Question 1: Texans tend to be very proud of our history as a nation. Why would the fact that Texas was once a nation be influential in shaping people's thinking about our state, ourselves, and the proper role of government? How might pride in this history influence someone's opinions on issues today such as taxes or social welfare policies?
Question 2: When and why was the oil industry so powerful in Texas? Explain the influence of this power at the time.
Question 3: Discuss how the rapid growth of Texas cities and suburbs has impacted your community or your life. Should the state and local governments continue to work to bring more companies to Texas? What might the unintended consequences be?
Question 4: Regarding political culture, which parts of each culture seems most, or least, present in Texas? Which culture seems most in line with your own thinking about the role of government, and the proper role the public should be playing.
Question 5: What one or two things were unclear in this chapter that I could follow-up with an explanation for? (There is no word count requirement for this answer.