Chapter Four

1. Chapter Four Political Culture and Ideology

2. American Political Culture • Social Capital—participation in the civic process • Decreasing? • Voter turn out • Decline in volunteer civic groups • Increasing? • Popularity of talk radio • Protests for “everything”

3. Shared Values • Beliefs that are rooted in classical liberalism (rejection of aristocratic rule). All are entitled to these “natural rights” • All Americans generally agree that these are important but there are many interpretations of what these mean and what is the best way of meeting them.

4. 1. Liberty Freedom is the most enduring and revered value 2. Equality Opportunity Protection 3. Individualism Rights and responsibilities 4. Power to the People Reliance on common sense Government is often viewed as a necessary evil Shared Values

5. 5. Democratic Consensus Majority rule Opposition Regular elections Popular sovereignty 6. Justice and rule of Law Gov. is based on law and is applied equally to all 7. Nationalism, optimism, idealism Despite dissatisfactions we tend to believe that we are better, stronger, and more virtuous than other nations Shared Values

6. Roosevelt’s Second Bill of Rights • Role of the government in caring for it’s citizens. • Today, the major differences in party ideology can be traced to how much one believes in these “rights” and how much government assistance should go to meeting them.

7. Liberalism • Positive uses of government to bring about justice and equality of opportunity • Willing to have gov intervene in economy to remedy defects of capitalism • Protection against inadequate health care, housing, and education (welfare state) • Affirmative action programs • Tax rates that rise with income • Supports unions and laborers • Gov takes care of “weak” • Equal opportunity for all is essential

8. Criticism of Liberalism • Too much reliance on gov • Higher taxes • Forgets that gov should be limited • Big gov dictates us • Self-help ethic gets destroyed • True economic freedom gets punished because of welfare and regulations

9. Conservatism • Private property rights • Free enterprise (pro-business) • Small gov (except for defense) • Stronger state gov. • Gov should ensure order • Self-determination • Change in moderation • Human needs should be met by families and charities • Big gov is expensive and counterproductive • Social conservatism focuses on moral issues • Abortion, gay marriage, prayer in school, etc.

10. Criticism of Conservatism • Hypocritical (Big gov control for some things but not others) • Too much faith in market economy • Favors big business too much • “Trickle down” economics • Insensitive to needs of poor and ill • Failure to meet the issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation • Too religious

11. Socialism • Economic and gov system based in public ownership • Greatly expanding the role of government • Favor stepped up efforts towards equality • Nationalize certain industries • Institute a public work program • Steeper taxes on wealthy • Cut defense spending

12. Environmentalism • Dominated by concern for environment • Green-movement emphasizes grass-roots democracy, social justice, equal opportunity, nonviolence, respect for diversity, feminism, ecological “friendly” behavior

13. Libertarianism • Cherishes individual liberty and insists on a sharply limited government. • Overtones to anarchism • Opposition to just about all gov programs