The political establishment in Austin has a strategy, and it’s not complicated. In fact, it’s so straightforward that you could explain it to a child: divide the opposition and break their spirit. I call it the “2D Strategy” – Divide and Demoralize.
Make no mistake, they’re implementing this strategy right now with surgical precision through the Texas Legislature, and they’re succeeding not because they hold all the cards, but because too many Texans are allowing them to.
For years, I’ve watched the political class in Austin employ the same tactics repeatedly. They find wedge issues designed to fragment their potential opposition. They advance bills with amendments attached that effectively split those who might otherwise stand united against them. They push through legislation that is intentionally outrageous to crush your will to fight back.
The Division Machine
Let’s talk about atomization – a concept coined by Gene Sharp, whose work is fundamental to understanding how power structures maintain control. Sharp explained how totalitarian regimes keep opposition fragmented and ineffective. They shatter society into disconnected pieces, making each individual or small group feel isolated and powerless.
This isn’t theoretical – it’s happening right in front of us. Look at the school choice issue. Rather than debating the actual merits of the proposed legislation, if you dared criticize the bill, you were instantly branded as “against school choice.” This classic tactic forces false choices and divides potential allies.
Or consider the foreign land ownership bill. What started as legislation to prevent foreign adversaries from purchasing strategic land near military installations was quietly undermined with an amendment allowing 99-year leases. The practical effect? China can’t buy the land outright, but they can lease it for effectively the same duration they had Hong Kong. The establishment counts on you missing these details while they celebrate a “victory.”
Breaking Your Spirit
The second part of their strategy is perhaps more insidious – demoralization. They want to break your spirit by passing legislation so outrageous that it leaves you feeling helpless.
Take HB1904, which proposes to regulate balloon releases. Yes, you read that correctly. If your child accidentally lets go of a helium balloon at a birthday party, congratulations – you’ve just earned a Class C misdemeanor and a fine of up to $500. If the combined weight of balloons exceeds certain thresholds, you could face up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine for a state jail felony.
This isn’t governance – it’s intimidation through absurdity.
Meanwhile, Texans want an end to property taxes. They’re crushing everyone – homeowners and renters alike. The people have made this a priority. And how does the Senate respond? “I have heard you,” they say, “but the best I can do is limits on THC and getting rid of the Texas lottery.”
The message is clear: your concerns don’t matter. They want you demoralized enough to give up the fight.
Why It Works
This strategy works because too many Texans take the bait. I’ve heard people say, “I’m just getting out of this politics thing.” But politics isn’t getting out of you. They’re going to wear you out regardless of your participation.
Others say, “Why vote Republican if I’m going to get this?” Well, taking your ball and going home guarantees more of the same, or worse. It’s exactly what they want you to do.
The establishment doesn’t have to win by being right. They just need you divided from potential allies and too demoralized to fight back.
Breaking Through
So what’s the solution? First, recognize the strategy for what it is. When you see an outrageous bill, understand it’s designed to break your spirit. When you see wedge issues emerge, recognize they’re meant to divide potential allies.
Second, refuse to be atomized. Building community and solidarity is the antidote to division. The political establishment wants you to feel alone in your frustration. You’re not. Millions of Texans share your concerns.
Third, channel your outrage into action. The establishment doesn’t fear your anger – they fear your organization. They fear a unified opposition that can’t be manipulated by wedge issues. They fear Texans who see through the strategy and refuse to be demoralized.
The path forward isn’t giving up or checking out – it’s recognizing that they want you divided and demoralized, then refusing to play their game.
The Real Battle Ahead
If people emerge from this legislative session fired up rather than worn down, if they put aside petty divisions and unify around common principles, the establishment won’t withstand the next primaries. They know this. That’s why the divisiveness and demoralization tactics are in overdrive.
But here’s what they don’t want you to know: there are more of us than there are of them. They’re not maintaining control because they’re unbeatable – they’re maintaining it because too many Texans are falling for the divide and demoralize strategy.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m attacked, I fight back. It just makes me commit harder, makes me more determined. The alternative is to curl up in the fetal position and let them continue to beat the ever-living daylights out of you, your family, your neighbors, your friends, and your children or grandchildren.
This is where it becomes important for us to speak up, stand up, and do what we must. Because the alternative is losing Texas.
Overcome the atomization. Don’t let them divide you. Don’t let them demoralize you. And I promise you, we will unseat more of them in the next election.
The establishment wants to break your spirit. Don’t give them the satisfaction.
