American Political Culture Why don’t people shoot Bill Clinton? Why don’t people shoot Bill Clinton? Why do we pay taxes? Why do we pay taxes? Why don’t we take to the streets of Seattle to protest Microsoft? Why don’t we take to the streets of Seattle to protest Microsoft?

Definition of Political Culture a set of norms, beliefs, traditions, and values oriented toward the political system that are for the most part shared by the society and are relatively unique to a political system a set of norms, beliefs, traditions, and values oriented toward the political system that are for the most part shared by the society and are relatively unique to a political system

American Political Culture? Was there an American political culture? Was there an American political culture? The American Mind, The American Political Tradition The American Mind, The American Political Tradition Has it disappeared? Has it disappeared? Is there a “culture war” in America? Is there a “culture war” in America? Should we care who wins? Should we care who wins?

Tenets of Classical Liberalism Individual have natural rights Individual have natural rights Individuals are equal under the law Individuals are equal under the law Government should be limited Government should be limited Government's #1 purpose is to serve individuals Government's #1 purpose is to serve individuals

Declaration of Independence All men are created equal All men are created equal Endowed with certain inalienable rights, life liberty pursuit of happiness Endowed with certain inalienable rights, life liberty pursuit of happiness Government derives “their just powers from the consent of the governed Government derives “their just powers from the consent of the governed

Quick Survey 1. It is the responsibility of the state to take care of poor people who can’t take care of themselves. 2. People like me and my family have a good chance of improving our standard of living. 3. Govt should reduce income inequality. 4. Government should provide all Americans with a guaranteed income. 5. Luck is more important than hard work in getting ahead.

Liberty Americans emphasize individual responsibility Americans emphasize individual responsibility People believe hard work pays off People believe hard work pays off

Equality Americans have a strong commitment to legal, social and political equality. Americans have a strong commitment to legal, social and political equality. Not equality of outcomes or economic equality Not equality of outcomes or economic equality Public Support for Affirmative Action Public Support for Affirmative Action Equality more of a “contested” concept Equality more of a “contested” concept

Values Shape Policy Outcomes Clinton Health Care Plan Clinton Health Care Plan large government operation large government operation remove control from the market remove control from the market restrict the choices of individuals restrict the choices of individuals Promote equality of outcomes Promote equality of outcomes Program conflicted with basic values

What do we have instead?  Now 80% of Americans receive their insurance from a very large private HMO.  Removed from market, cannot choose our insurers  Private HMOs restrict our choice of health providers  No concerns about equality of service or opportunity.

Administrative Notes Skidmore Greens- carpool 5:15pm in front of Case Skidmore Greens- carpool 5:15pm in front of Case EPA meeting EPA meeting

Personal Issues Military service should be voluntary. (No draft) Military service should be voluntary. (No draft) Government should not control radio, TV, the press or the Internet. Government should not control radio, TV, the press or the Internet. Repeal regulations on sex for consenting adults. Repeal regulations on sex for consenting adults. Drug laws do more harm than good. Repeal them. Drug laws do more harm than good. Repeal them. Let peaceful people cross borders freely. Let peaceful people cross borders freely.

Economic Issues Businesses and farms should operate without govt. subsidies. Businesses and farms should operate without govt. subsidies. People are better off with free trade than with tariffs. People are better off with free trade than with tariffs. Minimum wage laws cause unemployment. Repeal them. Minimum wage laws cause unemployment. Repeal them. End taxes. Pay for services with user fees. End taxes. Pay for services with user fees. All foreign aid should be privately funded. All foreign aid should be privately funded.

I’m a liberal, you’re a liberal, wouldn’t you like to be a liberal too? Liberalism Liberalism Individual liberty is primary Individual liberty is primary Government should be limited Government should be limited Conservatives/Liberals, R/Ds agree Conservatives/Liberals, R/Ds agree Debate over when government should intervene in private affairs Debate over when government should intervene in private affairs Liberals- lower standard on economic issues Liberals- lower standard on economic issues Conservatives- lower standard on social issues Conservatives- lower standard on social issues

Traditional Explanations no feudal aristocracy—no landed aristocracy to provide a conservative view no feudal aristocracy—no landed aristocracy to provide a conservative view minimal taxes minimal taxes few legal restraints few legal restraints frontier provides opportunities—easy for ambitious individuals to succeed frontier provides opportunities—easy for ambitious individuals to succeed nation of small indep farmers nation of small indep farmers

Other theories Limited government Limited government Self-selection Self-selection Socialization Socialization Media Media Just do it Just do it Stuart from Ameritrade Stuart from Ameritrade Mountain Dew Mountain Dew

Is there a Culture War? Himmelfarb v. Morone Himmelfarb v. Morone Evidence Evidence Origins of Culture War Origins of Culture War Consequences of Consequences of Policy Implications Policy Implications

Three Traditions Liberal Tradition- promote individual freedom Liberal Tradition- promote individual freedom Govt should promote individual efforts Govt should promote individual efforts Prevalent at national level Prevalent at national level Right Tradition- promote moral society Right Tradition- promote moral society Government. Can legislate morality Government. Can legislate morality Prevalent at state and local level Prevalent at state and local level Left tradition- promote society of equal individuals Left tradition- promote society of equal individuals promote equality of outcomes; participation promote equality of outcomes; participation Not prevalent Not prevalent

Conflict over Values Conflict is over their relative importance, and how to balance them Conflict is over their relative importance, and how to balance them liberals want individuals to be free from government intervention in the social aspects, but not in economic aspects. liberals want individuals to be free from government intervention in the social aspects, but not in economic aspects. Conservatives want individuals to be free from government intervention in economic aspects, but not social aspects. Conservatives want individuals to be free from government intervention in economic aspects, but not social aspects.

Tocqueville’s Vision Frontier and widespread property ownership Frontier and widespread property ownership Life characterized by atomistic social freedom Life characterized by atomistic social freedom Do not need strong state or class movement to create upward mobility Do not need strong state or class movement to create upward mobility New World creates faith in individualism New World creates faith in individualism