Political Parties: Ideology

I. Warm Up: Label 1-4 and list whether you agree or disagree. 1.Getting rid of or reducing the restrictions on the types of weapons one can own. 2.Keeping capital punishment (the death penalty). 3.Reducing or limiting social services spending (i.e. welfare, food stamps, etc.). 4.Decreasing personal income taxes. II. Place 1-4 where you think they belong on the Political Spectrum (left, right, center)

5.Making abortion illegal or making them more difficult to obtain. 6.Limiting or ending affirmative action programs (giving priority to women and ethnic minorities in colleges and jobs). 7.Decreasing taxes on businesses. 8.Providing health care for everyone. 9.Increasing taxes on the rich (those making over $200,000 per year). 10.Limiting or reducing defense (military) spending.

11.Providing more rights and benefits for homosexual couples. 12.Increasing minimum wage. 13.Making it easier for undocumented or illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses. 14.Increasing social services spending (i.e. welfare, food stamps, etc).

IdeologyIdeology : a set of beliefs

Party One Economic Ideology: Gov = helping hand Increase taxes on rich & businesses to pay for social services (health care, welfare, etc.) Increase minimum wage Reduce spending on defense

Why could raising the minimum wage be a bad idea?

Party Two Economic Ideology: Less gov involvement Lower income taxes for all Lower taxes on businesses: –More $ for businesses = more for employees –Why might this NOT work?

party two cont’d Fewer social services provided by gov – should be provided by jobs or private organizations Increase or maintain military spending “Government is not the solution to our problems, it is the problem”

Which economic policy do you prefer? Party one or party two?

Party One Democrats Represented by the Donkey

Party Two Republicans Represented by the Elephant GOP (Grand Old Party)

Political Parties #3: Social Ideology Platform – a party’s official beliefs/opinions on various subjects *Independents *Moderates

Republicans: Conservative, Right –Less gun control –Pro Life –Strict punishment for criminals 3 Strikes –Less strict separation of church & state Moment of silence in schools

Democrats: Liberal, Left –Strict gun control –Pro Choice –Gov regulation of environment Where the 2 platforms agree: –No same sex marriage – Death penalty for adults

Which party’s social ideology do you agree with? Do you prefer one party’s economic platform and another’s social platform?

To which party does this person most likely belong? Name the party and explain your position. 1.A wealthy middle-aged woman who has three teenage sons, is actively involved in the church, and would like to see school prayer brought back into the schools. 2.A college educated banker who likes to hunt on his vacations and recently lost a cousin due to a violent crime. PP #4 Who’s Who?

3. A homosexual lawyer who is fighting against large insurance companies who take advantage of their customers and wants to legally marry her partner. 4. A middle class Southern woman who is concerned about poverty in her community. She works at a local school and would like to see it expand its free lunch program.

Your Party Platform Pick 6 issues and describe your opinion for each Economy Taxes Individual Rights Family Crime Environment Other Topic…. Health Care Education Retirement Defense / Military Foreign Policy Immigration