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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
