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Chapter 19 |
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Texas entered the 21st century full of optimism. The economy was booming ahead of the national averages, unemployment was low, and local governments were increasing services and revenues. The energy industry had been deregulated, and construction and exports were growing.
Several events soon dampened Texas' enthusiasm. Stock market excesses brought huge losses and wiped out many retirement funds. Recession swept in and local governments soon faced mounting deficits requiring reduction of services. Then on September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks challenged assumptions about security.
Texas uniqueness is challenged by growing globalism. The rugged frontier is no longer, rather Texas is moving high tech. Texas is now urban with 80 percent of the population living in urbanized areas and three of the ten largest cities in the United States are in Texas -- Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. While facing many modern problems, Texans retain a legacy of individualism and limited government that make it difficult to adjust to modern economic and social problems. Texas distrust and dislike government and most Texans do not vote in elections. Texas is the second most populous state and there are many new arrivals from other areas of the country.
The problems associated with sustained population growth and the transformation of the state’s economy have posed tremendous challenges to the resources, capabilities, and structure of Texas government. Inequities in public education have made it difficult to develop a work force that is competitive at the global level; crime rates continue to be a problem; the influx of immigrants from Mexico has created added pressures; high rates of unemployment and underemployment continue to be an issue; the aging population has long-term nursing care requirements; changes in welfare laws have required increased state-level problem-solving; the highway system is aging; and, aggravated environmental problems are affecting the health and well-being of Texans. These fundamental changes in the social, economic, and political structure of the state require new and relevant solutions.
Texas Myths
Texans, in part, explain and understand themselves in terms of political myths that provide generalized views of the state, its common historical experience, its people, and its institutions. The Texas mythology includes the very unique Texas myth of origin. No other state was a republic prior to joining the union. Other mythic elements include the Texas Rangers, the frontier, and the cowboy. However, by 2025 African Americans and Hispanics are likely to be over half the Texas population. For Hispanics, the Texas Ranger is not a mythic hero but a symbol of suppression. Symbolism for the emerging era include the passage of a Martin Luther King, Jr. state holiday, and acceptance of Cinco de Mayo as a holiday.
The Political Culture of Texas
Individualistic, moralistic, and traditionalistic political subcultures underlie those beliefs held by Texans about what government should do, who should govern, and what constitutes good public policy. The individualistic subculture believes that government should interfere as little as possible in the private activities of citizens. The moralistic subculture believes the government should promote the public welfare. And, the traditionalistic subculture holds that power should be mainly in the hands of a few elite citizens. The traditionally conservative politics and public policies of the state, along with the dominant role of an elite structure, are rooted in these cultural patterns. Texas is mostly individualistic and traditionalistic in its political views.
The People of Texas
Demographically, Texas is diverse. There has been a dramatic increase in the overall population, with significant increases among Hispanics and Asian Americans. There is also a small Native American population (0.5 percent of the population) composed of three tribes: the Alabama-Coushatta, the Tigua, and the Kickapoo. These three tribes are what remains of at least twenty-three tribes that existed prior to the policies of President Mirabeau B. Lamar during the era of the Republic who set out to “expel, defeat or exterminate” Native Americans in the state. In recent years, the tribes have been involved in a dispute with the state over the operation of gambling casinos which federal law allows but which state law does not. Hispanics have been a part of Texas since before its independence, but with the immigration of Anglo Americans they became a minority. Hispanics also fought for Texas independence against Mexico, but they soon lost much of their rights and were relegated to second-class status. At their lowest point in 1887 Hispanics dropped to only 4 percent of the Texas population. Slowly, the Hispanic population has grown to about 25 percent. Hispanics are expected to exceed 35 percent of the Texas population by 2010, and may be 41 percent by 2020. They are also growing in political importance and occupy the largest number of elected offices of any state. African Americans were 30 percent of the Texas population at the time of the Civil War, but are now about 12 percent and are not projected to increase significantly. Asian Americans are about 2.7 percent of the current population and are expected to increase to about 4.2 percent by 2020. This rapid growth mirrors the growth occurring nationally. Anglos constitute about 52.5 percent of Texas’ population and are expected to decline as a percentage of the total population within the next three decades. The state will have a "majority minority" population in the first quarter of the twenty-first century. The line between Texarkana and San Antonio in effect divides Texas subcultures. Most of those Anglos who settled north and west of this line were from the upper South and heavily influenced by the individualistic subculture, which favors limited government. Anglos who settled south and east of the line were by large from the lower South and shaped by its traditionalistic subculture.
Politics, Race and Ethnicity
Politics in the state is largely shaped by the ethnic and racial composition of the population, and, although the interests of minorities were historically neglected, they are now receiving increased attention. This attention can be attributed, in part, to the increased number of minorities elected to state and local offices.
Race and ethnicity play significant roles in contemporary political issues. The school finance system debate centers on "rich" and "poor" school districts, which are also "non-minority" and "minority" districts. Redistricting has set off tough debates as minorities have pressed for more representation. Race and ethnicity are evident in voting patterns, jury selection, employment patterns, contracts with state and local government and expenditures on public health and social service programs.
The Political Implications of Demographics
Over the past fifty years, the population of Texas has increased much faster than the national average. Between 1990 and 2000, the state’s population grew by about four million people. Migration from other states with strong Republican Party traditions has contributed to the restructuring of Texas’ traditional one-party Democratic political system into a two-party system. In addition, 14 percent of the population is foreign born. Most non-citizens are Hispanics, thus reducing their political power. Six million Texans do not speak English at home and half of them do not speak English well. Despite its size and sense of "wide open spaces," Texas is an urban state, with approximately 85 percent of Texans living in urban areas. The increase in population places new demands on all levels of government, as will the increase in the median age of the state's population. In 2000, approximately 10 percent of the state’s population was over 65; that figure is expected to increase to 17 percent by 2030. Population density differs greatly throughout Texas and leads to urban-rural conflicts in government. Wide disparities in wealth and income levels exist in Texas and lead to political advantages for those that have greater financial resources. Economic class has therefore become a political issue and income is clearly related to race and ethnicity – Hispanics and African Americans are significantly more likely to report incomes below $15,000. There are also wide disparities in educational levels in Texas. African Americans and Hispanics have a larger proportion of high school dropouts, fewer college graduates, and overall lower levels of education than Anglo Texans. Improved literacy and the development of a technologically competent work force are essential to the state's ability to compete in the global economy.
The Economy of Texas
The 1980s began with an economic boom, but, during most of the decade, the state was plagued by significant economic problems due to national and international events including fluctuations in the oil industry, the disastrous decline of the value of the peso, and inclement weather conditions. Economic diversification aided recovery, and during much of the last decade of the twentieth century, economic growth in Texas outpaced national growth. The passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement has increase economic interdependence. In early 2001 recession returned and the government soon faced shortfalls. When the government reconvened in 2003 under a new Republican majority, the representatives cut state services in order to balance the budget without raising taxes.
The Texas economy has seen a significant growth in high tech industries that rely on highly sophisticated scientific research and computer applications. Texas has also seen the growing globalization of its economy. NAFTA has played a role in this process.
Economic Regions of Texas
There are thirteen distinct economic regions within Texas. Population growth and economic development in these regions vary considerably, and periods of economic downturn and recovery are not felt uniformly across the state. There are also great differences in personal income, poverty levels and geography among regions. The economic factors in a region play a significant role in shaping the priorities of local governments.
Transnational Regionalism
Their 1,248 mile border has bonded Texas and Mexico in transnational regionalism. And common interests and problems have become increasingly important since the mid-19080s. Changes in the economic relationship between Texas and the Mexican border states occurred with the development of the maquiladora program, which was in turn enhanced by Mexico's membership in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The maquiladora program was intended to create twin factories, with the U.S. side producing parts and the Mexico side assembling them. Actual practice has led to U.S.-owned factories on the Mexican side, and the use of existing plants throughout the United States to produce parts to be assembled in Mexico. Texas has benefited, even though most manufacturing plants were not in Texas, because border counties have seen the creation of thousands of support jobs in transportation, warehousing, and services.
NAFTA reduced tariffs and increased trade between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It also created the world’s largest trading bloc. The regions in Texas that are expected to benefit the most from NAFTA are the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Houston because of their concentrations of chemical and electronics industries. NAFTA has also been blamed for opening the border to increased drug smuggling into Texas.
The Free Trade Commission based in Mexico City is charged with implementing NAFTA. Side agreements have created additional agencies to oversee areas of potential problems in the original treaty. The Border Environmental Cooperation Commission tackles international environmental issues. The North American Development Bank funds infrastructure and environmental projects along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Commission for Labor Cooperation works to improve conditions and living standards and strengthen enforcement of domestic labor laws and trade sanctions.
Critics claim the NAFTA is harming both nations. Labor unions believe jobs are moving south and Mexican critics decry the low wages their workers are receiving. There are also concerns about the safety of trucks from Mexico that are allowed onto Texas highways. Also, environmentalists argue that increased commerce is compounding air and water pollution problems. American critics also point to fears of Mexican political corruption and inability to fight increasing drug trafficking. While President Bush had sought a closer relationship with Mexico based on his previous close association as governor of Texas, Mexico's refusal to support American military action in Iraq has thrown a cold blanket over the relationship.
The U.S. and Texas benefit from Mexico’s prosperity. Mexico is now the United States’ third largest trading partner. U.S. exports to Mexico were $101 billion in 2001; imports from Mexico were $131 billion that year. Trade with Mexico generates jobs in the U.S. and in Texas.
Growing illegal immigration has greatly affected Texas. It is estimated that between 600,000 and 1 million illegal immigrants reside in Texas. While the federal government has passed legislation to try and curb these illegal arrivals, it was clear by 2004 that these have had little affect. Thus immigration has remained an important political issue. Children of illegal immigrants are heavy financial burden for many school districts and taxpayers, and undocumented workers put strains on the public health care system. Environmental, economic, and health care issues are problems of transnational regionalism that demonstrate the necessity for governments and businesses on both sides of the Rio Grande to work together in developing solutions.
Chapter Objectives
After mastering the concepts in this chapter, you will be able to
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