Govt reading

Political ideology

• Represents a collection of beliefs about morality, economics, efficiency, how society should function and proper role of government

• Coherent set of political ideas held by an individual. Members of political parties may not share the party’s ideology in its entirety

How is political ideology measured/ represented

• Measured with grids and graphic representations

• Represented Liberalism(left) and Conservatism(right)

Liberal ideology

• Govt has an important role to play in society

• Govt should regulate the economy in order to ensure that effiencey is maximized and non-economic interest are protected

• Govt should refrain from regulating moral issues is most cases. Issues such as abortion, same sex marriage, marijuana and other private matter should be left to individuals

• Govt should spend money to assist citizens with social services such as housing, food, health care.

Conservative ideology

• Govt should play a minimal role in society

• Govt should engage in minimal regulation of the economy; market forces maximize efficiency and solve most problems

• Govt has an important role to play in regulating moral issues. Govt should regulate moral issues in order to uphold traditional moral beliefs

• Govt funding of social goods should be limited. Citizens should not be restrained and should be expected to provide for themselves

Liberals on economy

• increase govt regulation of business to protect workers of economy

• Markets need regulation to function efficiently

• Favors taxation of businesses and the wealthy to support spending on public goods

Liberals on federalism

• favors federal power

Liberals on national security

• favors reducing military spending

• Supports involvement in global affairs, diplomacy, and foreign aid

Liberals on social welfare programs

• increase funding of social welfare programs

Liberals on education

• increase funding of public education

Liberals on immigration

• support legal immigration and citizenship path for certain groups of undocumented immigrants

Liberals on abortion rights

• favors abortion rights(pro-choice)

Liberals on civil rights

• favors expanded civil rights protections

• Favors affirmative action

Liberals on environmental protection

• favors regulations to protect the environment and combat climate change

Liberals on gun control

• favor restrictions on gun purchases and ownerships

liberals on healthcare

• supports expanded access and govt involvement in health care

Conservatives on economy

• govt should minimally regulate economy

• Market forces operate to produce efficiency and productivity in markets

• Favors reduce taxation of businesses and the wealthy in order to stimulate the economy

Conservatives on federalism

• favors states rights

Conservatives on national security

• favors increase in military spending

• Supports limitations on foreign aid, limited involvement with foreign nations and military strength

Conservatives on social welfare programs

• reduce funding of social welfare programs

Conservatives on education

• vouchers and support for private and religious education

Conservatives on immigration

• reduce legal immigration and opposes citizenship path for undocumented immigrants

Conservatives on abortion rights

• opposes abortion rights(pro-life)

Conservatives on civil rights

• favors limited civil rights protection

• Opposes affirmative action

Conservatives on environmental protection

• opposes govt action to regulate businesses

• Views climate change as an insignificant problem

Conservatives on gun control

• opposes restrictions on gun purchases and ownerships

Conservatives on health care

• favors private sector, free-market health care system with minimal govt involvement

Political culture

• broadly shared set of political values, beliefs, and norms held in society

Political socialization

• is the process by which individuals within a society acquire their political values and opinions. Agents of socialization include family, education and media

Libertarian ideology 1

• shares ideas with conservative and liberal

• They oppose of both regulation of economic activity and personal choices. Individual liberty is their highest value and govt should exist only to protect private property rights

Libertarians are constant in their view of proper role of govt in society

• govt should not regulate economy but allow it to function freely according to the decisions of its participants

• Govt shouldn’t involve itself in personal descisions. Interference with same sex marriage, sex, drugs, gambling, and other issues is a violation of personal liberty

• Ex: a libertarian would favor policies legalizing marijuana and reducing govt spending on prisons