Inntroduction
Texas is the second largest American state in respect of population and area. Texas is one of biggest producers of gas as well as oil among American states and also has several gas and oil reserves. The state GDP is more than one trillion dollar which is larger than the GDP of several rich countries. Texas is a flourishing state but still there are some policy related issues that requires attention of policy makers. This paper intends to discuss several issues that Texas faces today and also suggests some steps in order to resolve them along with discussing several other related aspects.
Discussion
Texas has some problems that are required to be addressed immediately in order to solve them. Transportation, border security and gun control are some major issues among others that keep challenging policy makers of Texas. These issues are significant as a consequence of their direct impact on people’s life, health and revenue. Transportation does not impact only daily life of people but it also affects trade and commerce and thus revenue in an adverse manner. Transportation affects almost every aspect of human life thus this problem should be addressed immediately.
Border security has been a major problem for Texas since the state shares a boundary with Mexico. Illegal Immigration has been a major problem since very beginning and is directly associated with border security. This problem needs some effective steps without any delay keeping immigration and security of the people in the mind. Texas has very moderate laws on gun control. Such leniency gives everybody the permission to control guns and the way gun related violence are increasing, this problem also cannot be ignored. There should be a fresh debate and reconsideration over the issue of gun control because the issue is directly associated with public health and life.
Transportation problem
Transportation has always been an issue of concern for the state. Texas also has been ranked one of worst transportation infrastructure among American states. Large size and territorial diversity of the state has been causing problems for Texas since a long time irrespective of having America’s largest share of highway as well as railway tracks. Condition of roads needs some effective intervention.
Condition of highways is comparatively in good state but other public roadways require attention. These roads are earning unsavory reputation because of their poor construction quality and congestion. Congestion makes life miserable and office goers are badly affected people due to this problem. Sanitation is another issue that causes troubles for Texan travelers on these roads. People living in places or having shops, adjacent to roads do not take care of Roads and do not hesitate in throwing garbage on roads.
Congestion makes traveling difficult on these roads and also causes incidents of road rage. Texas transportation institute (TTI) suggests that an average Texan traveler spends more than 34 hours in traffic jams on Texas roads. The problem becomes horrible during peak traffic hours. Texas department of transportation is working hard wit assistance of Texas Transportation Institute in order to rein in the problem. Some expert services are also being taken in this regard to gather information and data that can help these bodies further in making policies to get rid of such congestions and other road related issues.
Traffic jams means wastage of fuel and in other words wastage of money. Texas department of transportation is making some plans to improve the current situation by making roads congestion free. Officials of the department says that making additional lanes, intersections, and changing time of signals are in pipe line and these will be implement as soon as possible. Karen Amacker, Department’s spokesperson says, “Over the past two years, we have put out a list of the 100 most congested roadway segments across the state, the solution is sometimes adding a lane or re-striping an intersection or changing signal timing”.
Apart from these steps some additional steps are also required like creating new and alternative roads for some busy destinations. Promoting public transportation and making it more effective is another possible solution and making the office timing flexible will certainly solve the issue of traffic jams. Texas transportation, roads and traffic needs more attention and concerned bodies should give their hundred percent in order to make Texas roads cleaner, safer as well as congestion free.
Border Security
Texas shares international boundary with Mexico and the border security has been always a challenge for the homeland security as well for the people of Texas. In recent years, Mexican organized crime and illegal immigration has created some big threats to the border security. The dangerous nexus between Mexican law enforcement agencies and Mexican organized crime cartels further worsen the problem because such nexus makes border security more vulnerable and puts Texans on the stake.
Incidents of theft, rape, murder, illicit trade of drug, and crimes of illegal immigrants are enormously increased on the border. Border security has been though a major concern but it has not been given due attention and importance that it requires. It seems that Homeland security as well as federal agencies are concerned about border security but perhaps they are not competent enough to provide required security on the Texas border. A lot been said and promised by politicians but the reality of these hollow promises is revealed whenever any crime takes place in the border related areas.
Gun control
Texas has very liberal gun control policies that permit everyone to possess guns. It has been observed in a number of incidents that allowing everybody to carry guns creates unnecessary problems. Easy access to guns creates threats to every person of the society. In recent years, incidents of shooting in schools have been increased. Such incidents suggest that there should be some reasonable restrictions regarding gun control and it should not be allowed to everyone.
Guns are necessary for self control but the same are also used for killing innocent people. The requirement and priority is needed to be looked into. If possessing guns is prerogative of Texans, preventing its misuse is also their responsibility. Incidents like shooting in schools takes place because innocent teenagers can easily access deadly weapons and they use it in a momentary rage without considering its long term consequences. By reconsidering gun control policies and putting a reasonable restriction, this issue can be solved.
Although gun control is ensured by American constitution to its citizens but considering the incidents like school shooting, a reasonable restriction is justified. A background check can be done to ensure that the person who wants to possess a deadly weapon is not a criminal or likeminded. It has been observed that people open fire in moments of rage and repent later but the sad thing is that guns are very dangerous and once they are used, they kill people. Such incidents are very common in Texas and the same should be debated and reconsidered in order to make Texas a safer and better place to live.
Conclusion
After having observed the succinct analysis of the issues related to Texas, it can be concluded that Texas faces several issues including the major ones that are above mentioned. These issues create problems for the people of Texas and require attention of the government and policy makers. Effective as well as appropriate planning is what Texas needs in order to improve the current situation. If immediate attention is not paid towards theses issues, the situation may worsen further and things may go out of control. Authorities are trying though but some more concrete efforts are indispensable and some new policies are compulsory for the betterment of Texas.
Works Cited
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Brunet-Jailly, Emmanuel. Borderlands: Comparing Border Security in North America and Europe. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press, 2007.
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L. C. Mayer, T. R. Carr, N. Joseph Cayer and M. J. Mckenzie. American Public Policy: An Introduction: An Introduction. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2012.
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