Public Opinion and Political Action Chapter 6. Who are Americans? Who Are You – Who, Who, Who,Who?...

Public Opinion and Political ActionPublic Opinion and Political Action

Chapter 6

Who are Americans?

Who Are You – Who, Who, Who,Who?

What is The Trouble With Public Opinion?

Who Are Americans?Who Are Americans?

Some DemographicsSome DemographicsThe Melting Pot Metaphor- How Accurate is This?

Some TrendsSome Trends

What’s Happening Here?

What’s the Impact on Government?

The American PeopleThe American PeopleThe Graying of America

– Fastest growing group is over 65

What does this mean politically?

Smart and Smarter?Smart and Smarter?

American Political CultureAmerican 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.

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.

Shared ValuesShared ValuesLibertyEqualityIndividualismDemocratic

consensusMajority rule

Popular sovereignty

Rule of lawNational prideOptimismIdealism

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.

The Status of American The Status of American Political CulturePolitical Culture

Culture War

Appears to be two classes struggling over values.

Orthodox and Progressives

Are We United?Are We United?

MoralityTraditionRules from GodFundamentalists

Personal FreedomChangeRules on

CircumstancesMainline Protestants

Orthodox Progressive

Are We United?Are We United?No.

But we are quite tolerant of other views.

LIBERTY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, MERITOCRACY,

RESPONSIBILITY, DEMOCRACY,FREEDOM

YOUR INDIVIDUAL POLITICAL THOUGHT

BASED ON CONSISTENCIES OF

BELIEFS

45

58

18 72

31

Liberal Conservative

B7-Results

45

58

18 72

31

Liberal Conservative

A3-Results

45

58

18 72

31

Colin Powell

Antonia Scalia

Hillary Clinton

“W”

Bill Clinton

Jesse Jackson

How Americans Learn About How Americans Learn About Politics: Political SocializationPolitics: Political Socialization

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

How Americans Learn About How Americans Learn About Politics: Political SocializationPolitics: Political Socialization

How Americans Learn About Politics: How Americans Learn About Politics: Political SocializationPolitical 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

Political Socialization Interview QuestionsSubject’s Name:___________________________

Subject’s Ideology:___________________________

1. What do your parents do? When did they grow up where were they raised? Level of education?

2. Describe your parents (economically, ethnically, religious beliefs).

3. What television channels do you watch? Music?

4. Where were you raised? Schooling?

5. With what “type” of people do you hang around?

How American Learn About How American Learn About Politics: Political SocializationPolitics: Political Socialization

Turnout by Age, 2000 (Figure 6.3)

What Americans Value: What Americans Value: Political IdeologiesPolitical 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

Modern ideologiesModern 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.

Traditional SpectrumLIBERAL MODERATE CONSERVATIVE

Modern ideologiesModern ideologies

ConservativesLiberalsPopulists (Communitarians)Libertarians

Conservatives BelieveConservatives BelievePeople will do wrong, given the chanceEconomy works best with no

government controlLow taxes stimulate economic growthStrong militaryLocal controlMinimal government spendingMoral behavior

Famous ConservativesFamous Conservatives

Thomas Hobbes Adam SmithJohn AdamsAlexander

Hamilton

Famous Famous AmericanAmerican ConservativesConservatives

Douglas MacArthurBarry GoldwaterWilliam BuckleyRonald ReaganJack Kemp

New RightNew RightChristian fundamentalist and

others who believe in using the power of government to enforce a code of moral behavior.

Pat Robertson, Pat Buchanan, Jesse Helms

Criticisms of ConservatismCriticisms of ConservatismSelective opposition to governmentInsensitive to social needs of poor.Too much faith in market economy.“Trickle down” economics

questionable.Opposition to certain policies seem

racist.

Liberals believeLiberals believeIn 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 governmentGovernments ability to solve problems

Famous liberalsFamous liberals

John LockeThomas Jefferson

Famous American LiberalsFamous American Liberals

Franklin Roosevelt

John KennedyTed KennedyHillary Clinton

Criticisms of LiberalismCriticisms of Liberalism

Too much government.

Too much spending.Too many

bureaucrats.Too much regulation.

Libertarians believeLibertarians believe

Victory through the political processGovernment is the greatest evilEliminate welfareEliminate corporate subsidiesEliminate the FBI and the CIAReduce the military to a defense militiaLegalize drugs, prostitution, homosexual

conduct, etc

Populists BelievePopulists BelieveThe 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.

Liberals

In economy

Out of private

Conservative

Out of economy

In private

Populist

In economy

In private

Libertarian

Out of economy

Out of private

What Americans Value: Political What Americans Value: Political IdeologiesIdeologies

What Americans Value: What Americans Value: Political IdeologiesPolitical Ideologies

What Americans Value: What Americans Value: Political IdeologiesPolitical 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

Measuring Public Opinion and Measuring Public Opinion and Political InformationPolitical Information

The Science of Polls– Random Sampling: – Number of people surveyed

(1000-1500) = +/- 3%– Sampling Error: The level of

confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll.

– Random Digit Dialing

The Role of Polls in American The Role of Polls in American DemocracyDemocracy

– 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.

– Americans don’t know much about politics.

– Americans may know their basic beliefs, but not how that affects policies of the government.

What Polls Reveal About What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political InformationAmericans’ Political Information

Measuring Public Opinion and Measuring Public Opinion and Political InformationPolitical Information

Declining Trust in GovernmentDeclining Trust in Government

1950s

Watergate

Vietnam

How Americans Participate in PoliticsHow Americans Participate in PoliticsINACTIVES

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

How Americans Participate in How Americans Participate in PoliticsPolitics

Class, Inequality, and Participation