighed I agree with him that people that have the power to change things need to step up. He used no faulty evidence or far fetched claims to prove his point. Also by reading just a few of his blogs you can see that he has quite a good amount of credibility. This is a man who feels very strongly about people using there rights and educating them selves. So next time you get some time or are tired of facebooking or youtubeing take a look at his site. Who knows you might stumble upon something you had never thought of.

Lookin Skyward

The editorial staff of the Austin American Statesman has done a very good job of bringing up a sore subject which needs to be discussed. It is about the attack Andrew Joseph Stack lll committed way to close to all of our homes. More specifically the IRS building off of 183 and Capital of Texas. They did I great job of making people realize that its not just religious extremists’ that can do us harm. It can be anyone anywhere at any time. Before that day he was just an average guy, but that Thursday he showed that anyone could commit an act of terror. That why the title “Sense of terror that rattled Austin” is so spot on its not even funny. This article was meant for anyone who lives in the U.S. but especially for everyone in Austin. I cant really make an accurate opinion on the authors credibility because there is no clear author. But I can say that since there was more than one author there is most likely credibility behind this article. I agree with there line of thinking that this man was just terribly upset and did not know what to do. Then out of desperation lashed out at the entity he thought to be responsible. The author used excerpts from Stack’s rambling letters to help prove this. They also did a great a job of ending with a ray of hope by talking about how well our emergency personnel handled the situation. In my humble opinion the article is a job well done.