Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Texas Bloggers Vote! 2012 Linky Party!

Many people will be voting in the presidential election this year, but it's just as important to vote in state and local elections as in the "major" races. Early voting starts October 22, and Election Day (the last day to vote) is Nov 6. If you don't know who's running this November, candidates are listed here or you could use the form on Project Vote Smart to find them,  and you can find more info about voting in Texas here.

If you have a blog posts related to Texas politics or local elections, please share it in the linky below.  In the "name section" on the linky below please put either "statewide" or the city, county, or district which your post is related to.  After that you may put the post title or topic.  Please link directly to your blog post.


EXAMPLES

Dallas - How This Election Can Change Everything

District 17 - My Views on Flores

STATEWIDE - Why Voting Local Matters

Help spread the word about this event by posting the following button on your blog.  While it's not required, it sure is appreciated!







Why NOT to Vote Party Line



Voting in local and state races is important, because the people who are elected for School Board and Railroad Commissioner actually have a a big impact on our lives. 

Unfortunately, while people are often knowledgeable about the candidates for more prominent political offices like Senators and Govenors, many are less knowledgeable about other elected offices like Land Commissioner, Comptroller, and Judges, and being less knowledgeable voters often choose these candidates based on a single factor:  their party.  I have seen evidence of this in my own city, where year after year the "smaller" state and local positions are won by amazingly similar margins, a pattern not seen in the higher ranking positions.  You would expect that the margins would be drastically different in a race where the republican candidate had been tied to a financial scandal and was running against a highly qualified Democrat, and another where the Republican candidate was highly qualified for the job and the Democratic candidate had little experience related to the position, and a third race where two highly qualified candidates with nearly identical positions on the issues were running.  But in all of these races the Republican won by nearly the exact same margin.  This tells me these races were won due to straight party line voting, not the merits of the candidates. I'd be willing to bet that most of the people who voted did not research these candidates at all.

I've been a registered Republican since I could vote, so why does this concern me?  Here's why...

WHY NOT TO VOTE STRAIGHT PARTY LINE:

  • Party line votes by uninformed voters can allow corrupt or inept incumbents to remain in office.  
  • Candidates sometimes run for "minor" positions in hope that they can work their way up to more powerful political positions.  Some of these candidates may not care very much about the position they're running for, or be very qualified for it. But in districts that predominantly sway towards one party they can be elected entirely through party line votes, pretty much assuring their win if they can win the primary.
  • Sometimes the reasons you support a specific party can be irrelevant to the duties of a certain elected position.  For instance, you may usually vote Republican or Democrat because of your views on abortion, but some local positions (like Railroad Commissioner) may have no bearing on anything related that issue.  
  • You can't assume that because someone is running as a Democrat or Republican or any other party that they uphold the positions of that party.  In some cases you might find, if you researched all the candidates, that a candidate from a party you don't usually vote for is actually closer to your views on the issues most important to you. 
  • Minor races are one place where third party candidates sometimes have a better chance of winning, so if you feel like neither party represents your views well,  local offices are one the best place to give third party candidates a chance. 

I would love to hear what you think about voting straight party line!  Share your opinions below.  And if you have a blog post in any way related to Texas Politics, you can share it here.





This post has been shared on Throwback Thursday.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Twitterpated Sky

I have some pictures of swallows and a cool video of them swooping around our doorway.  I've been meaning to post these  since July, when I took them! I miss the swallows at our door.





 

Oh, and if you missed the memo 
earlier this week, I'm on Twitter now! 
(Seemed to fit today's theme). 

 

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Fall into Reading

I used to be a voracious reader...hey, I used to be an English major*, so it comes with the territory. Since kids I've done much less reading. But I still get a chance to read now and then, so I thought I'd go ahead an participate in the Fall Into Reading Challenge over at Callapidderdays, since its a very easy challenge without much pressure or rules.

Most of the books are actually books I just need to FINISH, as I've already started them but got way-layed along the way. One is one I would like to read again, with my oldest son. Only one is one I haven't started yet.






1.  The Gospels, In Order
I've actually read these before...but last Christmas I decided to try to read the four Gospels in order, using the Gospel Harmony list I found here.  I meant to try to finish it between New Years and Easter (ha ha) and am just now at Jesus' entry into Jerusalem with on a young donkey (ie Palm Sunday).  It's been interesting putting the various stories in order, and reading the overlapping stories of the four Gospels side by side.   I REALLY want to finish this up before Christmas.



2.  One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp

 This is a book a friend gave me...its beautiful and deep and needs to be taken in small doses.  I'm so grateful for this gift...and though I may or not finish it by Christmas I hope to keep wading into it's deep waters.





 3. To the Hilt by Dick Francis

Years ago my dad gave me a bunch of Dick Francis books...he said he thought I'd like them.  I was into other things at the time and never popped one open.   Until, that is, my Dad's Parkinsons progressed to the point where he couldn't focus enough to read (he'd always been an avid reader).   So, I went out looking for books on tape for him, and started to read some of the books he'd given me so we could talk about them together.  The whole books on take thing didn't turn out the way I'd hoped...don't know if he ever used them.  But Dad was right, I did like Dick Francis.  I've finished two (Bonecrack and For Kicks), so this will be my third.  I'm half way through already. 


4. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

This is the only book on the list I hadn't started.  My 9 year old so brought this 500+ page book home from his school library not long before school ended last year, and wasn't able to finish it before school ended, so asked if he could buy it.  We did, and I told him I would like to read it after he did.  Well, summer came and he lost interest a little...he probably has less than 100 pages to go.  When he finishes I'm giving it a go.  I'm thinking I may not finish this before December though.


5.  The Hobbit by J. R. Tolkien

I've read this one before...but my children haven't.  I want to read it with them BEFORE we go see the movie that is coming out in December.  (Well, with my oldest two at least...save this for later with my youngest).





So, there it is, the books I hope to read this fall.  :-)


*Oh, and side note:  Yes, I was an English Major.  No, my grammar does not always reflect it.  Sorry folks, but my grammar reflects the fact that I'm a mom who really shouldn't be taking the time to blog as much as she does.  I don't always usually do the proper self-editing, so Texifornia is not a typo free zone. 

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Texifornia is Tweeting

I've broken down and gotten a twitter account on Texifornia.  You Can find me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TexiforniaGirl

I was actually tickled that Texifornia and Texifornian were already taken.  Might have to follow them!

And thanks to U Stand Out for the cool free Twitter button!






Saturday, September 08, 2012

Book Drive at HEB


Have some new or gently used kids books your children have outgrown?  HEB is collecting books for children in need as part of their read3 campaign to encourage parents to read to their children 3 times a week.  If you are lucky enough to have an HEB in your area, you can drop them off at bins found at your local HEB.  There's also some fun coloring pages and other freebies on the site.  Click here to learn more.

Ah, just one more reason why I love HEB!