The Texas Model: Prosperity in the Lone Star State and Lessons for America - 2014 Edition

by Chuck DeVore

The Texas Model: Prosperity in the Lone Star State and Lessons for America, 2014 Edition, is a project of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The book compares Texas to its large state peers and details why Texas is increasingly the destination for Americans seeking a better life. The Texas Model describes a state with low taxes, modest government, and a lawsuit climate that allows entrepreneurship to flourish while encouraging job creation. The book also introduces and details the "Soft Tyranny Index" for both the federal government and the 50 states, looking at the extent to which government exerts a controlling influence on the lives of Americans in a manner Alexis de Tocqueville presciently warned about in Democracy in America in 1835. The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan research institute based in Austin, Texas with Brooke Rollins as its President and CEO. The Foundation's mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach. The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course guided by these principles: - Individual Liberty - Personal Responsibility - Free Markets - Private Property Rights - Limited government Chuck DeVore is Vice President of Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. From 2004 to 2010, Chuck represented almost 500,000 people in the California State Assembly in Orange County. He was the Vice Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation and served on the Budget Committee and Joint Legislative Audit Committee. In 2010, Chuck competed for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in California. Chuck worked as an executive in the aerospace industry before starting his service as an elected official. Chuck was a Reagan White House appointee in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he was a Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs. Chuck is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army (retired) Reserve. He graduated with honors from Claremont McKenna College with a degree in Strategic Studies in 1985. Chuck and his wife Diane were married in 1988. They have two daughters and make their home in Dripping Springs, Texas.

Genres: Public Policy

178 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2013

About the author

Chuck DeVore is the author of three books: "Crisis of the House Never United - a Novel of Early America," "The Texas Model: Prosperity in the Lone Star State and Lessons for America," and "China Attacks," a novel.

Praise of DeVore's latest book, "Crisis of the House Never United":

"The reader can tell that DeVore did his homework" - Daily Caller

"Burr (a satisfyingly well-developed character...)" - The Federalist

"This book works as an object lesson in the functionality and genius of our Constitution" - The Daily Signal

DeVore is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served as an intelligence officer. He retired as a lieutenant colonel.

DeVore has traveled extensively abroad, using his overseas observations in his writings.

Reviews

[Yves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bumper stickers read in the Lone Star State: "I was not born in Texas, but I moved here as soon as I could". Chuck DeVore was already well-off and established when he voted with his feet and left Cali, as did hundreds of thousands of weary Golden States residents over the past decade. To substantiate his suggestion that Texas governance might be worth mulling over, or perhaps emulating, he brings in heaps of stats, appropriately mixed with -to my sheer delight- a few of Alexis de Tocqueville's quotes . I particularly appreciated the 'Soft Tyranny Index' and how the states stack up against it.
In my mind, he achieved in debunking prejudices and cliches about Texas, and mis-representations of the reasons for its economic success. In a nutshell, this is an educative, easy, and quick reading. Good value for money.

[Brendan Steinhauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading The Texas Model by Chuck DeVore. This book makes the case, persuasively, that Texas is succeeding because of its limited government principles. Our low unemployment, strong economic growth and population boom can all be attributed to our economic and political liberties in Texas.

The Texas Model has the facts that liberals can't argue with. DeVore takes on their claims about Texas and demolishes them with the data that proves the Texas model works. Let's hope other states read this book and follow suit.

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the author, I gave up on California and moved to Texas so I could give my family a better life. DeVore is documenting the reasons why Texas is outperforming so many other states--in short, a limited government that trusts people to make decisions. At times this becomes "all the statistics you'll ever need to beat a liberal in an argument" but there's still a lot of interesting facts and analysis for someone who wants to know more about how Texas works.

[Vance Ginn · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many reasons why Texas leads the nation in many economic measures and why there are many fallacies about the state's welfare compared with other states. This book examines these issues and outlines the Texas Model in a clear, concise way by examining pertinent information and data. There is little doubt after reading this book that Texas is leading the nation towards economic prosperity and individual liberty.

[Milyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read it for my government class and write a five pages essay on it. The book is interesting and I really learned a lot of things about Texas.