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logo    Demographics and Prosperity-Hokum!


I came to Texas about 15 years ago fully aware of the myths Texans circulate  about themselves, especially the myth that Texans value their freedom and independence. After a few months, however, it became clear to me that this myth was only as true as the myth of the Golden Fleece, for every two years these Texans line up as quietly as lambs to be sheared by their legislators who call themselves representatives of the people but openly and shamelessly promote the welfare of special interests over those of their constituents. And after having lived in seven other states and two foreign countries before moving here, I can say without qualms that Texas is the most poorly governed place I have ever lived in and that Texans are the most sheep-like people I have ever lived among.

That the Texas government is corrupt is, of course, no surprise. I suspect that all governments are to some extent. What does surprise me, however, is the silence from prominent Texans who would normally be expected to expose the corruption.

Recently, for instance, I read an article about some legislator who wanted to enact a law that would bleach the history taught in Texas schools of its blemishes. Then I never read another thing about it. I dont know what happened. Did it pass? Was it defeated? Was it dropped?

But when I read that article, I asked myself, Where are the professors of history in the state's prominent universities? So far as I can tell, not a single one of them spoke out against the measure. The same question can be asked about the presidents of these prestigious universities, the Texas Historical Society and numerous others. Do the history professors in these institutions want students coming to them with their minds filled with not the truth, not the whole truth, and everything but the truth? Do they want to spend their time disabusing their students of these myths, or are they going to reinforce them, and thereby reinforce the lies? Or are these professors just as sheep-like as their red-necked fellow citizens? Whichever answer you select, it's not pretty.

By now youre asking yourself, Why is this guy sending me this message? The answer lies in the article headlined "We are becoming poorer" published in this morning's Dallas Morning News.

The tone and the logic of the article don't mesh. The articles tone, which is what most readers will hear, is that increasing poverty in Texas will be the result of its changing demographics, a term I read as an euphemism for Hispanic influx. The readers who get this message will decry the influx and promote prejudicial attitudes, neither of which will do anything to improve the economic status of Texans, even though the article's logic does not support the conclusion that changing demographics are the cause of increasing poverty among Texans.

The logic is really very simple: Texas has never been a prosperous state. Changing demographics will make Texans less prosperous.

Although this is probably true, it's meaningless. It says nothing about the cause of the lack of prosperity and does not imply that the cause is demographic change. To make that argument, it would have to go something like this: Texas was once a prosperous state. Then demographic changes occurred, the result of which was that the prosperity was lost. But thats not your argument, is it?

If Texas was never prosperous, it is doubtful that its demography has had anything to do with it. The truth is that Texans have never been, are not now, and most like will never be prosperous, because the policies enacted into law by Texas' politicians are not likely to change and do not promote prosperity. Unfortunately, no one is a position to influence public opinion is enough of a goat to stand up and say so.

The addendum to your article tells me that you are the director of the Center for Economic Development and Research. But unless you are willing to sprout some horns and do a little bucking, you are wasting your time. No development you promote will be enough to change anything and your research will be nugatory.

It is well known that the American economy is consumer driven, and the Texas government derives its income from consumption taxes. When people have little to spend, consumption is middling at best, and when consumption is middling, so are tax revenues. Under these conditions, no state service can be adequately supported. Not the schools, the hospitals, the highways, the police, the prisons, the courts, . . .  Yet the policies enacted into law by so called conservative legislators are the culprits.

When Texans pay the highest insurance rates in the country, Texans have fewer dollars to spend in Texas stores. When policies enacted into law help businesses keep wages low, per capita income, consumption, and governmental revenues are all also low. When the needy receive only a pittance, a pittance is all they spend. Prosperity is impossible under these circumstances.

So if you want to promote prosperity in Texas, changing demographics is not what should be on your mind. Finding ways to change political attitudes should. But alas, I suspect that requires a metamorphosis from a sheep to a goat.  So I would suggest that you either grow some horns or give it all up. Why keep a job you know youre going to fail at? (Bud Weinstein, Center for Economic Development and Research (7/10/2005)