POLS 207 Lecture 16
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Guest speaker: Mark Style
Killed about 50,000 bills
What's Wrong in Texas?
We take for granted the things we have in this country.
Voter turnout is terrible. This needs to change.
- The system has to be more interesting
- There need to be more choices
- Voters need to be more informed.
- Pepole don't trust the leadership.
Texas Legislature meets to balance budget.
- 100 years ago: buy things as we go
Power
Not representation of people, but power
True power of the people behind people who get elected
Negative campaigning; too many promisies: you know he's lying.
Controversy :: Influence
Anecdote
"I'll put more prisoners behind bars" (not enough room for prisoners)
"I'll build more prisons"
Counseling and rehabilitation services: 70% get out of jail just to get back in.
Education
$8,000 per student per year
(puts $100 bill on table)
Would you rather pay more for the interest on the bonds than on the roads themselves?
Government is broke...
Texas Legislature is tough
Anyone that is in power are the same as us, but some of them are certified idiots
Why can't things get solved? The people holding the strings don't want the money to go away.
$6 Billion spent on this election cycle... Where is all that going?
- Advertising
- consultants
Redistricting
Gerrymandering!
The people who draw the lines are the people who want to get elected again.
Elections are fixed (not fair)
Elections: Voting straight ticket... If there were no parties, would straight-ticket voters even vote?
Why did you vote "no"? (easy to explain)
Open primaries and no parties. Why do people lie to me?
- If the great state of Louisiana—NOT—can have an open primary system, why can't we?
On people changing minds: Opinions depend on time and place