Public Opinion

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Public Opinion
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What is public Opinion

• It is more complex than you would be led to
  believe
• It refers to the complex collection of the
  opinions of many different people.
• It is the sum of all their views.
• It is not the single and undivided view of some
  mass mind.

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Different Publics

• There are many different publics in the United
  States
• For example People who think the health care law
  was a good idea are in that public while those
  who opposed it were in another public.
• Those who support the death penalty or think the
  president is doing a good job fall in separate
  publics. Very few people belong to every public.
• Keep in mind that very few, if any, issues
  capture the attention of everyone.
• Sometimes an issue captures millions of people
  but at the same time millions more dont care.

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Public Affairs

• Also keep in mind that public opinion includes
  only those views that relate to public affairs.
• What would be a public affair?
• Public affairs includes politics, public issues,
  and the making of public policy.
• In short those events and issues that concern
  people at large.
• Keep in mind public opinion is views on things
  like political parties, congress, taxes,
  unemployment, and welfare.
• We are not talking about your favorite baseball
  team or college football team here.
• Also keep in mind that public opinion only
  happens when an issues is expressed in the
  public. Your private thoughts about something
  are not public opinion.
• You can express public opinion in a vote, on a
  billboard, in a movie or by talking about it.

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Factors affecting Opinion

• No one is born with a set of opinions on
  government and politics
• Instead we learn them throughout our lives.
• What are some things that affect our attitudes
  toward government and politics?
• One is family
• Most studies show, not surprisingly, that
  children raised by parents who are Democrats tend
  to become democrats while children raised by
  Republican parents tend to become Republicans.
• Schools are another factor
• Schools work to indoctrinate kids at a very early
  age. This means they install loyalty to a
  particular cause or idea.
• Also students say the pledge and salute the flag.
  From the early grades on students pick up a
  growing amount of knowledge about specific areas
  of government and politics.
• Keep in mind that Family and school are the
  leading factors but they are not the only factors.

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Historic Events

• How do historic events affect public opinion?
• One example can be 9/11. This launched the
  global war on terror and brought the threat of
  terrorism to the front of public opinion.
• Another example is the great depression.
• Here millions of Americans were out of work and
  many Americans believe the role of government
  should be expanded.
• Many changed from Republican to Democrat because
  of this.

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Mass Media

• Can mass media influence public opinion?
• Most people would say yes.
• Its no secret that ideas spread quickly through
  TV, news papers, magazines, internet, and the
  radio.
• Keep in mind there is a TV in 98 of American
  households.

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Peer Groups

• This is the group of friends you would normally
  be around.
• How would your opinion be influenced by them?
• Well belonging to a peer group usually reinforces
  what you already believe
• Also many people want to be liked by their
  friends so you tend not to have many differing
  ideas within the group.

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Things to remember

• Public opinion refers to the complex collection
  of the opinions of many different people.
• It is NOT the single individual view of some mass
  mind.
• Public opinion includes only those views related
  to public affairs.
• Public affairs are events and issues that include
  people at large.
• Public opinion includes things like political
  views, opinions on candidates and unemployment.
  It is NOT your favorite sports team or band.
• Finally public opinion is only public opinion
  when it is expressed in the public. Your private
  thoughts that you keep to yourself do not qualify
  as public opinion.
• http//content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics
  /post/2012/08/paul-ryan-poll-vice-president-mitt-r
  omney-/1.UDefu8GPVUe