Green Works

For the last editorial I'll be posting on this blog, I decided to go with an issue that gives me some optimism for the Texas government. It's not a hot issue by any means, but I think it bodes well for Texas' government's future in regards to a more "green" agenda.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife department has begun to work on a project to have green burials in Texas' state parks. For those of you that haven't heard of green burials, they basically entail burying people who have passed without using embalming methods or a casket/shroud that isn't biodegradable. The idea behind it  is to allow bodies to decompose naturally, and it's another option for people who aren't a fan of traditional methods of burial.

Such projects are common in other states, but the difference here is that there would be a partnership between a state agency and death service providers. According to Ted Hollingsworth (the director of land conservation at the Texas Parks and Wildlife department), "We wouldn't own or manage the cemetary, but where people pay for those burials a certain part of that payment takes out that land, and pays for that land, that then does get added to the state park." Hollingsworth also stated that they would look toward land near urban settings in order to save it from development.

Personally, I'm planning on being cremated. But I think this is a great idea that will help to preserve the beauty of the Texas landscape while also promoting the idea of a green burial. Considering how outdoorsy most of Austin citizens are, I think it'd be an especially popular option here. I'm totally behind tax dollars going to fund the organization of this project.

You can read more about the idea here, on the KXAN website.

Critique of "Getting off Track"

I recently read an interesting article by a classmate of mine and the writer of Texas Two-Cents. Her article, titled "Getting off track..." describes the ambitions of a woman named Jessica Tunon. Tunon is apparently obsessed with getting fences put up around the Union Pacific Railroad line in downtown Austin, stating that allowing pedestrians to cross the tracks poses a threat to their own safety.

My classmate referred information from the article at the KXAN website, making sure to point out that there have only been four train-related deaths in Travis county between 2009 and 2012. She was thorough in pointing out the flaws of Tunon's arguments (which mainly revolve around the safety of pedestrians), and suggesting that the money projected to be used for the project be used elsewhere to improve sidewalks for pedestrians.

I have to wholeheartedly agree with my classmate. The idea seems to be a waste of finances, and considering that more pedestrians are killed on the street, I'm not sure why we aren't enforcing proper driving habits in regards to pedestrians. I myself do not have a car, and a week does not go by without having a driver cut me off in the crosswalk (note: this is while I'm crossing with the pedestrian light on) and/or yell obscenities. In a lot of major cities, the drivers would receive a ticket for this behavior.

If I had to point out anything in the article by my classmate that needs attention, I would say that there are a few grammatical errors that could be tended to. Other than that, I think she makes excellent points, such as "...I do realize that it is illegal to cross [train track crossings]. I also know it's illegal to drive faster than the posted speed limit...But there is nothing PREVENTING me from breaking any of those laws...As a citizen of Austin, I have the responsibility to choose to obey the laws." I think this statement raises some excellent questions about Austin's local government.

You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too

Churches are categorized as "501(c) organizations." To speak in layman's terms, this means that they're nonprofits and, as such, are tax-exempt. This also means that they're either heavily limited or completely barred from any kind of political activity, which includes endorsing a political candidate.

Well, that certainly seems fair. But wait:

So I'm not an IRS agent, but man. If that's not endorsement of Romney, I don't know what is. What you're looking at, ladies and gentlemen, is the sign in front of Church in the Valley, located in Leakey, Texas. The pastor of Church in the Valley, Ray Miller, has taken all responsibility for the sign, and is apparently known for posting bold statements such as this one outside of his church. The sign was put up earlier in October, and it created a fair amount of squabbling over whether or not this should be considered free speech or a violation of the church's nonprofit status.  I think Miller is entitled to his opinion as much as anyone else, and I also think he's entitled to have as many Romney signs in his front yard as his heart desires. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that he realizes that the church's front yard and his own are not one and the same.

This all begs the question: how is this church's status as a nonprofit legitimate? For the record, I don't believe that it's status should be permanently revoked, but if anything it should be treated as any other organization would be under these circumstances. Considering the financial state of the country, I don't understand why it wouldn't be prudent for the IRS to look into the matter.

You can read more about it on San Antonio's KENS 5 website here.