Hold Texas, Hold the Nation, by Allen B. West

As the bumper stickers say, Allen B. West is not a Texan but he got here as fast as he could.  Lieutenant Colonel West represented a Florida district in the U.S. Congress after a twenty-two year career in the Army.  He was the first African-American elected to congress from Florida since the 19th century and has continued to promote conservative and Republican ideals as a Fox News commentator and as a researcher for the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis.

West sets up Texas as an example for the rest of the country to follow in Hold Texas, Hold the Nation: Victory or Death.  Texas's great strength, as one of the strongest economies in the nation and in the world, is a business-friendly, low regulation environment.  "Texas benefits from low taxes, a fair legal system, and leaders who know how to close a deal with incentives."  West gives example after example of businesses that have relocated from California, New York, and other locales, describing the various financial and practical motivations for their moves.

West spends the most time comparing California and Texas.  Both started with conservative, frontier self-determination.  But now, while Texas leans pro-business, suspicious of federal government control, and promoting individual liberty, California has become a haven for centralized, top-down control, leading to deficits and hoards of people and businesses leaving the state, many to come to Texas.

Texas's economic success and welcome mat for businesses and workers has led to those very people--Yankees and Californians--bringing along sets of non-Texan values.  It's no coincidence that the Austin area, a hub for tech migrants from California, is one of the most liberal parts of the state.  West calls on all Texans, whether descended from Texians or recent arrivals from blue states, to recognize and acknowledge what has made Texas an economic powerhouse and to resist the temptation to move Texas away from its conservative roots.  (This means you, Beto, and your progressive socialist fans!)

On a couple of points West's arguments do fall a little flat.  His discussion of health care hits a lot of the right notes, but he's got some work to do on articulating his argument to people who are reliant on government health care.  The disabled and elderly have few options, and most rely on the largess of various government agencies for their care.  I know other fellow conservative Texans for whom this issue is life-or-death, and platitudes (as they see it) about a free market in health care don't cut it.

West is calling on Texans to stand strong for conservative Texan principles.  "Progressive socialists want to turn this great state blue, but I'm drawing the line in the sand.  The conservative principles that have helped us succeed are worth fighting for."  Take a long look at Texas, compare Texas to California, and take a stand with West.  Don't let the progressive socialists win.


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!