Hold Your Horses, Gov. Rick Scott

Can Florida emulate Texas in creating jobs? Here's a comparison.

Cynthia Barnett | 9/28/2011

Cultural Identity

Texas' reputation for being business friendly and low tax dates to the late 19th century. Democrats and Republicans alike have "always talked about the good 'bid-ness' climate," says Paul Burka, senior executive editor at Texas Monthly and the dean of Texas political writers for four decades. "I don't think it's ever been any different."

The pro-business character threads through a tightly woven Texas monoculture. From Waco in west Texas to metropolitan Dallas in the north or the touristy Alamo down south in San Antonio, the Lone Star image is ubiquitous — mounted on highway overpasses and displayed on many businesses. Newcomers to the state immediately have a sense of what it means to be Texan.

What do you think about the whole Florida -vs- Texas debate? Let us know, click to comment at the end of this article.

Florida's diversity makes it unlikely to develop a true statewide identity outside of tourism. On the plus side, the state's regions each have their own cultures and virtues: Southern cities like Jacksonville; midwestern like St. Petersburg; northeastern like Broward and Palm Beach counties; international like Miami. The disadvantage to Florida's city-state system, however, is that the regions don't often speak with a statewide voice, competing with each another on everything from new colleges for universities to deepening channels for ports.

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