The Political Spectrum (in the world)

1. The Political Spectrum(in the world)

2. The Political Spectrum • A person’s views on the issues help determine where they fall on the political spectrum. • The labels used on the spectrum are not pure categories, but they make up a continuum, or value line, and citizens and politicians fall somewhere on that line depending on what they believe.

3. The Factors that Shape Views • Two (2) major factors shape political views: • 1. The first is how much changea person is willing to have within their society & government. • Do you want or like to have changes made to your life made by society & government? • 2. The second deals with how much government involvement in the economy a person calls for. • Do you want or like the government to be involved in your life; telling you how to live?

4. The Factors that Shape Views • Other Factors: • Family & up-bringing. • Gender & Race, & Ethnicity. • Religion. • Region of the country (State) you live in. • To see where you stand, you would have to figure out where you stand on a number of issues: • Social (people-related). • Economic (money-related). • and Political (governmental) issues.

5. Political Labels • First you need definitions of the terms: • Radical: • Communism. • Socialism. • Reactionary: • Fascism. • Libertarianism. • Liberal. • Conservative. • Moderate (“Independent”)

6. What is a Radical? • Seen as being on the far leftof the political spectrum, radicals call for wide-sweeping rapid change in the basic structure of the political, social, or economic system. • They may be willing to resort to extreme methods to bring about change, including the use of violence and revolution. V.I. Lenin: Mastermind of the Russian Revolution and Father of the Soviet Union

7. What is a Radical? • Communism: • Economic & social system in which all (or nearly all) property & resources are collectively owned by a classless society and not by individual citizens. • Based on the 1848 publication 'Communist Manifesto' by 2 German political philosophers, Karl Marx (1818-1883) & his close associate Friedrich Engels (1820-1895). • It envisaged common ownership of all land & capital and withering away of the coercive power of the state. • In such a society, social relations were to be regulated on the fairest of all principles: from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. • Differences between manual & intellectual labor & between rural & urban life were to disappear, opening up the way for unlimited development of human potential. • Socialism: • Any of various economic & political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. • A system of society or group living in which there is no private property. • A system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state. • A stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism & communism & distinguished by unequal distribution of goods & pay according to work done.

8. What is a Reactionary? • Sitting on the far rightof the ideological spectrum, reactionaries want to go back to the way things were—the “good ol’ days.” • Often reactionaries are willing to use extreme methods, such as repressive use of government power, to achieve their goals. • The term “reactionary” is generally negative. A positive way to say the same thing is “arch-conservative.” Hitler’s Mein Kampf is a typical reactionary manifesto

9. What is a Reactionary? • Facism (Anarchist): • A political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. • A form of radical authoritarian nationalism, characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition and control of industry and commerce that came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe. • The first fascist movements emerged in Italy during World War I before it spread to other European countries. • Opposed to liberalism, Marxism, and anarchism, fascism is usually placed on the far-right within the traditional left–right spectrum. • Libertarianism: • A collection of political philosophies & movements that uphold liberty as a core principle. • Libertarians seek to maximize political freedom & autonomy, emphasizing freedom of choice, voluntary association, individual judgment & self-ownership. • Libertarians share a skepticism of authority & state power.  • Some libertarians advocate laissez-faire capitalism and strong private property rights, such as in land, infrastructure and natural resources.

10. What is a Liberal? • Liberals believe that the government should be actively involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation’s citizens, in areas such as unemployment, health care, education, & the expansion of civil rights. • They usually call for peaceful, gradual change within the existing political system. • They reject violent revolution as a way of changing the way things are, often called the status quo. Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King

11. What is a Liberal? • Liberty & equal rights. • Liberals favor government-funded programs that address inequalities that they view as having derived from historical discrimination. • A large majority of liberals favor universal health care, with many supporting a single-payer system. • A majority also favor diplomacy over military action. • Favor stem cell research, • Favor the legalization of same-sex marriage • Favor secular government (officially neutral in matters of religion) • Favor stricter gun control • Favor environmental protection laws • Favor preservation of abortion rights • Immigration & cultural diversity is deemed positive; liberals favor cultural pluralism, a system in which immigrants retain their native culture in addition to adopting their new culture • Most liberals oppose increased military spending and the display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings • Liberals include most of academia (college professors) & large portions of the professional class

12. DEMOCRATIC Party • The DEMOCRATIC Party’s liberal platform is center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. • The party has the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United States. • The party contains the most registered voters of any political organization in the world as of 2004, with 72 million voters. • From 2006 – 2010 (mostly under President George W. Bush), the Democratic Party had the majority party in both the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. • However, following the 2010 elections (middle of President Obama’s 1st term), the Democratic Party still held a majority in the Senate, but lost the majority in the House of Representatives. • Then, in 2014 elections, the Democratic Party lost control of both the House & the Senate. • President Obama was a Democrat.

13. What is a Moderate? • Moderates may share viewpoints with both liberals & conservatives. • Often called “Independents.” • They are seen as tolerant of other people’s views, and they do not hold extreme views of their own. • They advocate a “go-slow” or “wait-and-see” approach to social or political change. Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) is generally seen as a moderate.

14. What is a Conservative? • People who hold conservative ideals favor keeping things the way they are or maintaining the status quo if it is what they desire. • Conservatives are usually hesitant or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism in some way. • They feel that the less government there is, the better. • They agree with Jefferson’s view that “the best government governs least.” Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) is widely regarded as the father of the modern conservative movement

15. What is a Conservative? A conservative adheres to principles of personal responsibility, moral values, and limited government. Former President Ronald Reagan said, "The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom.” Conservatives believe in: • Limited government and balanced budgets • Capitalism and free markets • Classroom prayer • Prohibition of abortion and respect for human life • Traditional marriage, not same-sex marriage • Laws against pornography • The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms • The death penalty • Private medical care and retirement plans (vs. government-run) • Canceling failed social support programs • Enforcement of current laws regarding immigration • Respect for our military ... past and present & a strong national defense. • Rejection of “junk” science such as evolution and global warming • Minimal Taxation • Federalism (Separation of powers among the National, State and Local governments) • The upholding of the United States Constitution (strict interpretation)

16. REPUBLICAN Party • Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery expansion activists, it is often called the GOP (Grand Old Party). Abraham Lincoln became the 1st Republican Party President. • The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S. political spectrum and is considered center-right. • The Republican Party has the 2nd most registered voters 55 million (2004). • As of 2014 (the 114th Congress) the Republican Party holds a majority of seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. • The party holds the majority of State governorships, as well as the majority of state legislatures, and control of one chamber in five states. • President Trump is a Republican.

17. The Political Spectrum

18. Which Viewpoint is Dominate? 2004

19. Origins of the 2 Parties • The Democratic Party traces its origins & heritage back to Thomas Jefferson & James Madison's Democratic-Republican Party. • The modern-day Democratic Party was founded around 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson, making it the world's oldest political party. • The Republican Party is the younger of the two parties. Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery expansion activists and modernizers, the Republican Party rose to prominence with the election of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president.

20. History of the Parties

21. US Presidents & Political Parties 15 – Democrat (*1 x 2) 19 - Republican

22. The Political Spectrum(in the world)