Why do so many Texans express a great deal of ambivalence, if not hostility, toward bureaucracies and those who are employed by government? Do they feel the same about individual public employees they know?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Identify the conservative political culture of Texas, including its elements of self-help and individualism, as a source of negative sentiment toward government and the provision of government services.
2. Identify the magnitude of government and plethora of governments and agencies with overlapping authority as a source of confusion for the public.
3. Identify public perceptions of bureaucrats and bureaucracies including red tape, waste, inefficiency, indifference, and incompetence and explain how such perceptions are reinforced in political campaigns.
4. Explain that most individuals have positive perceptions about individual public employees they know.