Ideological Issues 1. You will be given 3 different issues 2. Each issue will include two extreme viewpoints 3. Choose a number that represents your belief on the issue 1-Completely FOR 10- Completely AGAINST OR Choose a number somewhere in between that best communicates your belief on the issue. Ideology=the set of ideas and beliefs of an individual, group or political party

Issue #1: School Uniform 1(For)-School safer for students, reduces socioeconomic disparities and encourages students to focus on their studies not their clothes. 10 (Against)-Infringe upon students rights to express their indiviudality, have no positive effect on behavior and academic achievement and emphasize the socioeconomic divisions they are supposed to eliminate. *

Issue # 2 Under God in Pledge 1(For)- The U.S. is a Christian nation, language represents the foundation of our country not relgiion, federal law, state constitutions and US currency already have references to GOD. 10(Against)- Chruch and state should be kept seperate, COnstitution protects minority rights against majority will, “Under God” is a religious phrase that violates the establishment clause of the first ammendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion … .” *

Issue # 3 Right to Life 1(FOR)-Terminally ill people should have the right to end their suffering with a quick, dignified, and compassionate death and the right to die is protected by the same constitutional safeguards that guarantee such rights as marriage, procreation, and the refusal or termination of life-saving medical treatment. 10(Against)-Doctors have a moral responsibility to keep their patients alive, it is a "slippery slope" from euthanasia to murder and legalizing euthanasia will unfairly target the poor and disabled and create incentives for insurance companies to terminate lives in order to save money. *

Ideology is not . . . Black and white . . . . * *

Instead it falls on a continuum . . LEFT MIDDLE RIGHT *

Political Ideology A coherent set of values and beliefs about public policy.

Political Ideology falls along a continuum... Conservative Ideology Supports less active scope of Government freer reign to private sector. Liberal Ideology Wide-scope for the government Involving policies that promote equality. Liberal Left Wing Democrat Conservative Right Wing Republican Moderate Center D/R-Member of Party or Political Party L/R WIng refer to stances Liberal v Conservative-views *

Political Ideology GOALS (SAME): End Result. Freedom, Chance for prosperity, As few people suffering as possible, Healthy children, Crime-free streets, etc. DIRECTION (DIFFERENT): The path to achieve this goal….this is where ideologies come in...

Political Ideology: Liberal Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to help solve people’s problems. More government involvement Open to new ideas or ways of behaving that are not traditional or widely accepted

Political Ideology: Conservative Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems. Less government involvement Favor traditional values, less accepting of changes or new ideas

Liberal v. Conservative Stances (Moderates fall somewhere in the middle of these argument.) Labor Unions Taxes Social Programs (Welfare) Immigration Abortion Religion & Government Censorship of the Arts Crime Same Sex Marriage Environment Education Healthcare Death Penalty Gun Control Affirmative Action

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives LABOR UNIONS Favor Labor Unions Fight for workers rights: Social security, medicare, etc. Conservative Against Labor Unions Workers shouldnt be forced to join them Give more power than necessary to workers Affirmative Action-hiring and race. People shoudl be hired based on ability not race

Political Ideology: Liberals vs Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives: Taxes and Social Spending Liberals Increase Used to support social programs in the states like Welfare Medicaid and Medicare Homeless shelters Free clinics Shelters for battered women Soup kitchens Conservatives Decrease Social programs should be supported through charities taxes “Trickle Down Economics” Trickle Down-Tax breaks for upperclass will benefit economy as a whole especially lower class

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Abortion Pro – Choice (For) A fetus is not a human life Conservative Pro – Life (Against) Human life begins at conception

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Defense Spending Decrease Use more for social spending Conservative Increase or maintain

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Death Penalty Against it (Anti) Would like to see it banned by the national government Inhumane Conservatives For it (Pro) “Eye for an eye”

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Same Sex Marriage Believe it should be legal Not a moral issue, but an equality issue and it is protected by the Constitution Conservatives Believe it should not be legal Support a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage Is a moral issue tied to religion

Political Ideology: Liberals vs Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Attitude Towards Criminals Liberals Want rights of accused protected first and foremost Interested in finding out “why” person committed crime Conservatives Want rights of victims protected first and foremost Not concerned with “why” person committed crime

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Minimum Wage Would like to see it increased Believe national government should set it to protect workers Conservatives Against a minimum wage- would like to see it end Believe it is too much regulation on business

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Social Security Believe it should be left in the hands of the federal government Conservatives Believe it should be privatized

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Health Care Should be 100% provided by the national government Conservatives Should continue to be de- regulated and left in the hands of independent, competing health care providers

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Immigration Illegal immigrants do the jobs Americans don’t want to do Open to discussing options for the millions of undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. Conservatives Support legal immigration but not illegal immigration We need stricter immigration laws

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Environment Global Warming caused by increased production of carbon dioxide Industrial growth harms the environment Conservatives Less focus on the environment Favor industrial growth

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Gun Control More regulations on guns needed. Conservatives Second Amendment gives us the right to keep and bear arms

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Education Increase funding for public schools Raise teacher wages and reduce class size Conservatives Parents who pay the taxes that fund the schools should get to choose where and how to educate their children- School vouchers

Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Religion Want to keep clear and strict separation of church and state No religion in government policy Conservatives Would like to implement more religion into government policy Views largely based on religion