Blog 8

This post is very well written! I agree that the government should step back on trying to control citizens and only focus on protecting them.

I am also a Catholic as you describe in your bio. Although my religion is against same sex marriage, I believe everyone has the right to love who they want. If same sex marriage is not hurting anyone, it should not be illegal.

On the other hand, being attacked for what you believe is something the government should focus more on, whether that is allowing same sex marriage or opposing it.

As time passes I hope to see improvement and less power in our government. Instead of disagreeing with each other, we should all unite to fight for something we all agree on.

Blog 7

My blog has consisted on ways to increase voter turnout and my last advice would be to reward those who vote. Those who go through the difficult process of registering and waiting in long lines deserve get more than just an “I voted” sticker.

Studies have shown that once you vote, you are more likely to continue voting. Rewarding voters would be better than penalizing those who do not vote because it would still be a choice and not a requirement.

The Washington Post mentioned a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia and Los Angeles who conducted an experiment of a voting lottery. In Philadelphia, a man won $10,000 and “Los Angeles netted another Voter a $25,000 purse.” Voter turnout increased in both states during local elections.

To prevent people from voting only for the incentive, before inputting the ballot, there should be information on each party and what each candidate plans for the future. This will educate voter on who and what they are voting for.

Although voter turnout has increased since the last election, Texas voter turnout is still considered very low. Texas needs to make a change to encourage people to vote and what better way to do that then to give them an incentive. People would not mind waiting in a long line for a chance to win $10,000. Not only are the people getting something they want, they are also voicing their opinion and potentially making our country better.

Blog 6

I really enjoyed reading your blog and I absolutely agree! Giving women free birth control will prevent unplanned pregnancies and decrease the numbers of abortions. Unfortunately, women get pregnant in horrific events such as rape and if a woman is on birth control it can possibly prevent the pregnancy.

You make a very good point in the beginning of your blog about the foster care system. There are many kids who are in the foster care system lacking love, care and safety. Childrensrights.org states that in 2017 there were nearly 443,000 children in foster care and has possibly increased since the past 2 years. I believe free birth control could decrease these numbers drastically.

I could not see a downfall in giving women free birth control. Those who want it could get it and those who choose not to get it could pass on it. This would be beneficial for women of all incomes and ages. I really hope to see this take place in the future and free health care as well!!

Blog 5

In the constitution, there are many amendments that touch on the subject of voting. If voting is a right, why are many people not voting? In my opinion, many choose not to vote because our state makes voting difficult. If Texas made changes to the system of voting, I believe our voter turnout will increase dramatically.

Voting registration is where I believe the problem starts. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 was created to enhance voting opportunities for Americans. This act was suppose to make voting registration easier, yet it is still very difficult for some people to register to vote. In my opinion, people should not have to register to vote. In the United States, there are 16 states which automatically register those who meet the requirements. If Texas had an automatic voting registration system, it would not only save money, but would increase the number of people who vote.

Another problem that I believe could be fixed is creating online voting. If people could vote online, in the comfort of their own home, voter turnout would increase. During the past few years, people have been able to purchase or access anything online. Some people are not able to leave their homes whether its because of their children, a disability or other personal issues. Early voting has made it easier for people to cast their votes but waiting in long lines can cause a problem for most. If people could stay home and vote at any time during the day, I believe it could increase voter turnout.

These are only two solutions that with the right security could be very successful. If Texas made the voting process available online, it would not only benefit many but it will save money in the long run.