1. Public Opinion

2.  The government doesn’t do everything that the people want, Some people become cynical and say that the government is democratic in name only Some people become cynical and say that the government is democratic in name only  the Framers of the Constitution created a government that would achieve certain substantial goals, not simply “do what the people want.”

3. Public Opinion  Public opinion is simply defined:  How do people feel about particular things, food, clothing, sports, weather, stuff like that  Most people don’t spend much time thinking about politics  This leads to a high level of public ignorance  Still people are really good at picking out clues to figure out what candidates reflect their interests or values with limited information!!

4. Our opinions come from????  Family – recently youngsters tending to be independent – no clear ideology  Religion – very complicated but most pronounced regarding social issues  Gender – men more Republican, women Democrats and big differences on gun control, size of gov, social programs and gay rights  School – college students used to be more liberal, not now, less involved and tend to read less

5.  Advertising and media affect the way people think of and view politics,  It does not control the opinions of people, or else democracy would be a joke.

6. What tears us apart?  Social classes are less important in US than Europe but still exist  Non-economic issues now define liberal and conservative more than money did  Race and ethnicity – differences between blacks and whites narrowing but still concerns of discrimination  Hispanics tend to be Democrats but not as much as African-Americans  Asians tend to be more Republican than whites

7.  No easy differentiation between liberals and conservatives  Pure liberals – Pure conservatives – libertarians – populists  All deal with economic and social issues  Pure liberals – liberal on economic and social  Pure conservatives – conservative on both  Libertarians – conservative economics, liberal social  Populists – liberal economic, conservative social We are complex!!

8. The Political Elite (people having more money, prestige, ability, schooling, etc… than the average Joe) schooling, etc… than the average Joe) Can be classified as liberals or conservatives in a pure sense; referred to as “activists.” Can be classified as liberals or conservatives in a pure sense; referred to as “activists.” Activists are more likely to display their political views openly and act upon them.Activists are more likely to display their political views openly and act upon them. They have more information (which leads to thinking about politics differently),They have more information (which leads to thinking about politics differently), Peers (other people like them can influence them, of course).Peers (other people like them can influence them, of course).

9. A “new class” Some say that there is emerging in America, which consists of people who possess certain advantages by the power, resources, and growth of government. Some say that there is emerging in America, which consists of people who possess certain advantages by the power, resources, and growth of government. The old classes were the capitalists or the workers.The old classes were the capitalists or the workers. Higher education tends to make people more liberal (now, at least; this wasn’t always the case), and has split the middle class into the traditional middle class and the “new class” of college students who have gone on to graduate school.Higher education tends to make people more liberal (now, at least; this wasn’t always the case), and has split the middle class into the traditional middle class and the “new class” of college students who have gone on to graduate school. This rift has made it harder to hold together the coalition of workers and liberal middle classmen that once made the Democratic Party so strong.This rift has made it harder to hold together the coalition of workers and liberal middle classmen that once made the Democratic Party so strong.

10. Political Elites, Public Opinion, and Public Policy Elites influence what issues the public should be involved in (through media and such) and also state the norms, or the standard of right or proper conduct. Elites influence what issues the public should be involved in (through media and such) and also state the norms, or the standard of right or proper conduct. They help determine the range acceptable and unacceptable behavior.They help determine the range acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Racism was wrong; now they say sexism is wrong; Racism was wrong; now they say sexism is wrong; Public reception to AIDS less fearing and loathing- more acceptance and sympathy. Public reception to AIDS less fearing and loathing- more acceptance and sympathy. The elites do NOT define economic problem (the public can see that for itself); they only shape the policy. The elites do NOT define economic problem (the public can see that for itself); they only shape the policy. I.e. Health Care a larger problem than Social Security, even though both need fixing.I.e. Health Care a larger problem than Social Security, even though both need fixing. In foreign affairs, though, they DO define the problem (i.e. Iraq). In foreign affairs, though, they DO define the problem (i.e. Iraq).

11. Polls and what to look for  Scientific polls are worthy of covering, un- scientific are entertaining but useless (Gallup)  Who did the poll?  Who paid for it and why?  How many people were questions?  How were they chosen?  What area, nation, state or region – or what group, teachers, lawyers, Democrats?

12. More on polls…  Are results based on answers?  When was the poll done?  How were the questions asked – phone, mail or in person and were the questions “weighted” to force a desired response?  In what order were the questions asked?  Was the poll part of a fund-raiser?

13. Terms to know  Universal sample – means the whole population the poll aims to measure  Random sample – anyone is a part of it  Quota sample – looking for a specific audience  Sampling error – reflects the difference in results of two polls  Exit poll – done on election day as people leave the polls  You must ask 1000+ people to get a +/- 3% sampling error or the poll is invalid

14.  A poll of 1,000 people can accurately reflect the opinions of 185,000,000 in a well conducted survey!!