Transcript Prentice Hall Political ScienceInteractiv

Defining the U.S. Political Culture
Widely shared
beliefs, values,
and norms
about how
citizens relate
to government
and to one
another
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Where We Learn the American
Political Culture
Family
Schools
Number of times a week
American families say that
they eat together
Schools teach an idealized
view of the nation’s
slogans and symbols
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Where We Learn the American
Political Culture
Peers and Community
Religion
Research shows that in
heterogeneous communities,
political participation tends to
be higher, with more contested
and competitive elections, and
with more political debate than
in homogeneous communities
Those raised in religious
households tend to be
socialized to contribute to
society and to get involved
in their communities
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Where We Learn the American
Political Culture
Media
More than two-thirds of Americans
report that they receive “all or most”
of their news from television
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Political Ideology
A consistent
pattern of beliefs
about political
values and the
role of
government
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Involves the views
of people and how
government
should work and
how it actually
works
Two major schools
of political
ideology thought:
liberalism &
conservatism
Political Ideology:
A Consistent Pattern of Beliefs About
Political Values and the Role of Government
Liberalism
A belief that
government can
and should achieve
justice and
equality of
opportunity
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Seek to extend
opportunities to all,
regardless of how poor
they may be
Liberals believe in the
probability of success
Rights to own property
Some government
intervention in the
economy is necessary to
remedy the defects of
capitalism
Government must
eliminate discrimination
Union’s rights to organize
Wish to preserve the
rights of the individual
Favor a minimum wage
requirement
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Advocate equal access to
health care, housing, and
education
Believe in affirmative
action, protections for
workers health and safety,
tax rates based on wealth
of an individual
Government must provide
programs to offset the loss
of liberties brought by
modern technology and
industrialization
Political Ideology:
A Consistent Pattern of Beliefs About
Political Values and the Role of Government
Conservatism
A belief that
limited government
ensures order,
competitive markets,
and personal
opportunity
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Supports a belief in
private property and
free enterprise
Conservatives are pro-business
Enhance individual liberty
by keeping government
small, especially the national
government
Support a strong national
defense
People need strong
leadership, firm laws, and
strict moral codes
Government’s role is to
maintain order & protect the
nation from foreign enemies
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People are architects of
their own fortune and must
solve their own problem
and create their own
success
Favor tax cuts
Dislike environmental
regulations on
corporations
Encourages free and fair
trade
Promotes family values
Liberalism and Conservatism
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Political Ideology and the American
People

Figure 4-2
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Moderates are in the
middle and tend to
have views that are
between these two
positions, perhaps with
some views on one end
of the spectrum and
other views on the
other end of the
spectrum, dependent
on the issue.
Political Ideology and the American
People
Figure 4-1
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Differences
in Political
Ideology
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Expanding the Political
Spectrum!
A lesson on ideology
PowerPoint created by Kellye Self
YLI teacher
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Limitations in the Spectrum
 There
are limitations to the one-line spectrum when
determining political ideology for an individual.
 In reality, there are two spectrums:
Social/Political Spectrum
Economic Spectrum
 Because there are really two spectrums, many “ideology
surveys” label a significant portion of those who take the
test as moderate because they are measuring standards
from both spectrums, yet trying to place it on one
spectrum.
Social & Political Spectrum


Social and political liberals favor
limited government regulation of
individual behavior.
Examples:

Favor protection of offensive
language.
Oppose censorship of film,
music, etc.
Pro-choice abortion stance.
Oppose government
sponsored religious activity.
Favor protection of
homosexual rights.
Favor affirmative action
programs.
Extreme: Anarchy
Social and political conservatives
favor broad government regulation of
individual behavior
Examples:
Oppose protection of offensive
language.
Favor regulation of film, music,
etc.
Pro-life abortion stance.
Favor government-facilitated
religious activity, particularly in
school.
Oppose protection of homosexual
rights.
Oppose affirmative action
programs.
Extreme: Fascism, Theocracy
Economic Spectrum

Economic liberals favor broad
government involvement in
economic policymaking and
regulation of business.
Favor higher taxes, particularly
progressive (based on income
level).
Programs assisting the poor
such as Medicaid and Head
Start.
Redistribution of income
(welfare; social security).
Anti-trust legislation.
Sympathize with labor in LaborManagement issues.
Extreme: Socialism, Communism

Economic conservatives favor
limited government involvement in
economic policymaking and
regulation of business.
Favor lower taxes, particularly
regressive (flat tax, sales taxes).
Fewer programs with the goal of
redistributing income (private
charitable assistance; invest own
money for retirement).
Oppose government regulation of
market choices.
Sympathize with business in
Labor-Management issues.
Extreme: Laissez-Faire, Monopoly
So, where do you fit?
 If
you are like many Americans, you may tend to be more
conservative on some issues and more liberal on others.
 The limitation of one spectrum is that this circumstance
will generally place you in the middle, which is not
necessarily an accurate reflection of your ideology.
 Remember, all of this discussion takes place with a base
understanding and consensus on the social contract and
modern “liberal” political thought.
 People on every point on the spectrum generally want
what is best for the country—they just differ on how to
achieve it.
Ideology Grid
Govt.
Control
Conservative
Totalitarian
Liberal
Libertarian
Freedom
Economic Issues
Govt.
Control
Definitions
 Liberal
 Conservative
Support for greater
government
control/regulation in
economic matters
and less government
control/regulation of
individual matters.
 Libertarian
Support for minimal
government control
of both economic
and social issues
Support for less
government
control/regulation in
economic matters and
greater government
control/regulation of
individual matters.
 Totalitarian
Support for complete
government control of
economic and social
issues
 Favor change over status quo
Liberal
 Rights of the Individual are
more important
 Favor tradition over change
Conservative
 Rights of the community are
more important
Socialism
An economic and
governmental
system based on
public ownership of
the means of
production and
exchange
Bernard Sanders, a self-described
socialist, is a Congressman from Vermont
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American Socialists favor a greatly
expanded role for the government
Want to nationalize certain
industries
Institute a public jobs
program so that all who
want to work could work
Tax the wealthy much more
heavily
Drastically cut defense
spending
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Socialism is an
economic and
governmental
system based on
public ownership of
the means of
production and
exchange
Libertarianism
An ideology that
cherishes individual
liberty and insists on
a minimal
government,
promoting a freemarket economy, a
noninterventionist
foreign policy, and an
absence of regulation
in moral, economic,
and social life
Bob Barr (center), Libertarian
candidate for president in 2008
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Libertarians cherish individual liberty
Oppose all government
programs
Favor massive cuts in
government spending and an
end to the FBI, CIA, & IRS
Don’t want the US to join the
United Nations
Favored armed forces that
would defend the US ONLY if
directly attacked
Oppose all government
regulation (ex: helmet laws or
mandatory seat belts)
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Want to get rid of
laws that regulate
personal morality
– Abortion
– Pornography
– Prostitution
– Illicit drugs
Ideology Grid
Govt.
Control
Conservative
Totalitarian
Most people will fit somewhere within
the parameters of this circle.
Liberal
Libertarian
Freedom
Economic Issues
Govt.
Control
Voter A: “I worked my way up
from poverty to become the
successful business owner I am
today. I get frustrated when I
think that my tax money goes
to support people who won’t
help themselves. I think part
of the blame belongs with the
media – they promote all the
wrong values.”
Ideology?
Voter B: “I really don’t care
what other people do in their
free time, as long as they don’t
bother me. I sure don’t like it
when the government tells me
what to do with my money or in
my own home – I’m certainly not
going to turn around and do the
same thing to my neighbors.”
Ideology?
Voter C: “I really worry
about the state of the
world today. It seems like
more and more kids are
growing up in poverty and
there’s no one there to
help them. I think we
need to do more toward
providing healthcare and
education programs for
our young people.”
Ideology?
Voter D: “These days, you
can’t be too careful. I think we
need to spend a lot more money
on the national defense. I wish
there was a police officer on
every corner! The police could
search my car all they want,
since I don’t break the law. I
also think the government
should crack down on the media
– their reporting gives our
enemies an inside look at all our
military preparations.”
Ideology?