Today, women remain far less likely than men to seek public office. Only recently in 1984 has there ever been a woman on the national major-party presidential ticket. The opinion article "Pro-Con Would more Women makefor better government?" on The Dallas Morning News clearly states the pros and cons of more women becoming a part of the legislative process. According to research, this lack of women in todays government can stem anywhere from the socialization of young men towards “leadership roles”, to even boys’ greater participation in organized competitive sports.

            On the pro side of the argument, the argument is made that adding more women to the legislative process would be for the better. A more accurate representation of the country (an equal representation of men compared to women), would enhance debates and offer a wide arrange or potential solutions to the problems we face today. The tone of the Congress might even change for the better. At the current stage, Congress is 80% White, 80% male, and 92% Christian. These are large differences for our representative demographics, as only 63% of the population is white, less than 50% are males, and the country only amounts to 76% Christian. These ratios are well off balance and do not provide an accurate “representation” of this country on a whole.

            The argument for fewer women to represent the nation stems from the idea that “political values must outweigh the importance of gender” The idea is that if there are 20 women in the Senate, and your political views differ with 16 of those women, then there is a problem. It is often that political conversation is always about achieving gender parity in elected office, rather than the important ways that women actually impact political life. According to the author, men and women are different in that they share “different talents, aptitudes, and interests” A rather weak argument from the offer

            I think that readers should give the article a change, but realize that this is an opinion-based piece. A lot of the author’s logic stems from assumptions about women and what they seem to “only focus on” as the author makes clear. Some points are well made and clear, and some are senseless. However, it is worth the read to see the other side of the argument on why women should not equally represent the number of men in Congress. 

Joe Deshotel, the author of the article “Pope Francis’ Visits Shined Light on the GOP Misplaced Priorities in Texas” in the Burnt Orange Report.  He has hit the nail right on the coffin when it comes to shedding the light on the GOP’s misplaced priorities during the recent visit from Pope Francis. The author does a great job of calling out the current frontrunners in the GOP for the Presidential election.  “Just as the front runners for GOP’s presidential nomination were debating whether a Muslim should even be allowed to occupy the White House, we were reminded how conservatives drummed up fears that John F. Kennedy’s Catholic faith would render him a papal puppet.” However it is not only the national politicians that are making the news over their “faith”, current Texas Governor Greg Abbot was recently attacked questioning his “faith” over a silly Facebook post that offended a very few extremists. However, Greg Abbot isn’t new when it comes to using his faith to guide his political agenda. Abbot has used religion time and time again to whip votes on wedge issues. Governor Abbot proposed a VERY political “Life” initiative at the exact time Planned Parenthood was on every news channel in America. All this talk coming of course while Texas still has the largest number of uninsured children in the nation. “Reproductive health care isn’t the only target of GOP pitchforks. Their policy priorities fail to acknowledge that caring for the environment, the poor and the sick were Jesus’ words, not the Pope’s.” Numbers and statistics don’t lie.

The author does a very good job of providing numbers, facts, statistics and proof that the GOP’s current agenda is largely politicized and often panders to the very religious. Most GOP members only seem to agree with the Pope’s message just as long as it coincides with the mindset of their voters back home. Overall I feel that author did a great job in pointing out a few of the many hypocrisies that the GOP holds.