1a. Describe the policy differences between Texas
conservative and liberal ideologies.
Conservative Ideologies: Skeptical of state govt.
involvement in the economy. Believe the govt.
should give people the freedom to solve their
own problems.
Liberal Ideologies: Believe state govt. can be
used as a positive tool to benefit the pop.
as a whole and the govt. will solve the
people's problems for them.
1b. How does public opinion and public policy in
the state reflect the dominant values and
beliefs of the state's voters?
Taxes in Texas are very low and have committed far
fewer financial resources to public services
than in most states. Texas takes in less per
capita revenue than all but 4 states and
spends less that 46 states.
2a. Describe the general cultural characteristics
of Texas's regions.
Texas is a mix of traditional and individualistic
cultures. In East Texas, Upper Old South, &
Mexican boarder traditional overrides
individualistic. Everywhere else in Texas
individualistic overrides traditional culture.
2b. Does the description fit your home area?
Yes, it does fit the description of the DFW
Metroplex. It seems the people in this area
are more self-reliant, wanting minimum govt.
involvement. There is always something in the
news in regards to corrupt officials at some
level or another.
3a. What do moralistic, traditionalistic, and
individualistic signify?
moralistic: views govt. as + force, referred to
as 'right and wrong' in politics, believe
politicians should not profit from their
public service instead making decisions as to
what is best for the people
traditionalistic: govt. has an active role but
primarily to maintain the dominant social and
religious values. Believe in personal rather
than public problem solving and that official
positions are for the social and economical
elite.
individualistic: view the govt. is practical and
should promote businesses but stay out of
people's personal lifestyles.
3b. Why do Texas's regions differ on these
criteria? How would you classify yourself as
an individual on these criteria? Why?
In each of the different regions, depending upon its location their resides different heritage descendants therefore bringing about different cultural aspects
4a. Describe the major developments in the
struggle of Texas women, African Texans,
Latinos, gays, & lesbians to achieve social
and political equality>
Women: Minnie Fischer Cunningham, 19th Amendment,
& The Marital Property Act all brought
together Women's Suffrage Movement which in
turn brought about more of their rights and
freedom.
African Texans: (NAACP & LULAC) two organizations formed to fight for equality rights of blacks, Sweatt v Painter(black trying to attend law school, not equal to white's law school, Brown v. Board of Education brought about desegregation of schools
Latinos: Raymondville Peonage case(forcing labor to farmers due to debt), Hernandez v. State of Tx (Latino on trial with all white jury-violation of 14th Amendment), Hector Garcia & the American GI Forum played major role in Latino's full citizenship
Gays & Lesbians: Lawrence v. Texas(2 gay men having intercourse in their home and arrested, Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional 4 violated 14th Amendment
...
5. How will Texas's population growth and its changing demographics affect the state's political landscape? What challenges does a more diverse population present for policy makers?
With the spread of more Latino's northward, it will expand where traditional cultures rank higher than individualistic cultures. Since it is a reasonable assumption that in the future Texas's population will move from Anglo-Texas more towards Latino-Texas and could challenge current political and economic dominances