Are we really Exceptional?

 
OK, so we all know that I am big on the topic of water and more specifically water use and conservation. In this addition of my Blog I am going to directly critique what the City of Round Rock says about water restrictions and what they are actually doing to make sure citizens are within the limits.

First of all, I commend the city for being one of the more proactive areas in Central Texas to implement water restrictions early on in the drought. I do however still have concerns that the information posted on the city web page is only there for informational purposes and is not being used as a tool to hold people accountable. Now I do understand that a great number of people do not have access to or even choose to use the Internet as a source of information but when it comes to one of our most precious and ever decreasing natural resources, then get a clue people!

Now for my evidence of the above cited accusations. Just yesterday I stopped at two different houses on my way home from the Round Rock Campus and asked the occupants to stop watering their lawns. One of these home owners were watering by hand in the middle of the day, not only is that ignorant with the sun beating down, but also a clear violation of city policy. The second offender had the automatic sprinkler running, again not only stupid but also a violation. I am certainly not a model citizen nor a goodie two-shoes but I SERIOUSLY do not approve of people wasting our water resources to have a nice looking lawn. It's grass people, who cares!

Onto why this is an oversight on the city's part. After leaving each residence I called the Round Rock Police Department (RRPD) to report the violations and was told to basically mind my own business and they would take care of it. I was not even allowed to give them the addresses of the two blatant violators. On the city's website it clearly states that violations are a Class "C" Misdemeanor and people wanting to report violations should call the RRPD. That is exactly what I did and who knows how many others out there are violating the restrictions and how many others are trying to report them?

Look, all I am trying to say is that if you put the information out there and people choose not to abide or follow it then there must be some accountability. Again, I compliment the city for imposing the restrictions, now all I am asking is that we enforce them and hold violators accountable.

Perry getting creamed in the "Race for POTUS"

  This week I am taking my frustration of Perry's poor performance so far in the debates out on David Muto of the Texas Tribune.  Muto authors "The Brief", a daily recap of important Texas news highlights.  In The Big Conversation portion of October 12th's news there were some examples of how poorly Perry continues to show himself, his ideas and his credentials to the rest of the world.
  In Tuesday nights Washington Post Debate at Dartmouth College it seemed as though Gov. Perry would be able to redeem himself after a couple of slip ups in recent debates in regards to Immigration reform and a failed HPV vaccination plan.  However, Tuesday turned out to be no different than any other debate so far.  Perry continues to backslide and fall father behind a resurgent Mitt Romney and strong unexpected adversary Herman Cain and his 9-9-9 plan.
  You may find yourself asking "why is this important in my Texas Gov't class?"  Well, here is why; right now our Governor is making himself and all of us "Exceptional" Texans look like bozos.  This is particularly frustrating for me because I have been very outspoken about Gov. Perry being our next President of the United States (POTUS). 
  Professor Seago was correct in one thing about correcting and critiquing blogs, there are not a lot of good ones out there.  I do like what Mr. Muto has to offer on his daily blog and his writing is well researched and not heavily opinionated one way or the other.  Check out "The Brief", I think you will find some great Texas news to catch up on yourself.