Exploring Political Ideologies in American Government

1. Political Ideologies Concurrent Enrollment American Government Mr. Markle

2. Introduction • Not only is politics about power and influence, but politics is also about ideas. • Political ideologies are concerned with: • The proper function of government • The issues of liberty and equality • The distribution of goods and services

3. Mainstream Ideologies • Mainstream ideologies include Liberalism and Conservatism. • These mainstream ideologies do not want to make major changes in our political and social order. • Accept capitalism • Accept New Deal era reforms

4. Radical Ideologies • Radical ideologies include Democratic Socialism and Libertarianism. • Democratic Socialists • Do not accept the capitalist system • Big corporations have too much power • Economic decisions should be in the hands of the government

5. Radical Ideologies • Libertarianism • Economic system free of governmental interference. • Dismantle most welfare programs. • They want major changes, peaceful change • They enter candidates in elections but rarely win.

6. Power and Promotion • 1. How much power should the government have over the economy? • Socialism- Active government control of the economy • Liberalism- Positive action in the economy • Conservatism- Positive action to support capitalism • Libertarianism- Almost no regulation of the economy

7. Power and Promotion • 2. What should the government promote? • Socialism- Economic equality, community • Liberalism- Economic Security, equal opportunity, social liberty • Conservatism- Ecnomic liberty, morality and social order • Libertarianism- Total economic and social liberty

8. Liberalism • Liberalism-begins with the assumption that individuals are rational beings capable of overcoming obstacles to progress without resorting to violence. • Ideas of John Locke. Locke believed in the natural goodness of man. • Contract Theory- the state gains it legitimacy from the consent of the governed and is formed to protect the rights of life, liberty, and property. (limited government)

9. Classic Liberalism • Government should play a minimal role in society. • A government that governs least governs best. • A strong government is dangerous to liberty. • Government should step out of the way and allow economic competition. • Addressed the needs of the business class. • Key Idea: Minimal government and property rights.

10. Populism and Progressivism • After the Civil War, liberal attitudes toward government began to change. • Farmers suffered greatly after the Civil War. • The target of liberals now became railroads and banks, not the government. • Out of this turmoil evolved a new liberal movement known as populism.

11. Populism • The Populists formed their own political party in the 1880's. They called for: • More democratization of government through secret ballots • Direct election of Senators • Voter initiatives • More governmental involvement in the economy

12. Progressivism • Progressivism was another movement that grew during the late 1890's and early 1900's. • Progressives supported: • Government programs to ease the problems of industrialization. • Worker's compensation • Ban on child labor • Regulation of corporations • Minimum wage • Public limits in private corporate power

13. Progressivism • Progressives achieved major successes during the administrations of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. • During Roosevelt's administration, Congress passed laws that regulated railroads and food and drug industries. • During Wilson's administration Congress passed laws regulating the banking industry, restricting unfair competition. • Populists and Progressives believed that government could remedy the economic ills by limiting the power and wealth of private corporations and banks.

14. Contemporary Liberalism • Government should be responsible for assisting individuals, businesses, and communities in dealing with social and economic problems. • Government should ensure the economic well being of a nation and should provide basic material guarantees (food, shelter, health care, and education) to every individual. • Government should stay out of social issues. • Tolerance for different lifestyles. • Address the needs of unemployed, and farmers.

15. Contemporary Liberalism • The positive state cushions the excessive inequalities of power and wealth that arise in any capitalist system. • President Johnson's Great Society: • Rent supplements for the poor • Scholarships for college students • Aid to the arts and humanities • Higher pensions for government workers • Aid to children with disabilities • Food stamp program

16. Contemporary Liberalism • Policy Stances • Abortion: support • Stem cell research: support • Gun control: support • Civil unions/same sex marrriage: support

17. Neoliberals • In the past liberals focused on: • Economic issues • Government's obligation to assist the needy • In recent decades liberals focused on: • Social and foreign policy issues • This angered those who identified with the liberal movement • Liberals became associated with negative feelings

18. Neoliberalism • To help bring the liberal movement back, neoliberalism was introduced. • Neoliberalism-a form of liberalism that emphasizes the promotion of wealth rather than it redistribution, and the reform of military practices rather than reductions in military spending. • Neoliberals direct their attention not to expanding government services, but to their effective delivery. • Neoliberals also criticize the size and costs of the government bureaucracy. • Fiscal responsibility

19. Who Are The Liberals? • Usually they are found in the Democratic party. • Constituencies include: • Minorities • Labor movement • Feminists • Poor

20. Conservatism • Conservatism-holds that established customs, laws, and traditions, should guide society. • Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France • The experience of past generations was the most reliable guide to good government • Customs, traditions, and laws should not be discarded • People were not equal in ability or talent

21. Early American Conservatism • Adams did not believe in the natural goodness of man, Adams said laws were needed to promote public virtue and to curb private greed. • Universal suffrage was a threat to the republic. • Men without property lacked the independence, judgment, and virtue to be members of a free republic.

22. Conservatism and the Industrial Age • As America industrialized after the Civil War, conservatives embraced laissez faire economics. • Laissez faire economics-French for "leave things alone". Government should not interfere in the economy.

23. Conservatism and the Industrial Age • If people worked hard they could become successful. • The government should stand out of the way. • Conservatism became the ideology of America's business class.

24. Contemporary Conservatism • The Great Depression proved to be detrimental to conservatism. • The beginning of the New Deal and many welfare state programs. • Popular acceptance of these programs placed conservatism on the defensive for many years.

25. Contemporary Conservatism • Conservatives have opposed most major liberal reforms. Including Social Security in 1935, and Medicare in 1965. • Since the 1980's conservatives have focused on: • Reducing social spending • Reshaping the tax code • Rebuilding national defense

26. Contemporary Conservatism • Remains at it’s core a defense of economic individualism against the growth of the welfare state. • Welfare state programs only create a permanent class of the poor who are dependent on the state and have no incentives to enter the working world.

27. Contemporary Conservatism • Conservatives support constitutional amendments restricting abortion and permitting prayer in public schools. • Policy Stances • Abortion: oppose • Stem cell research: oppose • Gun control: oppose • Civil unions/same sex marriage: oppose

28. Who are the Conservatives? • Usually they belong to the Republican Party. • While Republican presidents after the Great Depression identified with moderate ideas, Ronald Reagan openly embraced his conservatism.

29. Neoconservatism • Neoconservatism- the idea that contemporary liberalism has transformed the modest New Deal welfare state into an intrusive paternalistic state. • They feel liberals overestimated the ability of government to solve social problems. • They feel that liberals no longer speak for the average person. • They stress policies such as lower taxes on large incomes. • They stress less regulation of business to promote economic growth.

30. Neoconservatism • Neoconservatives think that liberals have promised too much to too many groups. • A government that promised too much cannot deliver and becomes overloaded. • However, neoconservatives do support a modest welfare state. • A properly constructed welfare state strengthens citizen's loyalty to the capitalist system. • Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and Jack Kemp developed an "empowerment" agenda to assist the poor with and emphasis on anti-bureaucratic, market oriented programs.

31. The New Right: Populist Conservatism • New Right- a movement led by Christian evangelicals that supports reestablishment of traditional moral values, the abolition of abortion and pornography, and legalization of school prayer. • The New Right combined elements of traditional conservatism and populism.

32. The New Right: Populist Conservatism • The New Right feels that permissive liberal values are responsible for a broad range of social ills including: • High levels of premarital sex • Adultery • Abortion • Income tax cheating • Excessive personal debt • In the late 80's and early 90's the movement was disheartened by sex scandals of Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Baker.

33. Key Ideas-Liberalism • Classic Liberalism • Minimal government • Protection of property rights • Populism • Democratization of government • Economic reforms • Progressivism • Social Programs to cope with problems cause by industrialization • Public limits on private corporate power

34. Key Ideas- Liberalism • Contemporary Liberalism • Positive state • Faith in solving problems collectively through government • Provide to economic well being of the nation • Provide basic material needs to each individual • Tolerance of various lifestyles • Neoliberalism • Creation, not redistribution of wealth • Free trade • Reform of entitlement programs • Strong but economical defense

35. Key Ideas-Conservatism • Early American conservatism • Sanctity of private property • Distrust of unchecked popular rule • Duty of government to promote healthy economic environment. • Industrial Age conservatism • Laissez faire economics • Individualism • Social Darwinism • Contemporary conservatism • Reduced spending on social programs • Revamping tax policies • Strong defense • Duty of government to promote virtuous citizenry

36. Key Ideas-Conservatism • Neoconservatism • Skepticism of government's ability to solve social and economic problems • Acceptance of modest welfare state • Creation, not redistribution of wealth • Assertive foreign policy

37. Key Ideas-Challenges to the Status Quo • New Right • Critical of big government, big corporations • Distrustful of national media • Social ills seen as a product of liberal policies • Return the nation to traditional cultural values • Libertarianism • Minimal government • Protection of property rights and personal freedom • No governmental regulation of the economy • Non interventionist foreign policy • Drastic reduction in defense spending