How To Win Over Some Conservatives?
Forty years ago when I was in graduate school, I did field research on land owned by ranchers in south Texas. I think they were probably conservatives. But at that time, many Texas conservatives had a mind your own business mindset. They tolerated those with whom they disagreed. They might have liked vanilla ice cream and not understood why some people prefer chocolate ice cream—but they accepted it. They might have preferred a steak dinner to enchiladas—but they too liked Mexican food and accepted that some preferred it. They might have not understood the beliefs of Jews or Mormons, but they accepted freedom of religion. They did not understand why some people were attracted to others of the same sex—but what people did in their own bedrooms was not their business. It has only been more recently that many conservative politicians have persuaded voters to get involved in issues that do not affect them and are none of their business. I think a key to Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico earning conservative votes and winning their elections in Texas is calling for a return to mind your own business conservatism. They could even admit to things they themselves do not understand and yet accept. Months ago, I told my longtime neighbor that the person he once knew as my son identifies now as my transgender daughter. He replied, “I don’t understand it, but I accept it.”
#Texas #Politics #GinaHinojosa #JamesTalarico #Elections #Voting #Tolerance #Conservatism
