As Californians flood into Texas, differences in the same history textbooks reflect a culture clash
By Dave Lieber Mar 6, 2020
I was in California last month and met a man who learned I live in Texas. He said he wants to move here.
“How come?” I asked.
“Can’t afford to live in California anymore,” he answered.
A woman told me the same: “I hope to move to Texas.” She gave the same reason.
According to one survey backed by U.S. Census figures, 86,000 Californians moved to Texas in 2018.
The main reason given is the cost of living — a high state income tax (top rate is 13.3%) and changes to federal tax law that penalize states like California by limiting the deduction for state and local taxes.
California vs. Texas is a true culture clash of titans. Allow me a moment’s fun on this.
In California, you get a salad filled with the freshest fruit and vegetables. You live longer just by looking at it.
In Texas, you get barbecue beef, Texas toast and hot peppers, which is as close as you get to a healthy vegetable. You may not live as long, but you’ll have more fun eating.
In California, you have the ocean and the mountains for beauty and inspiration.
Texas is so flat you can see a water tower 30 miles away.
Californians sell their overpriced homes, move here, pay cash for a mansion five times larger than what they had in Cali and still have enough money left to buy a new Suburban SUV.
‘Political process’
I bring this up because of a fascinating story in The New York Times that compared the same American history books used by California and Texas students. The big publishers customize their books based on each state’s priorities.
Reporter Dana Goldstein compared the same books side by side to see how each state added and subtracted history lessons based on their political bent.
It’s important because what you learn in history helps you develop your own world view.
“You have a political process in place,” explains Frank de la Teja, a retired Texas State University history professor who also led the Texas State Historical Association.
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