8 Feb
Looking at Democrats for Governor
First up is Farouk Shami and a quick review of his issues page tells me most of what I need to know about his agenda.
Energy and Environment -Farouk Shami believes it’s time to act to close down our polluting coal fired plants once and for all, while also ensuring Texas has access to affordable and reliable energy that will meet demand today and into the future.
Given the technology doesn’t exist to make alternative energy sources anywhere close to the efficiency and cost of coal, nuclear or gas powered plants this is very pie-in-the-sky.
Education -Most importantly, he will dramatically increase Vocational/Technical training in our secondary schools to teach kids real life skills that can lead to a high paying job and help them become a productive part of the Texas workforce.
I like this part of his plan, we need to do away with as much of the politically crap in the lesson plans and focus on some hard science, math and skills.
Free, Online Tutoring Available To All Texas Public School Students
Farouk proposes a system modeled off of Alabama’s successful “HomeWorkAlabama.org” website where students can connect to a tutor for live help via the Internet. Tutors will help students through the use of instant messaging, interactive virtual “chalkboards,” shared browsing, and similar features including enhanced capabilities to help students with science and math. Tutors would be online from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Right and just where is the money to pay for all these tutors going to come from?
Transportation – Index the Motor Fuels Tax
Farouk Shami proposes a one time increase in the gas tax of 8 cents and implementing automatic increases in the gas tax annually from 2012 forward based on increases in the Highway Cost Index (HCI), with a four percent cap on any annual increase. Should the HCI increase by more than 4% in any year, the balance would carry forward to the next year and be added to any increase for that year. In years where there is a zero or negative increase in the HCI, revenue generated from carryovers would go toward reducing TxDOT’s existing debt.
Tax and Tax and Tax — anybody think this would be the end of taxing schemes to pay for roads?
I’ll lump all these next statements under the general heading of rights. See if you can spot the inconsistancies I did.
Criminal Justice – Farouk Shami believes the Texas criminal justice system has serious problems. Too many young people become career criminals. Often we are not sure if those convicted were truly guilty. Our correction officers are under paid and poorly trained. And the entire system is focused on retribution and not rehabilitation. ….Farouk will also crack down on criminals who are currently being overlooked, white collar criminals who buy support from political leaders
Internet Access – The digital divide in this country, and especially in Texas, continues to grow wider. While broadband internet use continues to rise, it continues to be unavailable to those who live in some rural communities.
The state of Texas needs to lead the nation by establishing a universal service fee on all internet service providers operating in the state of Texas. This small fee per customer would allow subsidies to go back to ISPs who build the fiber optic cable and/or wireless infrastructure to connect every part of Texas to the internet.
Animal Rights (that is the actual title of the section from his website) Farouk Shami firmly believes that animals ought to be protected. Furthermore, he wants to mandate all shelters in Texas become “no kill” shelters and provide state aid to rescue organizations. Finally, he wants to increase criminal penalties on those people convicted of abusing animals.
A Woman’s Right to Choose – Farouk believes in safeguarding a woman’s right to choose and will oppose all efforts by the Legislature to place further restrictions or roadblocks on decisions best left to a woman and her doctor.
Farouk is against placing restrictions on the access to emergency contraception.
Second Amendment Rights – Farouk unequivocally supports the Second Amendment rights of all Texans.
Farouk will fight any effort to restrict the ability of Texans’ to carry concealed weapons. However, he believes Texas’ higher educational institutions must be gun free.
Okay, What do you think? Is this someone you want running your state?
I don’t.
I see quite a bit of “income redistribution” and quite a bit about supporting some rights — but not all.
The kicker for me was his stance on abortion/contraceptive rights versus 2nd Amendment rights. He doesn’t mind having contraceptives available on campuses (neither do I) even if the school is morally opposed to that idea (many Catholic/Christian collegse) yet sees not irony in keeping people from being able to effectively defend themselves on those very campuses or to and from those campuses.
Sorry Farouk but “Farouk unequivocally supports the Second Amendment rights of all Texans” doesn’t mean what you think it means.

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