POLITICAL SPECTRUM An Introduction

Today’s Goals: PURPOSE: To explore the wide range of political ideologies covered by the political spectrum and begin to understand that political ideology is not an exact science and rather one that must account for a host of different influences. OBJECTIVES: Identify and define the characteristics and stances of the major political ideologies. Apply your knowledge of political ideologies to determine where you fall on the spectrum. Analyze how political ideologies influence the media’s presentation of political information.

DEFINITION A political spectrum is a tool used to visually compare different political positions by placing the positions on one or more axes.

In the United States, the most commonly used political spectrum, (also known as the political continuum), places a range of beliefs along a horizontal line and is described in terms left or right of center. LEFT RIGHT CENTER

Most commonly, the Political Spectrum tells us two things: 1. How much change in government a person is willing to allow (and how fast that change should take place) 2. How much the government should intervene, or get involved, in the lives of people (particularly with respect to the economy)

GENERAL ASSUMPTIONS LEFT More government intervention Gradual to rapid change in government RIGHT Less government intervention Little to no change in status quo

POLITICAL SPECTRUM OF IDEOLOGIES LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE RADICAL MODERATE REACT.

RADICAL Far left of the political spectrum Call for wide-sweeping rapid change May be willing to resort to extreme methods to bring about change

LIBERAL Active government Gradual change within the existing political system. Reject violent revolution - Govt should be actively involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation’s citizens. 9

MODERATE Share viewpoints with both liberals and conservatives Tolerant Average > extreme “Wait-and-See” with both liberals and conservatives Explain to students that the political spectrum is similar to a Persian carpet. Most Americans make up the medallion of the carpet which lies in the center of the spectrum. This means that they will have moderate views on most issues and form their opinions on an issue to issue basis. What separates moderate voters are one or two issues on which they will feel strongly. This strong belief in one issue will pull them to one side of the spectrum or another. Approximately 80% of the American public falls in this area. 10

CONSERVATIVE Favor keeping things the way they are, or maintaining the status quo Hesitant or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism. LG. or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism. They feel that the less government there is, the better. 11

REACTIONARY Far right “Good ol’ Days” Extreme methods, such as repressive use of government power, to achieve their goals - such as repressive use of government power, to achieve their goals 12

Alternate Intelligence

What is filled every morning and emptied every night, except once a year when it is filled at night and emptied in the morning? 

What is filled every morning and emptied every night, except once a year when it is filled at night and emptied in the morning?  A stocking.

What is it that you can take away the whole and still have some left?

What is it that you can take away the whole and still have some left? The word "wholesome."

What is neither inside a house nor outside a house, but no house would be complete without it? 

What is neither inside a house nor outside a house, but no house would be complete without it?  A window.

What is pronounced like one letter, written with three letters, and belongs to all animals?

What is pronounced like one letter, written with three letters, and belongs to all animals? Eye.

What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space; the beginning of every end, and the end of every race?

What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space; the beginning of every end, and the end of every race? The letter E.

SPECTRUMS AND PARTIES Political parties are loosely formed around these broad political ideologies.

TWO MAJOR U.S. PARTIES DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS generally seen as liberal because they support government regulation of the economy REPUBLICANS generally seen as conservative because they advocate a reduction in government

MORE SPECIFICALLY… Within parties, there are people who hold a variety of opinions on social and economic issues that fall along the spectrum of political ideologies Examples are liberal Democrats, moderate Democrats, moderate Republicans, and conservative Republicans

BOTH PARTIES LEAN TOWARD MODERATE Only way to win! DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS Current theorists say that U.S. political parties are becoming increasingly moderate and therefore less easily separated on the political spectrum Goes back to that 80 % 27

WHERE WOULD YOU PUT… Communists? Fascists? Socialists? Absolutists? CONSERVATIVE FASCIST SOCIALIST LIBERAL Communism is a socioeconomic system structured upon common ownership of the means of production and characterized by the absence of social classes, money, and the state; as well as a social, political and economic ideology and movement that aims to establish this social order. Socialism is a social and economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production  and co-operative management of the economy,as well as a political theory and movement that aims at the establishment of such a system (primarily an economic system that can exist under many different political systems—an extreme form of communism) Fascism is a form of radical authoritarian nationalism that came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe. Influenced by national syndicalism, fascism originated in Italy in the immediate aftermath of World War I, combining more typically right-wing positions with elements of left-wing politics Absolutism, the political doctrine and practice of unlimited, centralized authority and absolute sovereignty, as vested especially in a monarch or dictator. The essence of an absolutist system is that the ruling power is not subject to regularized challenge or check by any other agency, be it judicial, legislative, religious, economic, or electorate (King Louis XIV). CENTRISTS ABSO COMMUNIST REACT. RADICAL 28

CURRENT ISSUES RIGHT LEFT Anti-Gun Control Pro Gun Control Pro-Life (Abortion) Anti-Flag Burning Prisons Should Punish Prayer in Schools School Vouchers Republican Party Platform LEFT Pro Gun Control Pro-Choice (Abortion) No Censorship Prisons should Rehabilitate Pro-Privacy Equal Funding for Education Democratic Party Platform

TAXATION LEFT RIGHT Taxes are acceptable. Need $$$ to fund programs which benefit society. Graduated taxes are preferred over flat rate taxes. Rich pay more RIGHT Infringement on personal freedom. Taxes intervene with the free market system. Penalizes success/profit Flat rate and/or consumption tax.

BUSINESS REGULATION LEFT RIGHT Accepts government regulation of business. The market place cannot be relied upon to provide safe working conditions. Government control and regulations are needed to protect the worker and consumer. Equal chance to succeed. RIGHT Business must be allowed to operate free of government control. Government control of working conditions or policies that affect products are unacceptable. Trickle down economics The business of America is business.

POLITICAL RIGHTS LEFT RIGHT Passionate about extending civil rights to minority groups Tolerant of those not in the status quo. Protect individual rights RIGHT Most issues are best dealt with on the state and local level. Preferred values (family, faith, patriotism and love of family) and beliefs are seen as originating in the past and are rooted in Christian traditions and practices. Censorship acceptable to maintain the status quo.

Word bubbles, symbols, etc. are encouraged. ACTIVITY Form 5 groups. I will assign you one of the following identities from the political spectrum (radical, liberal, moderate, conservative, and reactionary). You are to create a sketch of what a person of your assigned political ideology might look like. Use the article on political ideas/this lecture to inform your sketch. AVOID STEREOTYPES Word bubbles, symbols, etc. are encouraged.

DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH LEFT Taxes represent a mechanism to equally distribute wealth. The government should be involved in providing more equal opportunities. Government funding of public projects (pump priming) will stimulate the economy and help the common man. RIGHT Business has right to make as much profit as they possibly can. Profits represent an incentive to work hard. The disparity between the rich and the poor is explained in part by the economic choices people make.

THE MARKET LEFT Government intervention in the market is acceptable. The government should set minimum wage standards. Public works projects represent an acceptable way to create jobs. Government should provide a basic standard of living to all citizens. RIGHT The economy works best when it is absolutely free (laissez-faire) of government control. The forces of the market can be trusted to meet needs. Government programs should not compete with private industry.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS LEFT RIGHT The government should be primarily focused on spreading democracy and protecting human rights in the world Strong support for the united nations. RIGHT The government's primary role is to protect U.S. business and economic interests in foreign countries. Supports tariffs.

SCOPE OF THE GOVERNMENT LEFT The government should serve as the great equalizer. The left is accepts government control and regulation of business, and an active government that protects political rights. RIGHT Government should be downsized. Government programs tend to provide unnecessary services that go beyond the scope of the constitution.

MATCH WHERE YOU FALL WITH THE FOLLOWING POLITICAL FIGURES Ronald Reagan Jesse Jackson Ted Kennedy Hillary Clinton Bill Clinton Colin Powell George Bush Jack Kemp Bob Dole 100% LIBERAL 100% CONSERVATIVE

The first rule of Media Bias: You do not talk about Media Bias. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlfW-0621hE