Politics

1. Politics

4. “Radical” liberal ideas(seen as extreme 250 years ago) • individual liberty, personal dignity, free expression, religious tolerance, private property, universal human rights, transparency of government, limitations on government power, popular sovereignty, national self-determination, privacy, enlightened/rational policy, the rule of law, respect for science, fundamental equality, free market economy

7. Democracy: where the majority rules with respect for the rights of the minority

8. Four justifications • Greatest amount of freedom possible within this system • Responds to the will of the people • Encourages individual creativity • Allows for a peaceful and orderly change of government In a liberal democratic society you shouldn’t need a reason to make something legal, you should only need a reason to make something illegal

9. Rules to make it work • All people rule in all aspects; all public decisions would be made by all citizens • Majority rules with all being equal (politically and legally; one man – one vote) • A method of communication is established and an exchange of information is allowed, people are educated • Problem – there is a lack of time, interest and information for all people to be involved

10. Representative Democracy Only one decision needs to be made: choosing a representative (who has the time to be more informed and should have more interest)

11. 8 Techniques • Representation by population: each vote has equal worth because each representative has a fairly equal number of constituents • Periodic elections: intervals are stated with some defined guidelines • Secret ballot: punishment for voting against the majority is eliminated • Independent courts: protection against majority tyranny

12. 8 Techniques, cont. • Power of the purse: access to funds are eliminated if there is disapproval • Political parties: opposition parties represent the voices of the minority • Interest groups: they lobby the government in regards to a specific issue (voice concerns between elections and of the minority) • Free press: inform the public, can be the voice of the minority

13. Disadvantages • Tyranny of the majority – minority rights are not protected (50% + 1) • Inefficiency of decision making and pluralism – slow to make decisions and keep up with dynamic world • Elite groups – few leaders gather power and lose touch with the rest of society (can include politicians, wealthy elite, interest groups) • Uninterested electorate • Bureaucracy

14. Canadian Electoral Ridings – equal representation?

15. The Department of Homeland Security Organizational Chart

16. Lobby groups/elite rule

17. Power of media

18. I make my living off the Evening News; Just give me something, something I can use. People love it when you lose, They love dirty laundry. Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here.I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear. Come and whisper in my ear. Give us dirty laundry Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em when they're down Kick 'em when they're up We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who comes on at five. She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam in her eye. It's interesting when people die- Give us dirty laundry Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet? You know, the boys in the newsroom got a running bet.Get the widow on the set! We need dirty laundry You don't really need to find out what's going on. You don't really want to know just how far it's gone. Just leave well enough alone. Eat your dirty laundry.Dirty little secrets. Dirty little lies. We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie. We love to cut you down to size. We love dirty laundry We can do "The Innuendo”. We can dance and sing. When it's said and done we haven't told you a thing. We all know that Crap is King. Give us dirty laundry!

19. Stop and reflect – journal entry • How do each of the eight techniques protect minorities • How does the protection of minorities ensure the promotion of liberal democratic values?