Texas should be more like California and institute a state income tax! Ha, got your attention. Lower your weapon, easy does it, I was just kidding. The question remains: How should Texas deal with balancing its budget? This includes expenditures for running the three branches of the state government as well as funding the state's five major programs of education, health and human services, transportation, public safety and corrections, and employee benefits.
Currently, Texas revenue comes from sales tax, property taxes, and taxes on vehicle sales, motor fuels, and other sources, including what is commonly known as the "sin tax" which is levied on alcohol and cigarettes for instance. Another important source of income, one third of Texas' total in fact, comes to the state in matching funds and grants from the federal government. Finally, flat fees for professional licenses, hunting licenses, and driver's licenses raise a considerable sum, as well as fines and penalties.
I believe Texas should decriminalize marijuana and model a state program after Colorado's successful medical marijuana bill that was signed into law by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. Not only is Colorado taxing and regulating marijuana in order to raise much needed revenue, but portions of state government are pushing to legalize recreational use and possession in this year's elections in what is commonly known as "Amendment 64." Supporters of the amendment and the medical use bill site the vast sums of money that could be allocated elsewhere that is being spent on criminalizing marijuana. Other proponents in law enforcement realize that the War on Drug is not working and a new approach is needed. Governments around the world are facing bankruptcy and top financial analysts that predicted the financial crisis of 2008 are warning that our states are next.
Texas could save and redistribute billions of dollars by decriminalizing marijuana. Money spent on enforcement, prosecution, and jailing, could be allocated toward Texas' five major programs of education, health and human services, transportation, public safety and corrections, and employee benefits. Furthermore, billions would be raised in taxing and regulating marijuana sales. Finally, as some Colorado authorities have stated, some power and control that gangs and cartels brandish would be diminished due to one major source of their economic illegal activity being taken over by government itself. This could eliminate some of the violence in our border cities.
Texas and it's citizens could demonstrate their fundamental belief in the Texan Creed, principally individualism and the liberty and self-reliance of a state that takes its state budget and debt seriously. What could be more libertarian and "Texas" than the state defying current federal laws that oppose marijuana legalization? What could be more republican than minimizing the role of the federal government in Texas politics? What could be more democratic than using money toward education and health rather than incarceration and ineffective prevention?
Great title very successful attention getter and highly relatable to the audience. Also includes a great image to incorporate and tie down the main idea a public figure. Right away the writer addresses the issue and provides an opinion with evidence supporting the opinion such as " Not only is Colorado taxing and regulating marijuana in order to raise much needed revenue, but portions of state government are pushing to legalize recreational use and possession in this year's elections in what is commonly known as "Amendment 64."." The writer used very great solid evidence to back up their opinion and introduced effectively the many pros of decriminalizing marijuana and also included the fact that it effects more than one thing and many problems could be solved by taking this approach. Also the conclusion was great because the writer stated their point again but also left you thinking by ending the paragraph with questions to really make you think about what they said overall successfully delivered their opinion to the audience.
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