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Public Opinion and Political Action
Chapter 6
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Who Are You – Who, Who, Who,Who?
Who are Americans? Who Are You – Who, Who, Who,Who? What is The Trouble With Public Opinion?
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Who Are Americans?
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The Melting Pot Metaphor- How Accurate is This?
Some Demographics The Melting Pot Metaphor- How Accurate is This?
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What’s the Impact on Government?
Some Trends What’s Happening Here? What’s the Impact on Government?
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The American People What does this mean politically?
The Graying of America Fastest growing group is over 65 What does this mean politically?
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Smart and Smarter?
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American Political Culture
The widely shared political beliefs, values, and norms concerning the relationship of citizens to government and to one another. How Government ought to be carried out.
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Belief--a generalized expression of that which a person considers to be true.
Value--a desired end-state or condition. Norm--unwritten rules of behavior that apply to members of a society. Attitudes--predisposition to respond to some topics in a particular way. Opinion--expression of an attitude.
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Shared Values Popular sovereignty Liberty Equality Rule of law
National pride Optimism Idealism Liberty Equality Individualism Democratic consensus Majority rule
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You might be an American if...
Identify the political culture of the typical American by illustrating at least 5 political culture characteristics. On the back of this sheet explain each characteristic as well as how you have symbolized each characteristic.
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The Status of American Political Culture
Are We United? Culture War Appears to be two classes struggling over values. Orthodox and Progressives
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Orthodox Progressive Personal Freedom Change Morality
Rules on Circumstances Mainline Protestants Morality Tradition Rules from God Fundamentalists
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But we are quite tolerant of other views.
Are We United? No. But we are quite tolerant of other views.
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Whooo are you... Whoo,whoo... whoo whoo?
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YOUR INDIVIDUAL POLITICAL THOUGHT BASED ON CONSISTENCIES OF BELIEFS
CULTURE VS. IDEOLOGY LIBERTY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, MERITOCRACY, RESPONSIBILITY, DEMOCRACY,FREEDOM YOUR INDIVIDUAL POLITICAL THOUGHT BASED ON CONSISTENCIES OF BELIEFS
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B7-Results Liberal Conservative 45 18 72 31 58
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A3-Results Liberal Conservative 45 18 72 31 58
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Antonia Scalia Hillary Clinton Bill Clinton Jesse Jackson Colin Powell
45 18 72 31 58 Jesse Jackson Colin Powell “W”
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How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
“…the process through which and individual acquires [their] particular political orientation” The Process of Political Socialization The Family Time & emotional commitment Political leanings of children often mirror their parent’s leanings
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How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
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How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
The Process of Political Socialization The Mass Media Generation gap in TV news viewing School / Education Used by government to socialize the young into the political culture Education produces better jobs and a more positive view of government
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Political Socialization Interview Questions
Subject’s Name:___________________________ Subject’s Ideology:___________________________ What do your parents do? When did they grow up where were they raised? Level of education? Describe your parents (economically, ethnically, religious beliefs). What television channels do you watch? Music? Where were you raised? Schooling? With what “type” of people do you hang around?
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How American Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
Turnout by Age, 2000 (Figure 6.3)
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What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
Political Ideology: A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose. Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives? Views change over time Currently about 42% conservative, 25% liberal, 34% moderate
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Modern ideologies For Americans these are not very complicated structures, nor is there much consistency between the pieces that make up an ideology. Is Vague. Changes throughout History.
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Modern ideologies Conservatives Liberals Populists (Communitarians)
Libertarians
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Conservatives Believe
People will do wrong, given the chance Economy works best with no government control Low taxes stimulate economic growth Strong military Local control Minimal government spending Moral behavior
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Famous Conservatives Thomas Hobbes Adam Smith John Adams
Alexander Hamilton
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Famous American Conservatives
Douglas MacArthur Barry Goldwater William Buckley Ronald Reagan Jack Kemp
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New Right Christian fundamentalist and others who believe in using the power of government to enforce a code of moral behavior. Pat Robertson, Pat Buchanan, Jesse Helms
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Criticisms of Conservatism
Selective opposition to government Insensitive to social needs of poor. Too much faith in market economy. “Trickle down” economics questionable. Opposition to certain policies seem racist.
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Liberals believe In the ultimate capacity of people to do good.
Less government intrusion in private life. Government as the active agent in protecting liberties of the people. Citizen responsibility to pay taxes to finance the work of government Governments ability to solve problems
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Famous liberals John Locke Thomas Jefferson
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Famous American Liberals
Franklin Roosevelt John Kennedy Ted Kennedy Hillary Clinton
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Criticisms of Liberalism
Too much government. Too much spending. Too many bureaucrats. Too much regulation.
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Libertarians believe Victory through the political process
Government is the greatest evil Eliminate welfare Eliminate corporate subsidies Eliminate the FBI and the CIA Reduce the military to a defense militia Legalize drugs, prostitution, homosexual conduct, etc
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Populists Believe The Government should play a larger role in maintaining order. The Government should play a larger role in economics. The Government should play a larger role involving issues of morality.
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Liberals In economy Out of private Libertarian Out of economy Out of private Populist In economy In private Conservative Out of economy In private
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What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
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What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
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What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
Do People Think in Ideological Terms? Ideologues: think in ideological terms- 12% of the population Group Benefits: rely on party labels- 42% of the population Nature of the Times: current times are good or bad- 24% of the population No issue content: based on personalities- 22% of the population
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Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
The Science of Polls Random Sampling: Number of people surveyed ( ) = +/- 3% Sampling Error: The level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll. Random Digit Dialing
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The Role of Polls in American Democracy
Polls are a tool for democracy. Lead or follow public opinion. Exit Polls- used by the media to predict election day winners. Bandwagon effect- distorts the election process. Question wording makes a difference. Problem with bias.
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What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political Information
Americans don’t know much about politics. Americans may know their basic beliefs, but not how that affects policies of the government.
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Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
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Declining Trust in Government
Watergate Vietnam
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How Americans Participate in Politics
INACTIVES RARELY VOTE, PARTICIPATE, OR EVEN TALK POLITICS COMPLETE ACTIVISTS PARTICIPATE IN ALL FORMS OF POLITICS, HIGHLY EDUCATED, HIGH INCOMES, MIDDLE- AGED VOTING SPECIALISTS VOTE AND THAT’S ABOUT IT CAMPAIGNERS CLEAR PARTY IDENTIFICATION, LIKE POLITICAL CONFLICT COMMUNALISTS INVOLVED IN NON PARTISAN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES PAROCHIAL PARTICIPANTS DO NOT VOTE OR CAMPAIGN, BUT CONTACT LOCAL OFFICIALS ABOUT SPECIFIC PROBLEMS
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How Americans Participate in Politics
Class, Inequality, and Participation
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