Modern Ideologies and Political Philosophy

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Modern Ideologies and Political Philosophy

• Most people approach politics through an ideology
  a set of related ideas that modify one another,
  an organized set of ideas.

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Views of Government

• Our ideology and experiences greatly affect how
  we view our government.
• An ideology is an organized set of ideas that
  helps us make sense out of politics for ourselves
  and present arguments effectively in public.
• We develop our ideologies in such a way that they
  fit our needs and predispositions, reflecting
  what we want but they also take on a life of
  their own and guide our decisions.

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American Ideologies

• Tend to be more loosely organized than those of
  other peoples
• Americans tend to admit exceptions and
  inconsistencies into their ideologies
• American liberalism and American conservatism are
  variants of a more general ideology known simply
  as liberalism.

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American Ideologies

• American liberalism
• American conservatism
• Why an increase in concern about ideologies in
  the U.S.?

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Ideology of Americans

• Political ideology is an individuals coherent
  set of values and beliefs about the scope and
  purpose of government.

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Ideology of Americans

• Liberalism thought to favor government
  involvement in the economy and the provision of
  social services and to take an activist role in
  protecting women, the elderly, minorities, and
  the environment.

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Ideology of Americans

• Conservatism thought to believe that a
  government is best that governs least and that
  big government can only infringe on individual,
  personal, and economic rights.

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Coalition - major political groupings that have
shaped American policy.

• New Deal Coalition
• 1932 - F.D. Roosevelt

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A New Deal liberal believes

• Using the power of govt to solve problems
• a strong presidency
• curb big business, help the underdog
• not much objection to taxes or deficits
• favors labor and working persons
• minorities
• supports govt action to foster employment
• help those unable to help themselves
• civil liberties

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Loyalty Trends (today)- Democratic

• Labor union members tend to vote Democratic
• Democrats have a lead in garnering the women's
  votes
• Over 80 of African Americans and Hispanics vote
  3 to 1 Democratic
• Young people are again more Democratic
• Most blue collar workers and unemployed are
  Democrats
• Catholics and Jews are mostly Democrats
• Seniors are mostly Democrats
• Liberals tend to be Democrats

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A Classic Conservative believes

• Best govt is the least govt
• less taxes
• oppose deficits, balance budget
• de-centralization
• de-regulation (laissez-fair capitalism)
• stress patriotism and strong defense
• strong Congress
• appeals to affluent and middle class

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Loyalty Trends (today) - Republican

• Chambers of Commerce tend to vote Republican
• The West tends to be more Republican
• Men tend to split fairly evenly between the two
  parties
• Cuban Americans are generally Republicans
  (anti-Castro)
• Professionals, executives, and white collar
  workers tend to be Republican
• High status Protestants tend to be Republican
• Married couples tend to be Republican
• Conservatives tend to be Republican

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Abortion Rights

• Conservative
• Oppose
• Liberal
• Favor

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Environmental Regulation

• Conservative
• Oppose
• Liberal
• Favor

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Anti-Discrimination Laws

• Conservative
• Oppose
• Liberal
• Favor

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Government support of school vouchers

• Conservative
• Favor
• Liberal
• Oppose

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Government support of poor

• Conservative
• Oppose
• Liberal
• Support

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Gun Control Laws

• Conservative
• Oppose
• Liberal
• Favor

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Organized School Prayer

• Conservative
• Favor
• Liberal
• Oppose

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Contemporary American Ideologies

• Liberalism
• Neo-liberalism
• The Left Wing
• Conservatism
• Neo-conservatism
• Religious Conservatism
• The Right Wing

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Government is part of the problem, not part of
the solution

• Conservatism or neo-conservatism Problems are
  better solved by individuals, by the private
  sector, and by the institutions of civil society.
  Government interference makes things worse.

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We must end welfare.

• Neo-conservatism, or conservatism, or right wing
  The welfare state leads to dependency for
  Americans, causing more vice than virtue. The
  cost of the welfare state is too high its
  unfair to ask working Americans to support people
  who do not work.

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We must end welfare as we know it.

• Neo-liberalism or neo-conservatism Although a
  safety net must be in place to help those who
  cannot work, welfare must be reformed to provide
  more incentives for self-help and less incentive
  for dependency.

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The college core curriculum should teach our
shared Western cultural heritage.

• Neo-conservatism or religious conservatism
  Heavy emphasis placed on value of Western
  civilization and the Judeo-Christian tradition.
  Views college curriculum as a necessary vehicle
  for instilling cultural and moral values in
  students.

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If elected, I will get government off your backs
and release the great energy of the American
people.

• Conservatism Supports minimalist government
  resting on the assumption that Americans will
  prosper if unhindered by government.

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So long as I am president, no American shall go
to bed hungry, no American shall suffer the
burden of discrimination, and no American shall
fall ill without the benefit of medical help.

• Liberalism Supports an activist government
  resting on the assumption that government should
  provide remedies for the problems of the least
  advantaged.

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Abortion is the modern equivalent of the Nazi
holocaust.

• Religious conservatism Primarily emphasis on
  Judeo-Christian morality. Views contemporary
  problems as the result of straying from this
  morality.

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Workers of the world unite you have nothing to
lose but your chains.

• Left wing Promotes equality, almost invariable
  through organization of the oppressed masses.
  Views contemporary government as a vehicle for
  those in power to maintain the status quo.

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Ideology and Political Philosophy

• Liberalism
• The Conservative reaction
• The Socialist alternative
• Communism and Socialism