POLISCI 207 - January 21, 2014- People from Texas have this overwhelming sense of pride because from the time we are little, we can do whatever we want. This is a different mindset than the people who come from cities.- The mindset of people from “The Land of Empty Spaces” is really hard to transition to the mindset of people from congested areas. - People from the country have an overwhelming sense of need for guns b/c where they grew up, the police cannot get to you in time if you need something, so therefore you have to protect yourself. In cities, it is not this way. - The people from other states that are coming into Texas are diluting the Texas culture. This is in regards to gun laws, and such. - Education is directly related to income, life expectancy, infant mortality, obesity, fertility, and on and on. - Education is key in people moving forward in life. Regardless of ethnicity, if you educate someone, then his or her life type will increase. - Public policies have affected WOMEN much greater than any other type of people group, including African Americans or Hispanics. - Women have achieved more out of the regulations for affirmative action and other reforms. - Every dollar a man makes, a woman makes .77 cents. - Although Asians have a higher level of education per capita, whites still have a higher income per capita than whites. White men have a higher starting salary than Asian Men or White Women. - Asian Americans have a much higher chance of going back to live with their parents than a white person would. This is purely a cultural thing due to the Asians living in a multigenerational home. - This is the reason for Asians having a higher household income than other ethnicities. Asians also have a lower living cost. - States where people have a higher rate of Graduation rates, and such will have lower levels of poverty than other states. This is shown in Texas’ lower rates of College graduation, and a higher percent of people in poverty. - Texas also has a higher percent of incarceration. This is also due to the higher levels of poverty, and lower levels of education. - People with less education are more likely to commit crimes in hope to pay the bills. - Texas ranks 49th in the nation in percentage of residents covered by health insurance at 75%. - Children who are born to parents without health insurance have a higher rateof infant mortality than if the parents had had health insurance. - #6 in crime rate, #1 in number of prisoners, #2 in incarceration rate, #5 in poverty rate, 37 in condition on children index (avg is 25), 32 in drinkingwater quality (avg 25), 23 out of 34 in SAT scores, and on and on and on, Texas is not a great state by national comparison.- Texas people are unhealthy, #39th state, because of the amount of people who are uninsured, and people have a very large obesity rate. - People who are living in poverty are more likely to be obese than people who are not living in poverty. Educated people are going to read the labels of their food, where as people who are uneducated are unaware of the needs of their body, and eat what is affordable. - 1 in 4 Texans will have a college degree. - Companies are battling the requirements to provide health care for their employees by not letting them work full-time, and by limiting their hours. - By asking a child what their Zip Code is, you can determine whether or not the child will be successful in life. This is because if you can determine whether or not there parents are of wealth. This almost guarantees that the child will receive the top-notch education through private schooling, tutoring,and other means. - Resources are the largest contributor to measuring a person’s success. Money. Contacts. Second Chances.- The answer is ALWAYS education. - “Did your parents read to you as a child?”  This is a huge contributor to education levels. This shows that a parent cares about your education, and motivates you to try harder in school.- “Did your family eat together growing up?”  This also shows that the family cared. Governments - 50 State, 1 Federal, 90,000 Local- Texas: 254 counties, 1,196 cities, 1,090 school districts, 2,245 special districts(These are alllll governments.)- National vs. State vs. Local Laws- Supremacy Clause – States that if states have laws that are contradictory to federal laws, then the federal law wins outright. (Midsagination Laws) (Brown vs. Board of Education abolishing segregation) - U.S. Congress vs. U.S. Supreme