Is Texas really as conservative/narrow-minded as people say it is? (Houston: neighborhoods, suburban)

[TT Dave]

Originally Posted by Keeptexasbeautiful

Original families from Texas are still conservative. It is the way we were raised. Traditions held through the generations and are proud of being a texan. Things have changed as the older generations have started to die off and a new generation has a more open mind. I also believe that as different families from other states move here...slowly...our state is changing to something I don't recognize.

Very true, I guess the change you describe is inevitable. Like my grandfather used to say "There's good change and there's bad change. I'm okay with change as long as it's good" Sadly, a lot of the change I see going on here in Texas is not so good.

[ejonestexas]

the cities are democrate like Austin and Houston (inside loop) and Conservative all other places Houston (outside the loop) and subdivisions

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by Keeptexasbeautiful

Original families from Texas are still conservative. It is the way we were raised. Traditions held through the generations and are proud of being a texan. Things have changed as the older generations have started to die off and a new generation has a more open mind. I also believe that as different families from other states move here...slowly...our state is changing to something I don't recognize.

I'll have to disagree with that. I live in rural Texas and much to my chagrin, I can't believe how many original families from Texas are not conservative. It will only get worse over time. It's very sad. I'm from CA and am as conservative as one can be. There are others just like I am who have moved to Texas to add to the conservatism, not remove it like so many natives continue to do.

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

I'll have to disagree with that. I live in rural Texas and much to my chagrin, I can't believe how many original families from Texas are not conservative. It will only get worse over time. It's very sad. I'm from CA and am as conservative as one can be. There are others just like I am who have moved to Texas to add to the conservatism, not remove it like so many natives continue to do.

Traditionally Texas has been a populist and socially conservative state that favors smaller government. The political division between the modern parties has forced people to pick either populist (which the Democratic party still falls rather short on) or the socially conservative/small government aspect (which rather ignores the little man and rural intrestes except when it's pandering for votes).

But Republican style big-business conservatism has never been a dominant force in Texas politics until 1994 and later.

[The_Fairfaxian]

Originally Posted by blueseas123

I agree with above. I really hope Texas does not turn into California. Seeing all of these out of state license plates (especially from blue states) makes me nervous. There are some Republican political things that I do not agree with, but I do not think by any measure that being a Liberal means being "progressive" or "free thinking." As a Hispanic woman, some of the most overt racism I've experienced as been in California and the Northeast. Keep in mind that I speak fluent American english and I don't look (at least to me) to be anything but at least middle class. I've grown up in Texas and I can tell people just see another American person when they see me. I dont look like a day laborer or something. That was not the case in Cali and the Northeast where it seemed like if you were Hispanic looking at all you were instantly deemed a prole. I feel at home here and I don't want it ruined by people who think government handouts is the way to win votes. Are there things I would change about the current Republican party? Absolutely. But Texas has a unique liberitarian feel that makes it so special. I would hate for it to lose that.

Replace "Hispanic" with "African American," "day laborer" with "welfare recipient," and "prole" with "criminal," and you have my experiences within the Northeast as well. This is why I really pray that Texas keeps its libertarian mentality and doesn't become another liberal state (in my case, New Jersey or Maryland). With the exception of LA and to an extent, San Francisco, I really don't have any problems with California, and race relations (outside of those cities mentioned) seem to be the pinnacle of cordial race relations; although I can imagine Houston and Austin gaining ground in that department.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by Keeptexasbeautiful

Original families from Texas are still conservative. It is the way we were raised. Traditions held through the generations and are proud of being a texan. Things have changed as the older generations have started to die off and a new generation has a more open mind. I also believe that as different families from other states move here...slowly...our state is changing to something I don't recognize.

My parents from NE Texas were raised as Democrats (my mom is still using her Hillary calendar) - I was the black sheep with the Reagan bumper sticker on my school notebook!

Of course I am not happy with the religious right in the party. I am all about 'government out of my life'.

[achickenchaser]

I realize the OP is kinda old, but since this thread still has life:

I was born in Dallas, raised in Southeast Texas. You really can't paint the whole state of Texas which such a broad brush. No, not all of us are that narrow-minded and conservative. If I were to take some sort of make-believe (and stereotypical) Texan test, I'm sure I would fail it miserably.

Most, if not all, of the largely populated areas here went for Obama this past election. I'd just imagine Texas isn't really that different from a lot of other states: cites go democrat, small towns/suburbs usually go republican, generally speaking.

Some people love to complain about the transplants when a lot of times it may be native Texans they're actually complaining about. These people love using the word "we" as though we're a bunch of brain-dead, Borg-like robots incapable of a single independent thought.

When it comes to friendliness, I can say some of the rudest people I've ever known were native Texans. Some are only friendly so long as you're just like them, although that may be more of a small town Eastern Texas thing.

Funny enough, some of the friendliest neighbors I had growing up were from Boston (Oh, the HORROR!!!), Oregon, and Vermont.

Bottom line: there's cons and libs everywhere, jerks and nice people from every where. It doesn't matter where you go.

[ATTILLA]

I moved to texas from chicago and have found central texas people to be very open minded compared to the northwest side of chicago ill where i grew up and lived well into my 40's. Texans might not agree with your point of view but will not belittle or get argumentative with you about your point of view. I find their attitude to be live and let live. I live in a small town outside of austin filled with many poor and many wealthy citizens who show each other respect. Something that was sorely missing in chicago.

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Having conservative values does not necessitate narrow-mindedness. Some of the most intolerant people I've met are far-left Liberals.

[jluke65780]

Originally Posted by ATTILLA

I moved to texas from chicago and have found central texas people to be very open minded compared to the northwest side of chicago ill where i grew up and lived well into my 40's. Texans might not agree with your point of view but will not belittle or get argumentative with you about your point of view. I find their attitude to be live and let live. I live in a small town outside of austin filled with many poor and many wealthy citizens who show each other respect. Something that was sorely missing in chicago.

I agree. I live in Waco and we are the most stereotyped people ever. The city is much more open-minded and liberal than many people want to believe. I'd still say it is more conservative, but nowhere near as bad as we were about 10 years ago.