Texas: General Elections 2006

It’s simple to see what’s on the mind of Texas’ voters, just read any candidate’s webpage. Apparently they all have received the exact same information, because every one of them has nearly the same issues listed.

Starting off, it’s obvious that the war in Iraq plays a huge part. This is probably the location of the most variance, as both Democrats and Republicans sway both ways. Many believe that leaving within the next year would be ideal, but many also believe that we should stick it out. It’s not too hard to guess which side is taking which stance, but again, there are some exceptions.

The “energy crisis”, as they like to call it, is another consistent issue. Most likely the use of the word “crisis” is for the sole purpose of threatening the general public and make the issue seem more grave and dire than otherwise, but I digress. They then use this scare tactic to make their stance seem like the absolute correct one. Candidates love to make it seem that if they get elected all of the problems will be solved. So many ideas have been proposed to lessen our nation’s dependency on foreign oil, but a quick glance around the globe shows that our gas prices are still significantly cheaper than those in other major countries.

Many candidates find it necessary to discuss school reform as well, despite the fact that nearly everyone will agree that schools should receive more support. It seems to strike a chord with everyone, because no matter who you are chances are you know someone in the public schooling system. Whether you’re a 40 year old parent wanting the best for your kids or a 90 year old wanting the best for your grandchildren, you still support the public schools.

Last, but certainly not least, Texans feel very strongly on the issue of immigration. Having such a vast border with Mexico undoubtedly leads to Texas having a high population of illegal immigrants, and Texans know it. Many feel it necessary to reform the method of border control, and perhaps finally put to death the old joke. (Why doesn’t Mexico have an Olympic team? Because anyone who can run, jump, or swim is already in the US!) Some feel that a system that would heavily penalize those who employ illegal immigrants would drive them out. If people would be too scared to hire them, they would have no way to work and therefore hopefully slow down the flow. Also some feel that programs to offer work to illegal immigrants only after US citizens might help and would still give them a chance to earn a living without undercutting those who are legally permitted to be in the country. On the other hand, some also believe that illegal immigrants should be deported and only allowed to achieve full citizenship after applying like everyone else and waiting the required amount of time.
The elections in Texas all have a slightly different tune, but all seem to be playing along in the same song. Many elections are going to be landslide Republican victories, but many will not. The consistent theme, however, is along the issues. The major variance in all of them is simply who is listening.