Pluralist theorists often dispute that political power in Texas is dispersed among an extensive range of rival groups and interests, and that this rivalry serves to limit the power of any single group on the institutions of government. Even though there are noticeable dissimilarities in the resources of groups, there is adequate opposition and dealings among the groups to attain the objectives of a democratic society. Public policy, in this outlook, reveals the cooperation of rival interests (the Power of Interest Groups, 2010).

Supporters of elitist theory contend that political power in Texas is concerted in the hands of a comparatively small amount of people who obtain their funds from influential institutional bases. These institutions are joined collectively with multifaceted interconnected associations, and access to their leadership places is limited. Known as the Texas Establishment, those who dominated authority in the past were mostly white males from the higher socioeconomic groups. Even though there is some rivalry among these influential, there also is a great deal of accord. Historically, the establishment has articulated lack of interest, if not antagonism, toward the interests of labor, minorities, and the lower socioeconomic groups. Yet, the massive social and financial alterations that have taken place over the past twenty years may be moving Texas toward some deviation of pluralism (the Power of Interest Groups, 2010).

The...

But this does not appear to be how things historically have happened in Texas. For many decades Texas has been seen as having a wide open election system in which money has bought elections for years. It is well-known that the best financed campaigns generally win elections. These things have had wide spread implications for democracy in the state of Texas. It appears that the more money that powerful people and special interest groups have the farther that they can take their agenda.
The ways that things are done in the state of Texas need to be changed. Special interest groups and powerfully rich individuals should not be able to buy elections in order to get what they want. There needs to be limits on the amount of money that can be contributed to elections. Having these restrictions and controls allows the democratic system that this country was built on to function as it was intended to. Political decisions should be based on what the majority wants and not bought by those who can afford it.

Works Cited

"Lone Star Election Laws: A Comparative Study of Texas's Campaign Finance System." 2000,

viewed 29 March 2011, from

"Texas Politics - Voting, Campaigns and Elections." 2011, viewed 29 March 2011, from

"The Power of Interest Groups." 2010, viewed 29 March 2011, from