Texas, Bell County Politics Highlight 2024’s Them vs. U.S. Divide
A Them vs. U.S. theme seen throughout our society is strongly evident in the 2024 election cycle with the upcoming Texas primary and even a hotly contested race in Bell County serving as prime examples.
Them vs. U.S. confirms many suspicions
Them vs. U.S.: The Two Americas and How the Nation’s Elite Is Out of Touch with Average Americans, a new report from the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, opens with this finding:
The people who run America, or at least think they do, live in a bubble of their own construction. They’ve isolated themselves from everyday America’s realities to such a degree their views about what is and what should be happening in this country differ widely from the average American’s.
This report broadly defines the Elites as the top 1% and characterizes the differences in how they “think things should be and how the rest of America looks at them” when it comes to a variety of economic, social and political issues.
While this analysis drills down to a specific definition of “Elite,” the term is also relatable to one’s lived experience and the easily identifiable cabal of “Elites” operating within any community or social/geographic area. While some prefer a lower (or no) public profile, most of these “cool kids” seem to enjoy being recognizable within their communities.
And as you even hear about the “Global Elites,” never forget that our nation, every state and without a doubt, your community has its own version of these self-proclaimed “betters.”
The Committee notes how “elite thinking, as it’s termed, is under attack – and rightly so – for being out of step with the rest of the country.” The report goes on to highlight “some of the profound attitudinal differences between elites and average Americans.”
In a time when most Americans have suffered a loss of real take-home pay, 74% of elites say they are financially better off today than in the past versus 20% of all Americans.
Nearly six in ten say there is too much individual freedom in America – double the rate of all Americans.
More than two-thirds (67%) favor rationing of vital energy and food sources to combat the threat of climate change.
In stark contrast to the rest of America, 70% of the Elites trust the government to “do the right thing most of the time.”
Two-thirds (67%) say teachers and other educational professionals should decide what children are taught rather than letting parents decide.
Somewhere between half and two-thirds favor banning things like SUVs, gas stoves, air conditioning, and non-essential air travel to protect the environment.
About six of ten elites have a favorable opinion of the so-called talking professions—lawyers, lobbyists, politicians, and journalists.
President Joe Biden enjoys an 84% job approval rating from this group – roughly twice as high as the general public.
Welcome to the mindset of those making decisions for your lives and livelihoods.
The Lone Star Elite
While the above points resonate nationwide, several stand out for U.S. in Texas in this election cycle. First, that 70% of the Elites trust the government to “do the right thing most of the time.”
The last years have brought confidence-killing situations from the COVID-19 “response” to unanswered questions regarding the 2020 election and subsequent Fedsurrection to a demonstratively weaponized government – to name a few. Today’s rampant economic pressures and an open Texas border allowing an unending flow of national security, personal safety and public health threats into our communities prevent many of U.S. here in Texas from sharing an unquestioning confidence in government.
That two-thirds (67%) of Them believe “teachers and other educational professionals should decide what children are taught rather than letting parents decide” speaks to another disconnect. In fact, is that not the Texas school choice debate? Education freedom is a major issue this election cycle and few issues so well exemplify the Them vs. U.S. divide.
Them vs. U.S.: The Two Americas and How the Nation’s Elite Is Out of Touch with Average Americans Screenshot
The 2022 Republican Primary ballot contained a proposition asking voters if “Texas parents and guardians should have the right to select schools, whether public or private, for their children, and the funding should follow the student.” Statewide, 87.78 percent voted “yes.” And this sentiment is not new as 84.6 percent voted in favor of a similar proposition in the 2012 Republican Primary.
Them holds largely favorable opinions of “the so-called talking professions—lawyers, lobbyists, politicians, and journalists” – groups vocal in protecting the education industry. As the 2024 primary will once again gauge school choice sentiment, this vote will serve as a high stakes Them vs. U.S.choice with political careers rising or falling on the issue.
Texas’ political meltdown
Elites of the Texas Establishment are having a tough election cycle. And “reliable” alliances of the past are proving fluid as even our historically “establishment” governor is taking bold, courageous (and welcomed!) stances when it comes to defending Texans be it from educational and other cultural tyranny or threats (known and unknown) freely flowing across our southern border.
In fact, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s primary endorsements and campaign activities have incited a meltdown akin to a toddler banging a spoon on a high chair.
Yes, Abbott endorsed candidates in the upcoming March primary. And yes, he’s out campaigning for them. Indeed his efforts have been largely aimed at 21 Texas House Republicans who voted to strip an Educational Savings Account provisions from a fourth Special Session bill thus killing school choice legislation.
And there is no reason for Them, the media or anyone else following the last Texas legislative session to find this surprising. He forewarned of his plan as even liberal Texas’ political tip sheet, the Texas Tribune, recently reminded readers in its Greg Abbott will use $19 million he raised in 2023 to target anti-voucher Republicans.
It's also worth noting that if these challenger candidates get media, it’s generally predictable and negative. Their credentials are derided, their lack of experience touted as all but disqualifying while incumbents often enjoy placement on the “support your local oligarch” ticket.
But still the “banging spoons” ensued. Even media sources across the country picked up the Tribune’s reporting. The Washington Examiner ran the story with a Greg Abbott plans to use $19 million raised in 2023 to oust school voucher opponents headline while Axios characteristically conveyed a simpler message: Texas' Greg Abbott goes after fellow Republicans.
Never mind that some form of parents having the power to select their children’s best educational environments exists in approximately half of states, tantrums continue.
Abbott’s support of “insurgent” candidates must though be recognized as more than a challenge to Republican incumbents. To Them (which includes most media), these individuals are challenging the status quo, the self-appointed ruling class. And Abbott’s support of U.S. and such – dare we say – insurrectionist actions is all the more offensive to the Establishment because, like Trump, Abbott was formerly considered to be one of them.
It's also worth noting that if these challenger candidates get media, it’s generally predictable and negative. Their credentials are derided, their lack of experience touted as all but disqualifying while incumbents often enjoy placement on the “support your local oligarch” ticket.
“Bellstocracy” Coverage
Of course, local Bell County media has its own spoon banging underway what with being located in Texas House District 55, the district in which Abbott made his first primary endorsement announcement and later attended a Temple campaign event supporting challenger Hillary Hickland’s running against incumbent Hugh Shine.
The Temple Daily Telegram covered the announcement, but its angle was clearly the governor being in town opposed to a potentially formidable contest for the local House seat that would signal a healthy democratic process and be of interest to area residents. And Hickland isn’t even the only challenger, another detail that isn’t well known as the two other candidates - Davis Ford and Jorge Estrada - have also largely been ignored.
Shine announced his own reelection bid just days after Abbott’s visit. The Telegram’s coverage, Shine announces reelection bid for District 55 as Temple, Belton leaders show support, featured a front-page picture of Shine with local (billionaire) businessman Drayton McLane. With a nod to Shine’s hometown oligarch ticket status, the paper noted:
BELTON — State Rep. Hugh Shine, R-Temple, announced his bid for reelection to Texas House District 55 on Tuesday from the eastside steps of the Bell County Courthouse in downtown Belton.
Approximately 100 Bell County residents, including a plethora of local leaders from the cities of Temple and Belton and school officials from the Temple and Belton independent school districts, were in attendance to show their support — many of whom shared handshakes, hugs and laughs as they reconnected.
The media’s message: the “Bellstocracy,” Bell County’s Them, fully support incumbent Shine.
And regarding endorsements, an incurious local media leaves a most obvious question unasked? What compelling attributes are individuals and organizations recognizing such that a political neophyte offers appeal that a four-term incumbent apparently lacks?
As with national media, local television and newspapers also routinely use Texas Tribune articles and the content treatment can be telling. In December, the Tribune ran an article We ranked Texas House members along the ideological spectrum based on their 2023 votes.
The Tribune’s findings further confirmed both representatives’ liberal voting patterns as discussed in Texas House Reps: A Look at Image v. Ideology.
In its re-publishing, the Telegram ackowledged that “Of the 84 Republicans in the Texas House, state Rep. Hugh Shine, R-Temple, was ranked as the 11th most liberal, while state Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, was ranked as the 28th most liberal.”
Most interestingly, however, were the Telegram’s headlines. The paper’s digital posting was headlined Shine, Buckley and Flores among least conservative Republicans, Tribune analysis shows, but in what seems an effort to blunt the revelation of local representatives’ liberal records, the paper published this headline for its print edition.
January also brought Bell County residents the “Abbott targeting school voucher opponents” article previously discussed. Once again, the Temple Daily Telegram ran the Texas Tribune’s story digitally with its original Gov. Abbott will use $19 million he raised in 2023 to target anti-voucher Republicans headline, however the print edition featured the same article front page and above the fold, but added a more sensational headline as well as the shaded box insert.
Could the Telegram not resist an opportunity to insert a “Did you know?” box to remind its loyal print subscribers how Hickland is challenging the local oligarch ticket? Subtle? Not really.
Hickland has also amassed a number of high profile endorsements. In addition to Abbott, she has been endorsed by Sen. Ted Cruz, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller, Young Conservatives of Texas, Family Empowerment Coalition, Texas Home School Coalition, Texas Right to Life, Texans for Medical Freedom, Gun Owners of America as well as received an “AQ” rating by the National Rifle Association and Texas State Rifle Association.
And regarding endorsements, an incurious local media leaves a most obvious question unasked? What compelling attributes are individuals and organizations recognizing such that a political neophyte offers appeal that a four-term incumbent apparently lacks?
Considering the Them vs. U.S. divide, are local oligarchal types avoiding such questions as today’s political landscape seems ripe for fresh political talent with new ideas and views opposed to recycled politicians of the past?
So yes, the spoon banging is likely to continue, but here’s the bottom line: it’s time to climb down from the high chair, cinch up your bib and get over it.
March 5: a Them vs. U.S. referendum
The Them vs. U.S. report reiterates that “the Elites, a group with extraordinary political and societal power, have views and attitudes that are wildly out of touch with the American people.” The “center of the gap” hinges on differing opinions when it comes to individual freedom. Per the report, “most Americans think there is too little freedom in our nation today, a view shared by only 21% of the Elites.”
Freedom to make decisions for your family’s well-being. Freedom to live in a sovereign and safe nation. Freedom to work hard, prosper and live without heavy-handed government intervention. These are the issues of greatest importance to U.S. and participation in our election process is key to protecting those interests.
With regard to the two Americas and the disconnect between our nation’s Elite and average Americans, the Committee to Unleash Prosperity concludes:
Supporting the lack of Elites’ concern about freedom is an extraordinary level of Elite trust in the government. Seventy percent (70%) of the Elites trust the federal government to do the right thing most of the time. That level of trust likely comes from the fact that leading government officials are drawn from the same cultural background as the Elites. Additionally, unlike most voters, Elites can easily access and influence government officials on issues of concern.
It is important to note that not all members of the Elites are elitists. Some don’t think about politics all that much, and others actively support traditional American values such as individual freedom. Still, given the influence they yield, the overall views of the Elites represent an existential threat to America’s founding ideals of freedom, equality, and self-governance.
Today’s elections have their issues, but for now it’s the best system that we have. With this “existential threat,” can you afford to not vote your interests?
Lou Ann Anderson is a writer, former radio producer and current podcaster at Political Pursuits. Her tenure as Watchdog Wire–Texas editor involved covering state news and coordinating the site’s citizen journalist network. As a past Policy Analyst with Americans for Prosperity–Texas, Lou Ann wrote and spoke on a variety of issues including the growing issue of probate abuse in which wills, trusts, guardianships and powers of attorney are used to loot assets from intended heirs or beneficiaries. She holds a degree from the University of North Texas in Denton.