Lecture – Public Opinion and Political Ideology and Values

Understanding Public Opinion and Ideology Public opinion is defined as the value and attitudes that people have about issues, events, and personalities. Values (or beliefs) are defined as a person’s basic orientations to politics; values are the basic principles that shape a person’s opinions about political issues and events. Political ideology is defined as a complex set of beliefs and values that, as a whole, form a general philosophy about the role of government. Attitude (or opinion) is defined as a specific view on a particular issue, event, or personality.

How Political Values Are Formed Individual attitudes are shaped by underlying political beliefs and values. The political process through which these underlying political beliefs and values are formed are collectively called political socialization, the induction of an individual into the political culture as that individual learns the underlying beliefs and values on which the political system is based. Socialization elements produce citizens’ different and similar outlooks on government. Four of the most important agencies of socialization (social institutions that help to shape and individual’s basic political beliefs and values) include family, membership in social groups, education, and prevailing political conditions.

Influence on Our Political Values The Family - a fundamental source of political orientation for the individual. Social Groups - Social groups include those to which people belong involuntarily (gender, religious, or racial groups) or voluntarily (political parties, labor unions, and occupational groups. Other groups may be a combination based on individual efforts or the class status one is born into, which shift up or down.) Differences of Education - Education is a source of both commonality and difference in the formation of political values and beliefs. Differences in amounts of education, however, affect an individual’s political perspective. For example, college graduates with higher levels of education tend to participate more by voting and making their voices heard. Political Conditions - The individual’s environment and conditions of involvement in political life also shape political orientation.

Political Values to Ideology Political ideology is the set of underlying orientations, ideas, and beliefs that form an individual’s philosophy about, and understanding and interpretation of, government and politics. In the United States today, most people identify with liberal or conservative ideologies.

Example of Political Ideology Influencing Political Values and Beliefs 1 In 7 Ohio Conservatives Think Mitt Romney Killed Osama bin Laden When asked “Who is more responsible for Osama bin Laden’s death, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?”, 15% of Ohioan voters who identified themselves as “very” conservative gave credit not to President Obama, but to former Governor Mitt Romney. Perhaps more disturbingly, 1 in 3 Ohioans surveyed (31%) said they were not sure who was responsible for bin Laden’s death. Public Policy Polling surveyed 1,072 likely Ohio voters from September 7-9, 2012.

Liberal vs. Conservative Ideologies in the United States Liberal - The term liberal refers to those who favor equality as the most important core value. They generally support social and political reform; extensive economic governmental intervention; the expansion of federal social services; more vigorous efforts on behalf of the poor, minorities, and women; and greater concern for consumers and the environment. Liberals tend to live in urban areas and are less religious and watch MSNBC. Conservative - The term conservative refers to those who favor liberty as the most important core value. They generally support the social and economic status quo and are suspicious of efforts to introduce new political formulae and economic arrangements. Conservatives believe that a large and powerful government poses a threat to citizens’ freedom. Conservatives tend to live in rural areas and are more religious and watch the FOX News Channel.

Liberal vs. Conservative Ideologies – Differing Lifestyles and Segregation Living in the Bubble Liberals and conservatives in the United States are beginning to segregate themselves from each other and are only associating with those whom share their political ideology. Liberals and conservatives have differences when it comes to preferred media, music, TV, books, and even preferred retail shopping businesses. Liberals for example tend to like to watch The Daily Show, MSNBC and read the New York Times, open to alternative forms of music (rap, new age), authors Gore Vidal and Alan Colmes, and shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Conservatives for example tend to like to watch Fox News and listen to talk radio, listen to country and other patriotic music, read authors Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, and Thomas Sowell, and shop at Wal Mart.

The Formation of Political Opinions Political Knowledge - Studies of political opinion show that that individuals’ views are easily influenced by others if they do not hold clearly defined opinions about politics. However, better informed individuals can recognize their political interests and act consistently on their own behalf. This is true when individuals make voting decisions. If knowledge is power, then lack of knowledge is a source of political weakness leading to political inequality. As a result, political outcomes – for example, taxation rates – most often do not favor individuals who are unaware of their interests or how to pursue them.

The Formation of Public Opinions - Continued When forming opinions about politics, individuals are often confronted by groups trying to persuade them to adopt a point of view. Constant exposure to the marketplace of ideas (the public forum in which beliefs and ideas are exchanged and compete) modifies individuals’ beliefs. It has also created a common ground for discussion based on common understandings. Political ideas are usually produced by organized groups and interests.

Government, Private Groups, and the News Media Government attempts to influence citizens’ beliefs. However, its efforts are limited. Economic and political groups advance political ideas. For example, conservatives advanced the right to life campaign to ban abortion as the center of Christian institutions or liberals seeking to advance environmental campaigns for clean water, clean air, and regulation. The media have great impact on popular attitudes and opinions. The way the media report political events helps to shape public opinions. For example, recent media reports on governmental corruption have shaped American’s general distrust in government. After 9/11, President George W. Bush’s antiterrorist efforts were praised by the media. However, after 2003 the media criticized the aftermath of the Iraq War because the same administration failed to remove the United States from involvement in Iraq.

2003 Washington Post Poll: 69% Believe in Iraq – 9/11 – Al Qaeda link Nearly seven in 10 Americans believe it is likely that ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the Sept. 11 attacks, says a poll out almost two years after the terrorists' strike against this country. Sixty-nine percent in a Washington Post poll published Saturday said they believe it is likely the Iraqi leader was personally involved in the attacks carried out by al-Qaeda. A majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents believe it's likely Saddam was involved. Veteran pollsters say the persistent belief of a link between the attacks and Saddam could help explain why public support for the decision to go to war in Iraq has been so resilient despite problems establishing a peaceful country. The president frequently has called the Iraq war an important centerpiece in the United States' war on terror. But some members of the administration have said recently they don't believe there is a direct link.