Comment for Colleague

     I do agree with Mr. Nguyen in his post about Austin's population growth. It is true that as austin gets bigger, bussiness will some along with it. Apple is comming to austin and this is one good example of corporations comming to create more jobs. The population growth can be a great thing but also can hurt the city and cause problems like the ones Mr. Nguyen mentioned. I agree that something should be done about Austin's horrible traffic problem. Other means of transportation like by train or bus would ce a good idea to help reduce the traffic. Austin is talking about making the street lights longer to solve the problem. I think doing this will not work at all. It might just make alot rush-hour drivers more angry. I agree that austin also needs to do something about its water problem. The more the population the less water we have. We need to find ways to conserve water by recycling water and creating rules and regulations not to waste it. I am certian that in the future, Austin will become a big and environment friendly place.

Should the drinking age be lowered again?

     In 1984 Texas changed the alcohol drinking age limit from 21 to 18 and then raised back to 21 in 1986. So why the change? Texas raised the drinking age to cut federal highway funds. Many can argue that this act saved many lives, but who can decided what age you are able to take responsibilities of adulthood?

     Even though this may be coming from a person who is still underage to drink, I think the drinking age should be lowered to 18. Is it right for you to be able to join the military, put your life on the line to surve your country and still not to be able to have a right to drink? 18 should be the age where people are old enough to be accountable for their actions. At 18 you are old enough to vote, get married, make your own economic decisions, and even be prosecuted as an adult. This alone should be reason enough that Texas age of majority should be lowered. More reason is that enforcing this law is not helping to stop underage drinking. I am a college student and I know that underage drinking has become more concealed over the years. People tend to work around the Texas law anyway they can. I don't think it is right to hand every underage drinker a ticket. What is needed to be enforced is the abuse of drinking alcohol. At 18 you are considered to be an adult but yet still treated as a minor. I believe nomatter how old you are, you still should be responsisble for your actions. There is no mistake that drinking and driving kills, but people who drink and drive at the age 18 should be prosecuted the same way as if the person was 21. Texas drinking laws should be more focused on the abuse of alcohol rather than punishing underage drinkers.