It's hard not to have death penalty doubts

Death Penalty-Austin American Statesman
Editorial Board
The commentary about Perry and the death penalty gives insight into what motivates Perry to support the death penalty, and it’s not justice. Realistically, Perry has to make a choice. If Perry’s financial backers and political allies support the death penalty then he will, too.

Perry answered honestly that he doesn’t lose sleep at night about innocents put to death because that’s not his concern. His concern is taking the simplest road to the presidency. Texas’ Judicial system and law enforcement agencies are all the evidence needed to back this up with the mishandling of rape kits and withholding evidence by Prosecutor Ken Anderson to name a few. Wrongful charges have implicated many suspects for crimes ranging from murder to arson on such grounds as mishandled DNA or misidentification. This is such a problem in the Texas judicial system that the Senate has passed legislation to approve easing restrictions on previously limited DNA regulations and formed a commission to investigate wrongful convictions. 

Here's an idea how about prioritizing suspect's proof of innocence before proven guilty?  How about demanding state agencies properly analyze data, investigate, and prosecute suspects according to the Judicial system.  Instead of asking Perry about his feelings about the Death Penalty, why not ask instead his feelings about the complete disregard of state police agencies and prosecutors have for due process?

Vets deserve more than benefits cuts

Editorial: Vets-Austin American Statesman

While celebrating Vets once a year is commendable, ensuring that vets (and their families) receive substantial benefits should be a year round endeavor.  Veterans have learned to accept that their benefits are contingent on the current economy and not on their level of achievement during their military careers, as they have been wrongly informed by their recruiters. 

Over the years troops have endured combat all over the world and in life threatening environments.  The injuries soldiers have endured during war have become more serious due to technical and strategic advances in war.  Doctors are better able to treat serious mental and physical injuries, but military officials are still a long way from preventing them.  From PTSD to loss of appendages, the cost of treating these injuries has increased yet the amount of benefits for veterans consistently decreases. 

Instead, politicians cut funding for this population to balance their budgets.  During recruitment, enlistees are molded to perform at their best and to give their all.  The message sent to veterans after their service is that their rewards were only conditional upon their ability to stay in the military.  The reward for sacrificing their body and minds are only valuable if they are able to dodge life threatening combat and remain unscathed emotionally from the horror they have faced. 

They can easily be discarded into the Veteran’s Affair system where they haggle with Physicians and Psychiatrist that their wounds are not imaginary and worthy of receiving compensation.  Their military achievements are broken down in to percentages which takes months to calcualte.  How much compensation should be given for seeing death?  For dodging it?  For volunteering to get up every day and face it all over again for the rest of their lives?

How do we as a nation explain to these vets that providing adequate healthcare is more important for lawmakers than healing their wounds from the battlefields?

Military Recruitment

VA Compensation