Public Opinion and Political Action

1. Public Opinion and Political Action Chapter 6

2. Who are Americans? Who Are You – Who, Who, Who,Who? What is The Trouble With Public Opinion?

3. Who Are Americans?

4. Some Demographics The Melting Pot Metaphor- How Accurate is This?

5. Some Trends What’s Happening Here? What’s the Impact on Government?

6. The American People The Graying of America • Fastest growing group is over 65 What does this mean politically?

7. Smart and Smarter?

8. American Political Culture • The widely shared political beliefs, values, and norms concerning the relationship of citizens to government and to one another. • How Government ought to be carried out.

9. Belief--a generalized expression of that which a person considers to be true. • Value--a desired end-state or condition. • Norm--unwritten rules of behavior that apply to members of a society. • Attitudes--predisposition to respond to some topics in a particular way. • Opinion--expression of an attitude.

10. Liberty Equality Individualism Democratic consensus Majority rule Popular sovereignty Rule of law National pride Optimism Idealism Shared Values

11. You might be an American if... Identify the political culture of the typical American by illustrating at least 5 political culture characteristics. On the back of this sheet explain each characteristic as well as how you have symbolized each characteristic.

12. The Status of American Political Culture Are We United? Culture War Appears to be two classes struggling over values. Orthodox and Progressives

13. Orthodox Progressive • Personal Freedom • Change • Rules on Circumstances • Mainline Protestants • Morality • Tradition • Rules from God • Fundamentalists

14. Are We United? No. But we are quite tolerant of other views.

15. Whooo are you... Whoo,whoo... whoo whoo?

16. POLITICAL CULTURE VS. POLITICAL IDEOLOGY LIBERTY, EQUALITYOFOPPORTUNITY,MERITOCRACY, RESPONSIBILITY,DEMOCRACY,FREEDOM YOUR INDIVIDUAL POLITICAL THOUGHTBASED ONCONSISTENCIES OFBELIEFS

17. B7-Results Liberal Conservative 45 18 72 31 58

18. A3-Results Liberal Conservative 45 18 72 31 58

19. Antonia Scalia Hillary Clinton Bill Clinton 45 18 72 31 58 Jesse Jackson Colin Powell “W”

20. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization • Political Socialization: • “…the process through which and individual acquires [their] particular political orientation” • The Process of Political Socialization • The Family • Time & emotional commitment • Political leanings of children often mirror their parent’s leanings

21. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization

22. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization • The Process of Political Socialization • The Mass Media • Generation gap in TV news viewing • School / Education • Used by government to socialize the young into the political culture • Education produces better jobs and a more positive view of government

23. Political Socialization Interview Questions Subject’s Name:___________________________ Subject’s Ideology:___________________________ • What do your parents do? When did they grow up where were they raised? Level of education? • Describe your parents (economically, ethnically, religious beliefs). • What television channels do you watch? Music? • Where were you raised? Schooling? • With what “type” of people do you hang around?

24. How American Learn About Politics: Political Socialization • Turnout by Age, 2000 (Figure 6.3)

25. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies • Political Ideology: • A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose. • Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives? • Views change over time • Currently about 42% conservative, 25% liberal, 34% moderate

27. Modern ideologies • For Americans these are not very complicated structures, nor is there much consistency between the pieces that make up an ideology. • Is Vague. • Changes throughout History.

29. Modern ideologies • Conservatives • Liberals • Populists (Communitarians) • Libertarians

32. Conservatives Believe • People will do wrong, given the chance • Economy works best with no government control • Low taxes stimulate economic growth • Strong military • Local control • Minimal government spending • Moral behavior

33. Famous Conservatives • Thomas Hobbes • Adam Smith • John Adams • Alexander Hamilton

34. Famous American Conservatives • Douglas MacArthur • Barry Goldwater • William Buckley • Ronald Reagan • Jack Kemp

35. New Right • Christian fundamentalist and others who believe in using the power of government to enforce a code of moral behavior. • Pat Robertson, Pat Buchanan, Jesse Helms

36. Criticisms of Conservatism • Selective opposition to government • Insensitive to social needs of poor. • Too much faith in market economy. • “Trickle down” economics questionable. • Opposition to certain policies seem racist.

37. Liberals believe • In the ultimate capacity of people to do good. • Less government intrusion in private life. • Government as the active agent in protecting liberties of the people. • Citizen responsibility to pay taxes to finance the work of government • Governments ability to solve problems

38. Famous liberals • John Locke • Thomas Jefferson

39. Famous American Liberals • Franklin Roosevelt • John Kennedy • Ted Kennedy • Hillary Clinton

40. Criticisms of Liberalism • Too much government. • Too much spending. • Too many bureaucrats. • Too much regulation.

41. Libertarians believe • Victory through the political process • Government is the greatest evil • Eliminate welfare • Eliminate corporate subsidies • Eliminate the FBI and the CIA • Reduce the military to a defense militia • Legalize drugs, prostitution, homosexual conduct, etc

42. Populists Believe • The Government should play a larger role in maintaining order. • The Government should play a larger role in economics. • The Government should play a larger role involving issues of morality.

43. Liberals In economy Out of private Libertarian Out of economy Out of private Populist In economy In private Conservative Out of economy In private

44. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies

45. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies

46. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies • Do People Think in Ideological Terms? • Ideologues: think in ideological terms- 12% of the population • Group Benefits: rely on party labels- 42% of the population • Nature of the Times: current times are good or bad- 24% of the population • No issue content: based on personalities- 22% of the population

47. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information • The Science of Polls • Random Sampling: • Number of people surveyed (1000-1500) = +/- 3% • Sampling Error: The level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll. • Random Digit Dialing

48. The Role of Polls in American Democracy • Polls are a tool for democracy. • Lead or follow public opinion. • Exit Polls- used by the media to predict election day winners. • Bandwagon effect- distorts the election process. • Question wording makes a difference. • Problem with bias.

49. What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political Information • Americans don’t know much about politics. • Americans may know their basic beliefs, but not how that affects policies of the government.

50. Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information