Chapter 12 Political Ideology

Political ideology

coherent set of beliefs about government’s role
Shapes: Policy preferences, Voting behavior, Party alignment

Liberal (Democrats)

believe healthcare is a right and support government programs to ensure access for everyone.
Government should step in more

Conservative (Republicans)

see it as a privilege and prefer free-market solutions with limited government involvement.
Individuals should solve it their own problems

Affordable Care Act (ACA),

passed under Barack Obama, expanded health insurance coverage and helped families like the Secrists, but also led to higher costs for some individuals.

Republicans, including Donald Trump, attempted to repeal it, arguing it gave too much power to the government.

Conservatism

  Less government in the economy + more control over social behavior
  Supports free markets, lower taxes, traditional values, Small gov

Liberalism

  More government in the economy + less control over social behavior
→Supports regulation, welfare programs, individual freedoms
Higher taxes for rich, Big Gov

Libertarianism

Very little government in both economy and social life
  Government should only protect rights and property, Minimal taxes Small gov

Democratic Ideology-

-Liberty of privacy
Supports personal freedoms (ex: abortion rights)
-Order in gun regulation
Supports laws to regulate guns for public safety
-Protect liberties of the accused
Focus on fair treatment in the justice system
-Pro-choice
Supports a woman’s right to choose
-Favor tax increases
→ Especially on wealthy to fund social program

Republican Ideology

-Liberty in the marketplace
Supports free markets and business freedom
-Order in immigration
Supports stricter immigration laws
-Stronger punishment for offenders
tough-on-crime policies
-Pro-life
Opposes abortion
-Favor tax cuts for businesses
Encourages economic growth

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

measures the average change over time in prices paid by urban consumers for a fixed market basket of goods and services.

Mixed Economy

an economic system blending private enterprise with government intervention, balancing efficiency and equity.

Command Economy

is a system where a central authority, typically the government, makes all key economic decisions, including production goals, resource allocation, and price setting

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

is the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period