Noodling: The Revenge of Republicans

The basis of this article is about noodling in Texas. Yes, noodling. In Rachel Farris’ blog entry Size Matters? Published on May 19, 2012 she incorporates an ironic aspect towards the reality of what the government in Texas is prioritizing. 

There is something almost unsettling, concealed under her thick sarcasm. And if you don’t read carefully enough then you may miss what she’s actually trying to get across.

Other than doing very little (if not anything) about the concerns of jobs, education, and our economic security, Republicans are focusing their attention on making noodling a legal activity in Texas. Not to mention another hunting sport called helicopter hog hunting, which is pretty self-explanatory.

Noodling, if you aren’t aware, is a type of “hand fishing” using nothing but your bare hands to catch fish. The fine for this activity is a whopping $500 in Texas and if this bill were to approve noodling by the Texas Senate then it would require the participant to have a fishing license as well as a freshwater fishing stamp.

Not only are these Republicans fishing for this bill to be passed they are also anticipating another bill funded by Senator Glenn Hegar (also a Republican) to make it illegal for people to lie about the size of a fish that they’ve caught noodling.

I’d like to say her evidence was well built and solid but as I clicked on her links, one didn’t even work. It made me question her sincerity.

I see her point that Texas legislature (predominantly Republicans) have bigger things to worry about then fishing laws. But here in Texas fishing is a profitable source of income and for some people it's a thriving industry. 

There’s one other element I’d like to point out: Since we do live in a Republican state what else would she expect? I could see if we were a prominently Democratic state than things would be different and our focus would be more about education and reform. But this here is Texas for you, run by tradition.

Nevertheless since the people of Texas have entrusted Republicans on the state board of education this is what we get.

It’s obvious that Farris is a Democrat and she chose an easy Republican state to pick apart. I feel like any Democrat or teacher could relate to this article because of the lack of security we have as a state because of the priorities of the majority party.

But there is good news about these bills, they both passed. Now people all over Texas can noodle without fear! Let’s just hope they’ll use their conservative ‘noodle’ and not lose any fingers or limbs.