Presidential Hopefuls From Texas
Even though the 2016 Presidential Election is over a year away, that hasn’t stopped people from throwing their names into the ring of potential candidates. There are already over a dozen Republican candidates, and about half that number for the Democrats. There is also expected to be several more people announcing their candidacy over the next few weeks, raising that number even higher. Among the candidates are two officials from the state of Texas – Ted Cruz and Rick Perry. Who are these men, and do they stand a chance at being the next President of the United States?
Ted Cruz – Cruz is a Senator from Texas, and a member of the Republican Party. He was elected back in 2012 after gaining support from the member of the Tea Party. Cruz fights for “limited government, economic growth and the Constitution.” At the time of his election he was considered a long shot, but was able to gather support through large grassroots programs. Now, after serving in the Senate for 3 years, Cruz is looking to take on the Presidency. Cruz has gained national attention on several issues, namely for his unwillingness to compromise. He has strong support from those on the far-right of the political spectrum, and from various religious groups. While many experts see Cruz as a long shot to win the Presidency, he is hoping that another strong grassroots effort can propel him to win the Republican Primary, followed by the general election.
Rick Perry – Perry has been serving as the Governor of Texas since 2000. Perry has lived most of his life in Texas, having been born there in 1950, and attending Texas A&M. He is now the longest serving governor of the state, breaking the previous record. Back in 2012, Perry ran for the U.S Presidency, but was unsuccessful. Most experts point to one moment when Perry lost most of his support. It was during a Republican debate, when Perry said that as President, he would eliminate 3 government agencies. When asked which agencies these would be, he was only able to name two of them, and ended by saying “I can’t remember the third one. Oops.” This quote followed him around and became widespread, and ultimately Perry bowed out of the race several weeks later. Now, Perry is hoping to put that run behind him and try again this year. However experts don’t seem to like his chances. His polling numbers are not all that favorable, and the embarrassing moments from 3 years ago are still in people’s minds. He is also not offering much of a difference between other candidates, so he is having a hard time distancing himself from them. Still, Perry has strong support among the far-right, and he is hoping this is enough support to get him at least the Republican Primary win.
While the odds may be long for either of these two men to win the Presidency, that hasn’t stopped Texas from supporting them. Both have strong support in their home state, and they hope that Texas can convince the other states to give them a chance. It remains to be seen if this will happen.
Just How Essential Are Essential Oils?
CBS out of Dallas, Texas ran a story a few months back that may be of great interest to residents of Plano and all over the state. While Texans have been treating ailments with natural remedies for decades, there is now concern over these essential oils being used on kids without the knowledge of a reputable pediatrician.
The use of essential oils to treat things like weight loss, coughs and even depression is trending right now, but Texan pediatricians warn about their use with kids. Even though these companies claim that their natural products are effective, there is very little research to support their use in juvenile medicine. The vast majority are completely safe, but some do need to be administered with caution to avoid contraindications, skin problems and accidental ingestion.
Medical professionals around the world have been taking the use of essential oils more seriously over the last few years. Some are used topically to fight infection from bacteria, while calming scents from plants like lavender are administered into the air with the help of essential oil diffusers to help relieve stress in cancer patients.
While there would seem to be little harm in allowing a child to breath in the scent of natural plants, the trouble arises when they are administered onto the skin or even orally. Many of these oils are very potent, and require mixing with a benign base to avoid damage to the skin. With the more sensitive skin of a child, the ratio may need to be changed to avoid burning. The same is true of those few that are taken orally. Keep in mind that being natural by-products of plants, there has been very little research into the side effects of essential oils. Couple that with the smaller size and lower body weight of a small child, and you could be giving them a medicine that is potentially doing more harm than good.
CBS Dallas reports that last year, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warnings to two of the top essential oil companies for making broad health claims about their products. This is dangerous business when dealing with desperate people who are trying to ease the pain or illness of their child. Experts warn that before considering an essential oil treatment for a child, you should first discuss it with their pediatrician. Be prepared for an initial negative response by providing them with whatever information you found that makes you believe it will be a good remedy for your kid.
In Plano, we are very supportive of the use of natural products to treat illness and disease, but with caution. It is always important to remember that the testing on these products pales in comparison to what major drug companies are forced to do, making moderation at first critical.