Public Opinion and Ideology

 Political ideologies are:  Certain ethical set of ideals  Principles  Doctrines  Myths  Symbols of a social movement  Institution  Class  that explains how society should work, and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order. WHAT IS IDEOLOGY?

 Any political philosophy that  Favors tradition (in the sense of various religious, cultural, or nationally-defined beliefs and customs) in the face of external forces for change  is critical of proposals for radical social change  Characteristics of Conservatives are: Personal responsibility over welfare programs. Small or limited government. Free Markets Traditional American values – emphasis on religion in US Strong National Defense CONSERVATISM

 political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality  Characteristics of Liberals: Welfare programs to achieve equality. Larger government to serve peoples needs. Especially in the form of spending. Traditionally favored farmers, laborers, labor unions, religious and ethnic minorities. LIBERALISM

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A POLITICAL SPECTRUM LEFTRIGHT CENTER RADICAL Favors extreme changes to create an altered or entirely new social system. LIBERAL Believes that government must take action to change economic, political, and ideological MODERATE Holds beliefs that fall between the liberal & conservative views, usually including both. CONSERVATIVE Seeks to keep in place the economic, political, and social structures of society. REACTIONARY Favors extreme changes to restore society to an earlier, more conservative state

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana Legalization Gun Control Abortion Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllow Gun Control Abortion Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly) Gun Control Abortion Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Gun Control Abortion Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun Control Abortion Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Abortion Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Abortion Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Abortion Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm Abortion Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortions Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum Wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage Welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal Coverage Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Repeal Obamacare; let states decides for themselves Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Repeal Obamacare; let states decides for themselves No national healthcare Taxing Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Repeal Obamacare; let states decides for themselves No national healthcare TaxingTax rates that are higher on Rich (90% on top income earners) Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Repeal Obamacare; let states decides for themselves No national healthcare TaxingTax rates that are higher on Rich (90% on top income earners) Tax rate that taxes richer (45%-60% range) Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Repeal Obamacare; let states decides for themselves No national healthcare TaxingTax rates that are higher on Rich (90% on top income earners) Tax rate that taxes richer (45%-60% range) Tax rate that is lower on all classes of people Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Repeal Obamacare; let states decides for themselves No national healthcare TaxingTax rates that are higher on Rich (90% on top income earners) Tax rate that taxes richer (45%-60% range) Tax rate that is lower on all classes of people No taxes Gay Marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Repeal Obamacare; let states decides for themselves No national healthcare TaxingTax rates that are higher on Rich (90% on top income earners) Tax rate that taxes richer (45%-60% range) Tax rate that is lower on all classes of people No taxes Gay MarriageFull equality amongst married couples

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Repeal Obamacare; let states decides for themselves No national healthcare TaxingTax rates that are higher on Rich (90% on top income earners) Tax rate that taxes richer (45%-60% range) Tax rate that is lower on all classes of people No taxes Gay MarriageFull equality amongst married couples

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Repeal Obamacare; let states decides for themselves No national healthcare TaxingTax rates that are higher on Rich (90% on top income earners) Tax rate that taxes richer (45%-60% range) Tax rate that is lower on all classes of people No taxes Gay MarriageFull equality amongst married couples No gay marriage

IssueSocialistDemocratRepublicanLibertarian Marijuana LegalizationAllowAllow (mostly)Don’t allow (mostly) Allow Gun ControlHeavy Control of Guns Limited access with background checks Allow people to possess certain types of firearms Allow people to possess any type of firearm AbortionAllow women to choose No abortionsAllow women to choose Minimum WageMandatory National $15 Dollars per hour Raise minimum wage Keep minimum the wage/lower minimum wage No minimum wage WelfareFree education, food stamps, and retirement services Increased spending on food stamps, and programs like social security Lower spending on social programs, but maintain social security No welfare National Healthcare Universal CoverageObamacare; mandatory purchase of health insurance Repeal Obamacare; let states decides for themselves No national healthcare TaxingTax rates that are higher on Rich (90% on top income earners) Tax rate that taxes richer (45%-60% range) Tax rate that is lower on all classes of people No taxes Gay MarriageFull equality amongst married couples No gay marriageFull equality amongst married couples

 WHITES:  71% REJECT ADMISSION QUOTAS  83% OPPOSE HIRING PRACTICES BASED ON RACE  LESS IN FAVOR OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS BUT FOR MILITARY SPENDING  16% OPPOSE DEATH PENALTY  AFRICAN AMERICANS:  71% SUPPORT ADMISSION QUOTES  53% SUPPORT HIRING DECISIONS BASED ON RACE  MORE SUPPORTIVE OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS BUT AGAINST MILITARY SPENDING  44% OPPOSE DEATH PENALTY EFFECTS OF BACKGROUND ON PUBLIC OPINION: RACE AND ETHNICITY

 LIFE EXPERIENCE PLAYS A LARGE ROLE ON PERCEPTION FOR WHITES AND MINORITIES  LOWER INCOME = THE WANT FOR MORE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS WHY THE DIFFERENCE?

 Male  More aggressive in foreign policy opinions  In favor of death penalty  More against Social Welfare  More in favor of deregulation of the environment  Men and women often differ in these opinions by over 20%  Female  Less likely to support war/violence  Less likely for death penalty  Favor Social Welfare programs  Want protections of environments, children, and consumers GENDER DIFFERENCES

 Total of participants = 100  % in favor of getting rid of death penalty = 40%  % in favor of keeping the death penalty = 60%  Period 1: 67% keep  Period 4: 59% keep  Period 5: 64% keep  Period 7: 50% keep  By Gender:  % of males for eliminating death penalty: 35% v. 65%  % of females for eliminating the death penalty: 44% v. 56%  What accounts for the differences between genders on the death penalty? EXAMPLE: CLASS DEATH PENALTY DATA

 Lower income people  In favor of government programs  High income people  Believe in less government interventions because they do not receive the benefits of the programs  On non economical issues… Higher income people are MORE liberal in general. Why? INCOME AND EDUCATION

 Religion is one of the single most important indicators of someone’s beliefs  Non religious, Jewish, Members of mainline Protestant denominations, tend to be more liberal  Evangelicals, Southern Baptists, Pentecostals are more conservatives  Catholics? The Wild Card. RELIGION

 Younger voters = more liberal  City dwellers = more liberal  Upper Midwest = more liberal  More wealthy voters tend to be economic conservatives but social liberals  Democrats tend to focus on social issues, Republicans tend to focus on economic Issues OTHER FACTORS

Red Counties v. Blue Counties

 Total participants: 73  Democrats: 54  Republicans: 11  Green: 6  Libertarian: 1  Constitution Party: 1  Candidate Selection:  Bernie Sanders: 45  Joe Biden: 5  Hillary Clinton: 7  Donald Trump: 4  Mike Huckabee: 3  Carly Fiorina: 3  Marco Rubio: 3  Ted Cruz: 1  Rick Santorum: 1  Ben Carson: 1  But wait… didn’t the same class samples also say they wanted to ban the death penalty by 30%  Hmmm… YOUNG VOTES AND LIBERALISM: YOUR CLASSES