Defining the U.S. Political Culture

1. Widely shared beliefs, values, and norms about how citizens relate to government and to one another Defining the U.S. Political Culture

2. 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

3. Where We Learn the American Political Culture Peers and Community 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 • Religion • Those raised in religious households tend to be socialized to contribute to society and to get involved in their communities

4. Where We Learn the American Political Culture More than two-thirds of Americans report that they receive “all or most” of their news from television Media

5. Political Ideology • A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government • Involves the views of people and how government should work and how it actually works • Two major schools of political ideology thought: liberalism & conservatism

6. 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 Seek to extend opportunities to all, regardless of how poor they may be

7. Liberals believe in the probability of success 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 • 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

8. 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 Supports a belief in private property and free enterprise

9. Conservatives are pro-business 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 • 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

10. Liberalism and Conservatism

11. Political Ideology and the American People • 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. Figure 4-2

12. Political Ideology and the American People Figure 4-1

13. Differences in Political Ideology

14. Expanding the Political Spectrum! A lesson on ideology PowerPoint created by Kellye Self YLI teacher

16. 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.

17. Social & Political Spectrum • Social and political liberals favor limitedgovernment 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. • Social and political conservatives favor broadgovernment 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: Anarchy Extreme: Fascism, Theocracy

18. 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 Labor-Management issues. • Economic conservatives favor limitedgovernment 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: Socialism, Communism Extreme: Laissez-Faire, Monopoly

19. 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.

20. Ideology Grid Govt. Control Conservative Totalitarian Libertarian Liberal Govt. Control Economic Issues Freedom

21. Definitions • Liberal • 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 • Conservative • 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

22. Favor tradition over change • Favor change over status quo Liberal Conservative • Rights of the Individual are more important • Rights of the community are more important

23. 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

24. American Socialists favor a greatly expanded role for the government Socialism is an economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange • 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

25. Libertarianism An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on a minimal government, promoting a free-market 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

26. Libertarians cherish individual liberty Want to get rid of laws that regulate personal morality Abortion Pornography Prostitution Illicit drugs • 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)

27. Ideology Grid Govt. Control Conservative Totalitarian Most people will fit somewhere within the parameters of this circle. Libertarian Liberal Govt. Control Economic Issues Freedom

28. 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.” 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? Ideology?

29. 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.” 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? Ideology?