Author Description

Texas and California are the leaders of red and blue America. As the nation has polarized, its most populous and economically powerful states have taken charge of the opposing camps. These states now advance sharply contrasting political and policy agendas and view themselves as competitors for control of the nation's future. This book provides a detailed account of the rivalry's emergence, present state, and possible future. First, it explores why, despite their many similarities, the two states have become so deeply divided. The explanations focus on critical differences in the state's origins as well as in their later demographic, economic, cultural, and political development. Second, the book analyzes how the two states have translated their competing visions into policy. It describes how Texas and California have constructed opposing, comprehensive policy models-one conservative, the other progressive. It describes how these models operate and how they have produced widely different outputs in a range of domestic policy areas. In separate chapters, the book highlights the states' contrasting policies in five areas: tax, labor, energy and environment, poverty, and social issues. It also shows how Texas and California have led the red and blue state blocs in seeking to influence federal policy in these and other areas. Finally, the book assesses the two models' strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential futures, providing a balanced analysis of their competing visions-- provided by publisher.