H2 Oh-no!

As my final entry in this blog I will be responding to a post written by a fellow classmate, which can be found here.

The issue at hand is water.  As most people are aware, water is a dwindling resource in the central Texas region.  I find it somewhat ironic that this issue has been put off by the public for so long, seeing how central Texas is an arid environment and, were it not for the extensive urbanization, would look like a simple desert, not the mecca of opportunity and economic wealth that it has become.  Yet, in spite of our beautiful city, we cannot outrun or outspend the fact that we are running out of water.

My classmate brings up several good points on how to address this issue, including; drip irrigation, more personal responsibility, furthering education for farmers and watering techniques, and more penalties for poor fracking methods.  I am in strong agreement with these ideas and I also was previously unaware that the average Texan uses 72.5 gallons daily.  To me, this number seems outrageously high, yet I believe it’s accuracy.  

In the end I believe that conserving our water will come down to the individual.  I will drink on average .5 to 1 gallon of water every day... so where do the other 71 gallons come from.  Dishes, bath, and hand washing make up the rest of my water usage.  I am more than sure that I and other Texans can find ways to cut back on these elements of our every day lives.

Texas Gubernatorial Race Underway!

The Gubernatorial race is currently under way in Texas, and the names popping up the most for candidates are Wendy Davis (D) and Attorney General Greg Abbott (R).  Because Texas is and has been a “red” state for some time, the chances of another Republican being elected for governor is high, however, Wendy Davis has adopted a platform that seems to appeal to a growing number of supporters.

Wendy Davis, a Texas Senator, stepped into the spotlight during her filibuster this year, which lasted roughly 11 hours.  The topic of the filibuster was abortion restrictions placed in the bill, which would’ve made abortion illegal after twenty weeks, effectively shutting down most abortion centers in Texas.  What made this filibuster so astounding was the incredible amount of support given towards the end of the filibuster.  Supporters could be heard throughout the the capital, making their own filibuster, protesting the bill along side Senator Davis.  In the end, the bill was proclaimed dead and current Governor Rick Perry had to call a third special session.

Although the hype around Davis’ filibuster has opened the door to fame and possibly the Governors seat, does it necessarily make her a viable candidate for governing one of the largest and most populated states in the country?  At the very least it proves that she has incredible discipline and patience, not to mention an amazing ability to control her bladder.

On the other hand (or should I say right hand?) Republican candidate Greg Abbott’s platform is grounded in traditional family values and protecting people’s second amendment rights.  Moreover, his campaign is targeting Obamacare as a villain which is seen as an overtaxation of the public.

In the end only one of these people will be come Governor.  Although the Republican candidate has a much larger campaign purse, I have no doubt it will be another battle worth watching.