A common criticism of Texas politics relates to the role of special interests in shaping state politics -- assess that claim. Think about what you see as the most powerful interest groups in Texas (remember, interest groups can be broadly defined, special interests and political parties are big ones, but can include informal and non-political groups like work-places, schools, neighborhoods, churches, etc.). Do the current interest group and political environment in Texas effectively represent your particular interests/needs/demands in government? Are there effective avenues for new interests to develop and sway the process? Are there better ways of ensuring the representation of your interests, or does voting and the current system suffice?
A common criticism of Texas politics relates to the role of special interests in shaping state politics -- assess that claim. Think about what you see as the most powerful interest groups in Texas (remember, interest groups can be broadly defined, special interests and political parties are big ones, but can include informal and non-political groups like work-places, schools, neighborhoods, churches, etc.). Do the current interest group and political environment in Texas effectively represent your particular interests/needs/demands in government? Are there effective avenues for new interests to develop and sway the process? Are there better ways of ensuring the representation of your interests, or does voting and the current system suffice?
