Evolving Ideas

In “Yet Another Controversy”, Caitlin Huber talks about the controversial issue of abortion. Caitlin, a self-defined moderate leaned to the right, provides an opinion inconsistent opinion about abortion. She starts by stating her opinion “I believe abortion is wrong. It is something I will never consider in my lifetime. For me, there is no choice; it’s something I could never do. Also I would not feel comfortable being friends with someone who has had an abortion. Morally, I cannot justify it in my own head except in cases of rape” then, on the following passage she starts to say that is OK for women to have an abortion if they got pregnant by mistake. Honestly, I am confused. Can she justify this option in her own head?

I am a product of an accident. My mother had a two months old toddler when she got pregnant of myself. As soon as my father found out that another baby was on its way, left her without any means and one infant in the stomach and another in her arms. In face of a frighting situation, her first thought was to have an abortion. As she likes to say nowadays “god did let me kill you”, If she has had one I would not be here today. Caitlin does not know me, and I know she did not have this intention, but she put a thought in my head "if it is OK for women to abort an unwanted child, it was OK for my mother to kill myself as I would not suffer.” Something to think about it.

I am not a big fan of moderates, yet I am a huge believer in compromises – conflicting, I know. I believe that you should stand with what you believe no matter if you are a far right or left. I believe in debates as ways to persuade opponents and the public opinion. With Caitlin's piece, I do not feel persuade or against it. I feel dizzy. She has opinions all over the place, some of them contradictory. She needs to evolve her opinion that right now is more like an early stage idea. Like the fetus example she uses. However, different from her opinion of killing the fetus only if it is early stage, I say keep on growing this idea and let an opinion be born.

The Amazon Deal

According to a U.S Supreme court decision from 1992, a store only needs to collect state sales taxes if it has a shopping in that state. That is what Amazon(Let's Make a Deal,Ross Ramsey, NY Times,June 23rd), the giant web store, is using to make her case against Texas Comptroller offices. The comptroller, Susan Combs, sent last year a $269 million bill to Amazon, saying its distribution center in Irving, TX establishes legal footprint that required it to collect sales taxes from Texas customers. This deal, in a time were our Government is deciding where he runs or not for President, made such noise that Rick Perry released a note a day later throwing Combs, a fellow Republican, under the bus and saying that he disagreed with her. Amazon, on other hand, said it will shut down its facilities, layoff 119 employees, and leave Texas if it has to start paying sales taxes.

This Amazon taxes deal became an ideology battle. Every one is looking to find revenues to fill up the $27 billion gap in the 2012-2013 budget. Nevertheless, no one wants to a business shut its doors and layoff Texans. To address the issue, Perry called for the clarification of the State's taxes law. Both House and Senate budget bills included clarification of the taxes law, but they went against the Governor's will. Hence, his veto in the bill on the regular legislation session. Perry sent the bill again to the floor and to be appreciated during the special session. So, the legislature included it in the budget bill, with the same language, saying that the controller is right and obligating Amazon, and companies alike, to pay Texas sale Taxes. Ops! What happened to the Republican party in the Senate and House? They sure do not work for Perry, but they usually make what he wants. Is he losing control of his party? Perry fooled himself when he thought that a legislature hungry for new sources of revenue would feel compassion for Amazon and its 119 Texans employees. Amazon, tried to cut a deal, offering to hire 6.000 fulltime jobs and invest $300 million in new warehouse and distribution center in the next three years. All they want is for this bill to die was to keep not paying sales taxes in Texas until 2016, when they hope to have successfully lobbied a national law that would streamline the taxes laws among states. it was not enough. The bill was passed and now is in Perry's desk.

Now, we need to see if Perry will veto the entire bill because of the Amazon deal, or if he will concede defeat and sign the bill as it is.

*Update August 09th

Perry conceded defeat and signed the whole bill. Amazon now has to pay the $269 million bill and start to charge sales taxes for every sales in Texas.

The Sonogram Bill

Annie Burke wrote a compelling piece in her blog “Let Freedom Ring” about the House Bill 15, the sonogram bill, passed in both houses and signed by Rick Perry a while ago. Even being a women and voicing her opinion against the bill she provides compelling arguments, not just ambiguous ones, that truly supports her belief. For instance, she mentions facts, commentaries from a Texas' representative and reference parts of the constitution to support her conviction.

We share the same opinion about the sonogram bill; it is a violation of the constitution and women dignity. Why force women to have a sonogram before an abortion? It is not just the sonogram, the women must listen to the heart-beat and receive a detailed description of the fetus including body dimensions, presence of limbs, and cardiac activity. Why put women through all this suffer? This bill is one of the most chauvinist measure against women right to perform what they want with their body. Of course, the bill was approved by a majority of men and signed for our male-governor. All these people combined have little or none knowledge about carrying a child. This bill is remarkably conspicuous. Rick Perry is using it, just like he tried with the safe heaven bill couple weeks ago, to send a message to the extreme conservative and evangelical groups, not just in Texas, but in whole nation since the president primaries are coming up and Perry aspire be the GOP candidate.

Both parties think and act politically. However, this is a new low for the Republican party and Rick Perry.

Where are you from?

Where are you from? I get this question at least once or twice a week. When I first arrived in the USA four years ago, I felt flattered about the interest in my origins. Nowadays, the first thought that comes to mind is if the person is trying to find out if I am here illegally. Well, I cannot blame them. Texas has 1.7 million immigrants and Austin is considered one of the sanctuary cities. Illegal immigration is a huge problem here, and I as a legal immigrant feel very strongly about this matter. I have said that before, and I will say it again, I feel for my South American brothers and sisters that, for lack of opportunities in their countries, decided to come to the USA to try for a better life. Nevertheless, the end does not justify the means and if you are here illegally you should not be allowed to stay. On our govern side, the most effective way to to win this fight is through public finance of campaign. Does it sound weird? I will explain.

First, let me give you an example. Rick Perry and our Lieutenant governor, David Dewhurst supported a bill similar to the Arizona immigration law(wikipedia.org, Arizona SB 1070) that would help the crack down against illegal immigrants. The bill died in the Senate. Twice. Do you want to know why? Lobbying made for big businesses that use the illegal immigrants' workforce to reduce their overhead costs. The same companies that financed the campaign of the House and Senate member's. Let's get this straight, private financing of campaign is not good for our state. Period! Private finance of campaigns create a vicious circle that allow our representatives to represent big businesses instead of representing the US. The same businesses that finance the campaign of our governors, lieutenant governor's and legislative representatives are the same ones that lobbied to kill this bill. I have my problems with this bill and do not think it was going to make any difference in the illegal immigration situation in Texas. Regardless, a bill cannot be killed in the House and/or Senate because it goes against the interests of big businesses in Texas. That's why I defend public finance of campaign as a way to let our representatives do what they were elected to do, to represent people of the great state of Texas.

A Prophet For President?

Is Rick Perry a prophet? He sure thinks so. At least that is what it said in Eileen Smith's blog “in the pink”( in the pink, Don't Call Me. I'll Call You, July 19th 2011).Ellen, a strong liberal, posts in her blog about the more than likely Rick Perry's likely run for president against Barack Obama in 2012. Eileen, well know for her sarcastic comments, (which I love it) mocks of one of Perry's early comments about being “called” to enter the race and how he looks for signals from the lord to make his decisions “I am a man of faith. I don’t make any apologies about my faithfulness…. So the idea that do I look for signs, and do I look for good Scripture that tells me how to live my life — absolutely I do that.” Sounds like we are going to have a prophet in the race next year.

If someone asked me couple months ago if I believed Perry would run for president, I would have said no. Incumbent Obama has reasonable chances of winning re-election if he at least keeps the job market stabilized. That being said, why would Perry risk his seat as state governor? He did not get a solid majority (he got a 2nd full term with less than 40% of the vote in a 4 way race) in the last state election, which could be seen as an indicator of how well he would do in a national campaign.The more coherent strategy for him is to remain as state governor and establish his name nationally until the 2017 primaries, where he would have a better chance. The problem I see with that approach is that Perry cannot wait that long. Texas representatives will have to vote on a new budget by 2013 for the 2014-2016 biennial, and Perry's major campaign rhetoric will be dead as the voters will see that our rainy day is gone, and our budget is as bad as California.

So Yes Eileen, Perry will run for president next year. He either does that, or he will have to put his ambition of becoming a president on hold for quite a while.

The Sanctuary city bill.

The Sanctuary city bill.

The sanctuary bill was an attempt of Governor Perry to follow up in one of his campaign promises: Crack down on the illegal immigrant issue. Arnold Garcia Jr wrote an interesting piece in the statesman(Arnold Garcia Jr., Commentary, Austin American Statesman, July 02^nd 2011, “The gang that couldn't deal straight”). First of all, I understand that the Statesman is an Austinite newspaper, which major focus is the capital and Travis county. Nevertheless, Garcia needs to open up his mind when criticizing a bill that aims the whole state of Texas. Garcia, in an almost personal tone, I shall say, discuss this bill without putting aside the fact he is Latino. In other words, I find his opinion bias. Regardless, Garcia's coverage of the facts is precise and detailed.

Garcia mentions that Travis County has the rap for being a sanctuary city (safe-haven)for illegal immigrants but he forgets that Travis county is not the only one. The list of sanctuary cities in Texas is long, including cities like Houston, Ft. Worth and Dallas(Sanctuary Cities information resource website/Texas Statistics, July 14th 2011).

Garcia is right on the money when he says that the bill is empty, at least regarding to Travis county - although I have questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement in cities like Laredo or Denton, TX. Sheriff Greg Hamilton is well recognized by his cooperation regarding illegal immigrants with the federal government, responsible for their deportation.

Garcia, when explaining why the bill was killed twice, steps back to the right ton. Garcia(and I) find impressive that even with support from both the governor and Lieutenant governor and majority on both houses, this bill hit the wall twice. And do you know why? Lobbying mobilized by big business that felt threated by the bill, since a reduction in illegal immigrants it is also a reduction in super-cheap labor. The practice of lobbying by interest groups is important and should be used as way to inform our representatives about both sides of the issues. Being that said, the population of Texas need to be vigilante and see if their representatives are using common sense when talking to the lobbyists.

Garcia should expand his horizons and look beyond his backyard when analyzing a bill with statewide impact.

The Leal case

It has been all over the news, but I found yesterday's "Statesman Editorial board opinion" by far the best coverage of the subject. The article is well written, straightforward and to the point.

Humberto Leal, a 38-year-old Mexican, who had lived in San Antonio since he was a toddler, was convicted in the 1994 murder of 16-year-old Adria Sauceda. His sentence was death by lethal injection.

I would like to say upfront that I do not endorse the death penalty, nor do I think it helps in reducing criminal rates in Texas or in the USA overall. That being said, I want to to talk about the indifference of Gov. Rick Perry in not accepting the request of the Obama administration in delaying Leal's execution for six months.

Leal, being a Mexican citizen, had the right to be advised that he was entitled to consult with Mexicans officials prior his trial, which did not happen. Those officials are very aggressive in making sure Mexicans get proper legal representation in the United States. While I do not question Leal's sentence(he did accept blame for his acts afterall), I question the message that our state and our governor are sending to the world. American citizens rely on access to American's consulates to get legal representation for themselves all around the globe. So it would be OK, for Mexico to deny/not let they know about their right of have access to American consulates if they were being tried in Mexico? Is that what we want?

We do not have legislation that mandate court reviews in criminal cases in which foreign citizens were not given access to their nation's consulates(Why did we not sigh the Vienna Convention?) and that is why the Obama administration(along with many former U.S diplomatic officials) asked the U.S supreme court and Gov. Rick Perry to delay Leal's execution. The U.S supreme court denied the request(4 to 5 votes) so why did not Governor Perry delayed the execution? All he had to do was sign a paper. Was he worried about what kind of message he would be sending to the Latino criminals in Texas? I do not know. All that I know is that he sent a very bad message to the world. Governor Perry should be more aware of not just the consequences of his actions can have, but also of his inactions.