Warning Signs

When you think about what our generation’s going to be called in the history book I’m convinced it’ll be labeled the era of a rapid growing technological evolution. Within two decades advancements in computer graphics, means of communication, and all over technology has expanded generously. As we’ve grown up surrounded by this, what else would you expect from people our age? Children these days are even having their textbooks replaced by iPads. It looks like soon kids will think of books as prehistoric artifacts rather than a learning device that isn’t actually virtual.

This commentary is in response to Vanessa Tamayo’s article “Distracted driving is blind driving” in which she argues that there should be a ban on texting while driving because it’s distracting. She provides some statistics for her argument as well as the existing laws that are enforced here in Texas.

I agree to some extent; it seems like we should put a ban on texting while driving. But, I don’t think it should be up to the government to enforce this. Call me old fashion but people need to be more responsible and realize they can not only take their own life but also take someone else’s. That should be common sense and by texting and driving you’re asking for something horrendous to happen.

To answer your question, no it’s not worth it. I for one refuse to check a text message or even talk on the phone while driving because I don’t feel like risking a life by simply being distracted. I feel like there’s a lot more to be aware of while driving a 3,000-pound piece of steel then a piece of technology. I think it’s wrong to fully blame distraction on cell phones though, there are so many other attributes that you have to take into effect. “Distraction” according to the U.S. Government Website for Distracted Driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Something so simple like adjusting the radio or even taking a drink endangers drivers, passengers, and bystander safety.

People are going to text and drive weather or not it’s illegal. The best way to end distracted driving is to educate Americans about the danger it poses. It’s sad but true what Rick Perry said in mid-June of this year, “I support measures that make our roads safer for everyone, but House Bill 242 is a government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults.”

It’s sad to think that people can’t put their phones down for a single car ride. What if we did enforce a ban on texting and driving, what good would it actually do? A study done recently in by the Highway Loss Data Institute found that amongst three of the four states studied had experienced higher numbers of motor vehicle accidents after banning texting while driving. So just because it seems like a good idea doesn’t mean it will inevitably succeed.

Re-Education

The Texas Republican party is calling for the promotion of abstinence and an abstinence-only education in our school systems. It’s nice to know that finally Republicans are pushing for a realistic campaign when it comes to the practice of teaching our future, our children.

Are these Texas Republicans serious?

To actually disagree with the distribution of condoms because it’s the parents responsibility to speak to their children about sex is such a crock. With shows like “16 and Pregnant” or “Teen Mom” that glorifies teen pregnancies, those parents that don’t talk to their children about the facts of life are going to think that, ‘this is my shot at fame, that could be me on those magazines.‘ It is up to the parents to speak to their children but it should also be reinforced amongst teachers, staff, or even councilors that a child may look up to for advice.

According to the Washington Post this “long awaited national study has concluded that Abstinence-only sex education… Does not keep teenagers from having sex. Neither does it increase or decrease the likelihood that if they do have sex, they will use a condom.” Texas is among the most restrictive states to attain birth control for teens. Even if a teen has had a child already she still needs parental consent to obtain birth control, that make's sense right? It seems like these adolescents are trying to protect themselves but the government is forcing them to suffer. 

Teenagers need a comprehensive understanding of sex education, not to be shielded with the idea of an abstinence-only education. I don’t think abstinence shouldn’t be promoted, but it shouldn’t be the only means of education with such a controversial subject. According to Texas on the Brink, Texas has the third highest teen birth rate in the nation. I understand that Republicans may or may not be trying to improve that statistic but is this really the answer?

To shove abstinence, a religious based ideal that says you should wait till marriage to have sex, down our throats is unethical. We need to stop wasting our tax dollars on these obviously failed programs. Yes, the only way to prevent pregnancy is to not have sex. But the realistic thing to do is to teach these raging hormonal teenagers ways to prevent sexual transmitted diseases as well ways to prevent pregnancies with the help of contraceptives, because in the end it is their choice to have sex, not their parents or even politicians that try and control them.

I think more then ever we should institute more knowledge upon America’s preteen and teenagers especially since tweens are growing up faster than ever. Scientists are even studying why we're seeing alarming numbers of 7-year-old girls and 8-year-old boys hitting puberty. So you tell me why we should try and satisfy a state in which pregnancy is already running rampant with an abstinent-only sex education, especially with children growing up faster than ever.

Some Sense Of Security

The government’s real financial problems are, “old people?”

This commentary is in response to David's article "Old People?" in which he tries to argue that government debt is a big enough issue that it should reduce funding for programs that help the elderly, financially. He incorporates the idea that the elderly as a growing population are leaving the younger generations with nothing but a soon-to-be struggling fate.

You have to understand the benefits like Social Security helps not only older Americans, but also workers who become disabled and families in which a spouse or parent dies. You’re basically saying that after however many years of working, people who are trying to receive their benefits by retiring, shouldn’t. During the course of their entire life their hard work, when in comparison to the importance of national defense and education, should be cut because they’re trying to collect their benefits that they have been putting into since they started their career.

Instead of reducing these programs we should try and figure out a permanent benefit that will suffice a growing population. These programs such as social security will eventually run out but until then our taxes are paying for people who are eligible to obtain these benefits. If anything I think these “old people” deserve these benefits more than we do.

Since older people are voting to not reduce these programs, can you really blame their disregard of the younger generation on the elderly? It’s our fault that young adults these days aren’t more involved in politics. If we want reform then we need to be involved, and since we aren’t as concerned as our elders were, we suffer; it’s as easy as that. Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University observed that, “from Medicare to Social Security to Medicaid, the older people just have a greater interest in voting than younger people who don’t see the same benefits.”

Because our generation doesn’t have the need for these government-sponsored programs such as Medicaid and Medicare we don’t understand the genuine importance. Since, in Texas, our parents (if assumingly, they pay for your insurance) are able to insure us up until the age of 25. At this point I feel like the younger generation just takes what they have for granted and doesn’t evaluate how important these federal insurance programs are. 

You would think, as the population grows, people would be more inclined to embrace the protection of their future. If we really want to see a change then the younger generation needs to step it up and become more involved in government affairs. We’re watching funded programs crumble because of a lack of involvement to reshape what could be our future programs.