1. Two Dilemmas of Government
Ch. 1 – Freedom, Order, or Equality?

2. The Original Dilemma: Freedom vs. Order
How much freedom must citizens surrender to government? How much government force is necessary to maintain order?
This has evolved to encompass more issues: -Safety, whether from violence or AIDS. -Capital Punishment. -Access to “obscene” or subversive material. -Government monitoring of communication.

3. The Modern Dilemma: Freedom Vs. Equality
Freedom and equality might seem to go hand in hand. When governments enact policy to promote social equality, freedom is diminished.
1960s – Equal Pay Act – Employers forced to pay men and women equally for the same work, regardless of the employer’s choice.
1970s – Busing – Some states require districts bus students to different neighborhood schools to achieve a fair distribution of black and white students, regardless of what parents want.
1990s – ADA – Businesses with 25 or more employees cannot pass over a disabled person for hiring or promotion if they are otherwise qualified.

4. -isms A Brief Tour Totalitarianism
Government should have unlimited power.
Really, control of everything: business, labor, prices, education, religion, sports, the arts.
Object is to produce a “perfect society” serving some master plan for the “common good.”
Examples – North Korea, 3rd Reich Germany, USSR under Stalin, 1984.

5. -Isms A Brief Tour Socialism. Economic system based on Marxist theory.
Government ownership of the means of industry that produce goods and services.
Allows more room than Communism for private ownership.
Democratic Socialism
Civil liberties and voting, and citizens vote that the government will take some stuff over.
Examples – Most of the developed world’s healthcare, America’s fire department and post office.

6. -isms a brief tour Capitalism.
Free enterprise – private business operates without government regulation.
Many theorists say that it is necessary for democracy.
In America, private business operates transportation and media, which are run by the government in many other countries.
We regulate business to some degree, and direct the overall economy.
Examples – iPhone, McDonalds, Commercial Radio, the Housing Market Crash.

7. -isms a brief tour Libertarianism
Opposes all government action except as absolutely necessary to protect life and property.
Government should not promote either equality or order.
Anti-seatbelt and helmet laws.
Helping the poor should be a matter of individual choice.
Laissez-faire economic policy.

8. -Isms A Brief Tour Anarchism Oppose all government, in any form.
Object to even traffic laws.
Seriously, what more do you need to know?

9. Ideology: a two-dimensional framework