Ideas, People, and Economics in Texas Politics

1
Chapter 1

• Ideas, People, and Economics in Texas Politics

2
Changing Face of Texas

• Population Growth in the 1990s
• Largest decade increase in states history 3.9
  million
• Growth in all 27 metropolitan areas, most of its
  counties, and most of its towns and cities
• Population became even more ethnically diverse
• Population is aging
• Effects of Population Growth
• Workforce education
• Demand for education
• Demand for social and human services

3
People of Texas Native Americans

• Four Traditions
• Hunters and Gatherers Coahuiltecan and
  Karankawan tribes
• Plains Indians Tonkawas, Kiowas, Kiowa Apaches,
  and Comanches
• Puebloan Culture Jumano
• Semisedentary tribes Wichitas, Caddoes

4
People of Texas Native Americans
5
People of Texas Native Americans

• Three Reservations remain
• Alabama-Coushatta
• Tigua
• Kickapoo
• Native Americans and politics
• Gambling Tiguas and Speaking Rock Casino

6
People of Texas Hispanics

• Four institutions
• Mission
• Presidio
• Rancho
• Towns or civilian settlements
• Small percentage of population until 20th Century
• 1836, 7-8,000
• 1850, 14,000 (7 percent)
• 1887, 83,000 (4 percent)
• 1890 1910, population doubled
• Late 1940s, Hispanics replaced African Americans
  as the largest ethnic minority

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People of Texas Hispanics

• Hispanics and Politics
• 2,170 Hispanics were elected officials in 2007
• Victor Carrillo (RRC) and David Medina (Texas
  Supreme Court) hold statewide elected offices
• 37 Hispanics served in the Texas Legislature
• 271 were county officials
• 595 were municipal officers
• 402 held judicial and law enforcement positions
• 807 served on elected school boards

8
People of Texas African Americans

• Early African American immigration
• Inhabitants since Spanish rule
• No more than 12 percent until 1836
• Increase after Texas independence20 percent of
  population by 1840
• Bulk of Settlement1836-1865
• Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, and Mississippi
• By 1860, 13 counties had African American
  majorities
• All located in East Texas
• By 1887, 12 counties had majorities
• By 1930, only 4 counties had majorities
• By 1980, none of the counties had a majority

9
People of Texas African Americans

• African Americans and Politics
• 2001, 460 African Americans held elective office
  in Texas
• Ninth in the nation in number of elected
  officials
• Sixteen African Americans in legislature
• 2005, three African Americans held statewide
  elected officesMichael Williams (RRC) and Texas
  Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson and
  Associate Justice Dale Wainwright

10
People of Texas Asian Americans

• Early Immigrants
• Chinese who worked on railroads from 1869 to the
  1880s
• Early 1900s, Japanese to help with rice
  cultivation
• Recent Immigrants
• Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s
• Largest number in Houston
• Asian Americans and Politics
• Few elected officials
• House member Hubert Vo

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People of Texas Anglos

• Early Immigrants
• 1815 1836, primarily upper Southerners from TN,
  KY, AR, NC
• 1836 1865, primarily lower Southerners from AL,
  GA, MS, LA.
• 1850, approximately equal in population
• Settled different areas of Texaslower
  Southerners in East and Southeast Texas
• 1880s, West Texas settled by upper Southerners
  and lower Midwesterners (IL, KS, and IA)

12
Contemporary Population

• Population Growth
• Nearly 24 million in 2007 estimate. Growth result
  of net in-migration and natural increase. Balance
  predicts high future growth rates.
• Urbanization
• 84 percent urban in 2000.
• 27 metropolitan areas--91 percent of growth
• Highest growth in central core and along the
  border with Mexico
• Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas are among 10
  largest cities in the United States

13
Contemporary Population

• Diversity
• Hispanics made up 36 percent of the population in
  2006, growing by 54 percent between 1990 and
  2000.
• African Americans made up 12 percent of the
  population in 2006, growing by 19 percent during
  the 1990s.
• Anglos made up 48 percent of the population in
  2006, increasing by less than 10 percent during
  the 1990s.
• Population Projections
• Anglos ceased to be a majority in 2004.
• Hispanics will become largest ethnic group before
  2015.
• Hispanics will become a majority by 2030.

14
Texas Population Projections
15
Components of Texan Creed

• Individualism
• Reasons for immigrating
• Texas Frontier era
• Cowboy
• Liberty
• Reasons for Revolution of 1836
• The Alamo

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Components of Texan Creed

• Constitutionalism and Democracy
• Limitations on government
• Bill of rights
• Equality
• Among Anglos based on property ownership
• Slavery, segregation, and discrimination against
  minorities

17
Political Ideologies

• A political ideology is a consistent set of
  beliefs and attitudes about the scope and purpose
  of government.
• Libertarians Individualism
• Populists Equality and Social Order
• Conservatives Individualism and Social Order
• Liberals Equality and Individualism

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Political Ideologies
Equality Individualism
Individualism Liberty Ordered Liberty
Social Order
19
Economic Heritage

• Cotton was basis for the first economy
• Southern planters
• Crop barged to Gulf of Mexico
• Shipped to Europe or U.S. through New Orleans
• Galveston was commercial center from 1840s to
  1880s

20
Economic Heritage

• Cattle Kingdom dominated from late 1800s
• Petroleum basis for Texas economy during much of
  the 20th century
• Spindletop was first major discovery in 1901.
• West Texas oil industry established in 1923.
• East Texas field was largest find in 1930.

21
Contemporary Economy

• Since the 1980s, the Texas economy has become
  more diverse, more nationalized, and more
  globalized.
• Diversity in products and economic activities
• Nationalized because the Texas economy resembles
  the U.S. economy although grew at faster rate
  from 1990-2000
• Globalized in distribution of goods and economic
  competition

22
Wealth and Poverty in Texas

• Texas is one of the most unequal states in income
  distribution9th among the 50 states in 2005
• Poverty more pronounced in Texas than in other
  states16.3 in 2007
• Hispanics have highest poverty rates (25)
• African Americans have next highest rates (24)
• The distribution of income affects political
  involvement

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Income Differences, 2006
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An Income Tax for Texas

• Arguments for an income tax
• Fairer than sales tax or property tax
• Deduction from federal income tax
• Additional revenues for funding states programs
• Arguments against an income tax
• Higher tax burden for Texans
• Harm Texass favorable business climate
• Public opinion opposes an income tax

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An Income Tax for Texas

• Kansas income tax rates, brackets, and
  deductionsbrackets range from 3.5 percent to
  6.45 percent adjusted gross income, no tax for
  family of four with income under 24,400.
• Results in 2004 16.4 billion in revenue. Lower
  school property taxes (.20/100 assessed
  valuation), deductions on federal income tax
  (1.6 billion), and 3.9 net cost to Texas tax
  payers.
• Results by income group lowest fifth 6 less,
  middle fifth .5 less top fifth 2 more.