Border War

In Jan Russell’s blog from the San Antonio Express, Russell criticizes Governor Rick Perry for his lackluster efforts on winning the Texas border war on the drug cartels. She argues that Perry is throwing Texas state money away into this war that has had poor results and no near end in sight. There have been a lot of skeptical critics of Perry’s actions since he has been Governor for over 10 years now but has been very careless to finish this conflict Russell believes that the Drug cartels are running easily through the state and also using prisons as a staging ground. The first operation “Operation linebacker” was the first to be set up and was put together by border town sheriffs that were funded by the state of a total of 25 million dollars that would supply the sheriffs with firearms and money to fight these cartels at the border. This operation has been unsuccessful with losing almost over several thousand officers to this fight. Operation Rio Grande was next when the Texas government with local authorities deputy’s and federal agents. This operation another flawed waste of money with no results then came, Operation Border Star and funded it at $110 million. The last and now current is Operation Wrangler, a build up of 133 police departments and 604 Texas Army National Guard troops, along with federal agencies. Perry then approved another 5 million to set up cameras along the wall along the border to spot illegal immigrants and possible drug traffickers. Once cameras were in place the idea was to stream these on the web, so that a regular civilian could view and report any illegal activity. This has been very unsuccessful and has just led to just arrests with people trying to come into the country and no major arrests. I agree with Russell on her stance that Perry is at a lost. He needs to push for more government intervention. Governor Perry needs to bring in some top military leaders and plan a strategy rather then sink money into one failed operation after another. Perry has already wasted over 175 million dollars of state money into this so-called quiet “Border War”. I believe that if he pushes for more government involvement he will get more funds and more military disposal. There needs to be to a clear decision on a win or lose exit strategy, before things get even more out of hand and more American lives are taken.

UT Tuition Rising Again

The rising costs of college tuition in the University of Texas College System were raised to 3.95 percent, after the Board of Regents had voted for tuition increases. With another increase doomed for next 3 years of another 3.95 percent the raising of school prices are taking its affect on students, making it harder to attend and pay for school. San Antonio Express states reports that the rise in rates is to help expansion of space more staff and a solid infrastructure. The lowest blow of the increase is to low-income students, since 20% of it will increase their finical aid. The rising cost of tuition will cost more students to have to borrow even more money to pay for school. UTSA Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa acknowledged, “Students are being asked to shoulder more of the cost burden but said the boosts were necessary to maintain quality and competitiveness”. In 2002 Texas was paying 62% of the amount to schools for educating undergrad students. Now students are paying 51 percent of the cost for school out of pocket makes things worse especially if you are not making much working a side job. Or even more you will have more students working a fulltime job and taking finical aid for school. With this being such a hike in student tuition we may see people in more debt and even more borrowing, which could land to a huge downfall to students getting their education. Even in an economy where everyone is in debt. The rise in tuition will lead to more debt frustration and putting even more students in debt and may have them turn else were to other Colleges for their education.