2. Motivation
As a Texas citizen I feel as though it
is my duty to make sure that I uphold
voting tradition and understanding the
reasons, purpose, and impact I have
with my vote is a major motivator.
In the state of Texas, I do not want to
see a long list of change, I believe the
consistency the state provides is what
makes it desirable to live in. I
personally want to fight to conserve
Texas traditions.
3. Informational
Executions by State since 1976
In this class I learned that our state
has a much higher use of the prison
system for capital gain than I
expected, this is accompanied by the
“hard on crime” tactics that our state
is proud of.
With that information I also learned
that we lead the country in the use of
the death penalty, and there is little to
no cost savings for this process; but
instead, is still executed for its
traditional sense of moral justice.
4. Issues
A political issue that I think is the heaviest for future
generations to consider is the concept of turning the
state from red to blue. Texas has represented the red
for a long time and this has an impact on the job
markets, commodity prices, law reforms, crime rates,
etc. A change in the political atmosphere might bring
change in a progressive nature, but the cost inflation
may drive those seeking that change out as it has in
previously represented blue states.
5. Texas and the
Federal Gov.
Texas has a lot of power for the republican
parties decision making when it comes to the
federal government and often holds the
ground of setting the example for red states.
Texas influences the gun laws, religion, and
many other conservative values held by the
country.
6. Lessons
In summation, I learned lessons on my local government especially with how much
control they have of my immediate surrounding, allowing for counties and cities to
mandate many aspects of my life without necessarily needing state oversite.
I learned about our judicial system and how it is a profit business that Texas has a
heavy interest in for the market that it has created for income, jobs, and political
movement.
I lastly learned that major cities have attracted the blue voting patterns drawing in
large populations that are able to swing votes for certain counties in the state, but
because the votes are spread out across such a large surface the state stays red
due to more rural voting patterns.
I have learned in this class how my vote can affect the outcome of my city and
county, where I use to believe because my vote is only one I had little to no voice.
