I chose "If I Wanted to CarryAround Bags, I'd Be a Trashman." as my blog post. I would agree with the writer if the facts that he mentioned are true. The writer seems pretty mad about the new Austin ordinance that bans distribution of free plastic bags in Austin retail stores. As an Austinite, I share the same inconvenience and burden (literally) that the writer had to carry, but I don't think the council made a too bad decision on banning the plastic bag and there is still a room for improvement.

             The writer pointed out many cons about not using plastic bags; he mentioned about how the plastics bags are much easier to recycle and takes much less energy to produce than other replacements such as reusable bags. He also mentioned about the behavioral problems that most people have when using reusable bags; many people don't wash their reusable bags, exposing themselves to potentially harmful bacteria. Maybe the behavioral problems that he mentioned was a little bit over said, but the points were very clear. If the statistics are right, using reusable bags isn't too bad.

             I think there should be some moderations between the writer of the blog and the ordinance.  I don't think it's right to completely ban plastic bags, and I also think that plastic bags are, no matter how eco-friendly and cost effective they are, still too harmful if too much of them are being used.  I think the city council should tell the retail stores to come up with their own plan to give out free plastic bags to certain customers. For example, HEB can give out plastic bags to people who buy over hundred dollars since hundred dollar worth of groceries are very hard to carry.

             Plastic bags are very convenient. Not only do I use to carry groceries, I also used them for my trash bags. Maybe we have been using plastic bags too much until the ordinance, but I started to miss the convenience and the economy (that the writer had mentioned) that they bring. If I spent my precious money at HEB, It's my right as a customer to carry those groceries comfortably. I just really hope that the city council moderates the issue. 

                  Immigration has taken its toll on federal and Texas politic again. This topic has been very controversial since the last immigration action during Reagan administration. Since then, there were a few federal and state actions on immigration; Plyer v Doe allowed children of illegal immigrants to attend public schools in the country, Texas passed its own version of Dream Act to allow college enrollment of illegal immigrants, and Arizona passed the racist immigration law. Compared to other Republican states, Texas has rather lenient immigration policies.

                  Texas' current immigration system allows illegal immigrants to attend their public universities with in-state tuition. Texas had been more lenient towards the minor illegal immigrants than others. With the recent executive order by President Obama, those minors are enjoying a little more taste of freedom that they couldn't enjoy when they were in a shadow. Texas is issuing their driver's license again to these people.  There is still no legislative action towards legalization of this group of people in both federal and state level, but there is an effort in Washington to pass a comprehensive immigration bill.

                  Being a border state, Texas has to be stricter when it comes to deportation and eliminating any incentives for illegal immigrants. Texas has deported more than 387,790 illegal immigrants in 2009 alone, and the number is keep rising with President Obama's new policy that favors deportation. Texas has stoped issuing driver's license to illegal immigrants since 2007. Texas made it very difficult for employers to hire illegal immigrants.

                  The current status of immigration action is green for now since the Republicans started to realize that neglecting this topic would cost them the next election. With the growing supports from Latino and other minority groups, the comprehensive immigration reform introduced by the gang of 8 in the Senate is getting its momentum. If this is passed, it would legalize approximately 11 million people, and it would help bring in skilled workers around the world. Further, this country will experience the toughest border security ever, satisfying the longing wish for the Republicans. 

Source: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/comprehensive-immigration-reform-pro-growth-and-pro-agriculture/123

   I have read "Unlikely but Necessary Immigration Reform" from the blog History in the Making. The authors have introduced rather redundant subject that law makers don't really have the solution. It's not that hard to notice that our immigration system has fallen apart. There was a massive amnesty back in Reagan administration as a permanent remedy to our broken immigration system, but we have now noticed that amnesty was never a solution to this problem. The author of the post has suggested that legalization would add approximately 10 million possible workforce to our economy. He also mentioned that tax revenue would dramatically increase and economic demand would increase the national GDP. 
   I have a rather different point when it comes down to immigration. I don't believe that a comprehensive immigration reform is not the key solution to this problem. First of all, coming up with an ultimate solution to a problem would take very long time and may not be the most efficient way. I personally think that we should prioritize who would be best beneficial to this country. I don't want to see unskilled labors that later benefits off of welfare. Illegal immigrants who have college degree or have the intention of joining the military should be the major target of legalization. They are the most Americanized part of illegal immigrants and are the most skilled people. After legalizing them, we can talk about what we can do with seasonal farm workers, lawn care people, and etc.     We hear many sympathetic stories when it comes down to immigration, but we shouldn't forget that we live in a nation of law.