Introduction
The effects that lobbyists produce on the development and finalizing of state policies are undeniable. The specified phenomenon is particularly applicable to the Texas political environment, where special interest groups are often seen as the underlying driving force behind core political changes (Flöthe, 2020). In order to embrace the nature of political changes within the Texan setting, one will have to examine the groups in question and evaluate the extent of their influence. Due to the effects that special interest groups affiliated with religious, particularly, Christian, organizations, environmentalism movements, and civil rights activists, the policies of Texas might seem skewed, yet, in reality, they reflect the exact needs and demands of the public.
Discussion
Examining the extent to which specific groups affect the evolution of Texas policies and their further implementation in its legal and sociopolitical context, one will have to admit that the groups in question do have a tangible effect. For instance, the groups lobbying for the promotion of the rights of vulnerable minorities, such as immigrants and the LGBT community, shape the local political standards in a way that leads to minimizing the extent of vulnerable communities’ marginalization (Flöthe, 2020). However, in addition to advocacy groups that actively support the fight for the affected minorities’ civil rights, one should also mention the presence of lobbyists who pursue personal interests (Flöthe, 2020). The specified influences are also quite strong in Texas, which leads to questioning the legitimacy of some of the policymaking processes within the stated (Flöthe, 2020). Therefore, the issue deserves to be considered closer as a possible political concern.
At the same time, it is important to ensure that all citizens are represented in the Texas government equally. Applying the described situation to my personal perspective and needs will demonstrate that the groups in question, in fact, do represent my rights and needs. For instance, these groups actively promote the enforcement of meeting vulnerable communities’ civil rights, which is an idea that I fully support. I believe that marginalized groups in Texas are quite numerous and seriously affected by systemic injustice, which is why they deserve proper representation in the state’s political environment.
At the same time, the presence of the groups in question may interfere with the introduction of new needs and interests into the political discussion in Texas. Therefore, effective strategies for directing the discussion within the specified setting are needed. Among the key avenues for directing the consideration of the required political changes within the Texas community, one should mention the development of a framework that will allow citizens to participate in the political discussion directly. The specified change may require introducing another communication channel for citizens to introduce their ideas to the state government. In addition to voting and the current system, the proposed change will ensure that the needs and interests of all community members, including mine, are met.
Conclusion
Though special interest groups such as religious organizations, civil rights activists, and environmentalists, are seen as the force that skews the policies of Texas, the specified organizations can be regarded as the groups that represent the interests of the Texan population. At the same time, one must keep in mind that, with the impact that the specified groups produce on the political environment of the state, certain groups, particularly, minorities, remain underrepresented. Therefore, efforts must be made to balance out the influence of the groups in question with the impact of other organizations representing the needs of other vulnerable demographic types.
Reference
Flöthe, L. (2020). Representation through information? When and why interest groups inform policymakers about public preferences. Journal of European Public Policy, 27(4), 528-546. Web.