Unit II

1. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND POLITICAL IDEOLOGY Unit II

2. Political participation: The many forms-- • HOW DO WE PARTICIPATE? • 1. Voting. Only 50% vote in national elections. Voters see a lack of political efficacy. . .not being able to have a political “effect” on society through the political process - they have no influence. • 2. Join SIGS – special interest groups • 3. Give $$$$ to SIGS thru PACS • 4. Contacting gov’t officials on a regular basis • 5. Working on a campaign • 6. Civil disobedience – think Rosa Parks! • 7. Violence ….. NOT a legal method of participation • WHO PARTICIPATES? • Age and socio-economic status matters – those with more participate more. . . and get more!

3. Types of Political Participation

4. POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES& POLITICAL PARTIES Democrats Republicans & & Liberals Conservatives

5. What is a Political Continuum? 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.

6. ATTITUDES REGARDING POLITICAL & SOCIAL IDEALS IN THE U.S. HAVE BEEN GIVEN LABELS: LIBERALS or CONSERVATIVES • These labels are part of a political spectrum that goes from the Left (extremely liberal) to the Right (extremely conservative). • To determine your placement, you have to assess where you stand on a number of social (people-related), economic (money-related), and political (governmental) issues. • Take the PBS Quiz at: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/08/where-do-you-fit-introducing-the-pewnewshour-political-party-quiz.html

7. LEFT vs. RIGHT The terms came from the French where the liberal parties traditionally sat to the left and the conservative parties sat to the right. Two major factors shape political views: The first is how much change a person is willing to have within their society and government. The second deals with how much government involvement in the economy a person calls for.

9. LIBERAL vs. CONSERVATIVE IDEALS: The federal government should take a very active and large role in the domestic affairs of all the nation’s citizens The federal government’s role is too big & should not be expanded further – more control should be given to state and local governments over their own citizens CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL

10. LIBERAL vs. CONSERVATIVE IDEALS: CONSERVATIVE • National Security: • Strong military; unilateralism • Economic Policy: • Free markets; limited role of fed. gov’t in regulating business; balanced budget; low taxes; tax cuts LIBERAL • National Security: • Adequate military; multilateralism; United Nations • Economic Policy: • Fed. Gov’t regulation of business; deficits when necessary; favor government spending

11. LIBERAL v. CONSERVATIVE – Social Issues: LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE • Social safety net (gov’t) • Public Welfare • National healthcare • Pro-affirmative action • Pro-choice • Anti-prayer in school • Strict separation of church & state • Tolerance for many religions • Protection of defendants’ rights • Gay marriage/civil unions • High value on change and principles of tolerance & diversity. • Individual responsibility • Private charity • Private health coverage • Anti-affirmative action • Pro-life • Pro-prayer in school • Traditional Judeo-Christian religious values • Opposed to “coddling” criminals • Traditional family and marriage • High value on principles of community, tradition, law & order, family & religious values.

13. What is a Radical? Far left of the political spectrum Call for wide-sweeping rapid change in the basic structure of the political, social, or economic system. Wlling 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

14. What is a Liberal? Liberals believe that the government should be actively involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation’s citizens. Usually call for peaceful, gradual change within the existing political system. Reject violent revolution as a way of changing the way things are, often called the status quo. Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King

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

16. What is a Conservative? Favor keeping things the way they are or maintaining the status quo Conservatives are usually hesitant or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism in some way. The less government there is, the better. They agree with Jefferson’s view that “the best government governs least.” Former California Governor and U.S. President Ronald Reagan

17. What is a Reactionary? Far right of the ideological spectrum Want to go back to the way things were—the “good ole’ days.” Often willing to use extreme methods, such as repressive use of government power, to achieve their goals. Scapegoating is common. 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

18. Classic Liberals Radical Liberals Blue Dog Democrats Conservative Democrats Dixiecrats anti-civil rights Democrats Expanded views of Liberals & Conservatives: • True Conservatives • Moderate Conservatives • Social Far Right • Economic Conservatives “To be young and a conservative is to have no heart, to be old and a liberal is to have no mind.” Winston Churchill 

19. American Politicians on the Spectrum: A historical worldview:

21. More views on the Political Spectrum