The Austin Statesman reporter, Ryan Foley, has a very interesting article out that proves America really is that land of opportunity. It seems as though just about anyone, who is willing to, can get an education. This includes sex offenders nationwide. . The national government gives us unemployment benefits, social security, Medicaid, WIC and the list goes on. All these programs are controversial, but even after argument one can make sense and need to keep them. But there is a fine line in sense when it comes to funding education for a sex offender.
The Pell Grant is a nationally funded resource which gives low income students up 4,000 dollars for educational purposes. This premier grant bars those who are prison inmates and those with drug offenses, however, sex offenders have found a way to dip into these funds. If a sex offender is in prison he cannot receive aid, once transported to a treatment facility he has now made himself eligible for the national grant. One treatment facility in Florida 54 offenders received a combined total of $20,000 in financial aid. That is quite a large amount of money for someone who has made him/herself a predator to society.
Some argue that this is help for offenders, similar to a treatment that will better that person for society and it does make sense; offering education will help make work them to normalcy in our society, but what about the offenders with a bachelors or masters? Are we suppose to provide them with something as well? And if taxpayers are already funding for the treatment facility, what sense does it make to give more money to someone who has made him/herself a danger to everyone, particular children?
The article also points out that several offenders don’t even use the funds given for learning purposes, but rather to purchase miscellaneous entertainment goods like DVDs and CDs. Without a way to track their progress, it is impossible to prove that this is for the better good of an offender.
As a taxpayer, I would rather fund someone who is a cocaine addict for higher education and then a sex offender. At least if the drug addict went back to doing drugs it wouldn’t hurt society nearly as much if a sex offender went back to preying on children. Providing a place for treatment is more then enough help to give a sex offender. Paying for their education is asking for a smart predator.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Will the Stimulus Plan stimulate?
Austin American Statesman writes about the new plan for bringing the economy up to par in this article. And in this one.
On January 24th congressional leaders pass an economical stimulus plan which hands out at least 300 dollars to tax payers and in some cases non tax payers. This plan was generated by President Bush to pull America out of the economical rut that it is in by given out a total of 150 billion dollars in hopes that spending will take place and economy will be stimulated.
The steps go as followed: Americans will file their taxes as usual and IRS will take care of the rest. Individuals will receive up to 600 dollars and married couples will receive 1,200, in addition to that another 300 will be given to each qualify child under the age of 17. The amount of the check will be based on income for each person/couple; in addition, those who don’t pay income tax may get a check from the IRS as well. The IRS will also team up with the Social Security Administration, AARP, and Veterans Affairs department to ensure that everyone over 50 will be getting their golden stimulus check. It is expect that 130 million households will be reached.
This plan seems to be quite promising, but is money really the answer to everything? Will giving out checks even going to make a dent in this pre-rescission economy? Democrats and Republicans in congress believe so. These checks are geared towards the lower income family. But it just so happens that lower income families do not make up all of America. On the plus side, government established programs like Fannie Mae will be able to increase their mortgage limit from 416,000 to a giant 730,000 dollars. For those in Austin, that means we can go from living in Round Rock to Westlake if we so choose.
It’s difficult to really know what this stimulus plan will do to the economy right now. It may even take a year to see results. US government aims to bring the economy up, and it may very well be that way. As for the rest of us, we shall hope for the best and prepare for the worst as we wait for our check.
On January 24th congressional leaders pass an economical stimulus plan which hands out at least 300 dollars to tax payers and in some cases non tax payers. This plan was generated by President Bush to pull America out of the economical rut that it is in by given out a total of 150 billion dollars in hopes that spending will take place and economy will be stimulated.
The steps go as followed: Americans will file their taxes as usual and IRS will take care of the rest. Individuals will receive up to 600 dollars and married couples will receive 1,200, in addition to that another 300 will be given to each qualify child under the age of 17. The amount of the check will be based on income for each person/couple; in addition, those who don’t pay income tax may get a check from the IRS as well. The IRS will also team up with the Social Security Administration, AARP, and Veterans Affairs department to ensure that everyone over 50 will be getting their golden stimulus check. It is expect that 130 million households will be reached.
This plan seems to be quite promising, but is money really the answer to everything? Will giving out checks even going to make a dent in this pre-rescission economy? Democrats and Republicans in congress believe so. These checks are geared towards the lower income family. But it just so happens that lower income families do not make up all of America. On the plus side, government established programs like Fannie Mae will be able to increase their mortgage limit from 416,000 to a giant 730,000 dollars. For those in Austin, that means we can go from living in Round Rock to Westlake if we so choose.
It’s difficult to really know what this stimulus plan will do to the economy right now. It may even take a year to see results. US government aims to bring the economy up, and it may very well be that way. As for the rest of us, we shall hope for the best and prepare for the worst as we wait for our check.
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