Investigating America POLITICAL SPECTRUM Especially when you consider the millions upon millions with viewpoints… Values Biases Bigotry Where do you stand on the issues? What do you want in and from society? What do you believe? Assumptions Faith Viewpoints Is it different from the person setting next to you? Can you both agree??? Now imagine you had the OTHER 250 million+ people sitting next to you… Opinions Beliefs With a nation of diverse citizens with diverse views, how can we ever hope to understand and possibly organize it all???

Although more complicated models exist, the most concrete way to organize citizens’ viewpoints is to generalize their stance on social issues in line graph form- called a political spectrum… The majority of Americans would find themselves in the center of the spectrum, called “Moderates”, when their views on social issues balance their viewpoint. Those to the “left” of the center are referred to as “Liberals”, generally believing and standing for the following; Advocate change Want an active, involved government. Trust human nature Value freedom over order Society should work toward equality Those to the “right” of the center are referred to as “Conservatives”, generally believing and standing for the following; Require justification for change Prefer a limited government, with a narrow scope of programs. Distrust human nature Value order over freedom Individuals should work toward bettering themselves Those on the extreme left with extreme liberal views are classified as “Radicals”, who hold an intense desire for societal change. Example: E.L.F. (Earth Liberation Front) who burn ski lodges and Hummer Dealerships Those on the extreme right with intense conservative views are classified as “Reactionaries”, who hold an intense desire for societal change. Example: Oklahoma City bombers who attack the federal government.

Before you decide if you are on the right or left… Ever wonder where the terms left and right came from in the first place? To find out, we have to go back to the end of the 19th century and a France torn apart by revolution- With the beheading of King Louis, the monarchy had lost control of the country and the people violently seized power and ran the country through… And the result of this conflict? Robespierre and Jacobins on the left would purge the right through the violence of the “Reign of Terror”, and force the middle to accept their control. This would last for a short time until internal battles for power would turn the violence upon themselves and the Assembly would lose all control, and Napoleon would become “First Consul” and Emperor. THE ASSEMBLY Those seated on the right wished the monarchy to return and wanted to see an end to the disorder and violence the revolution. Those seated on the left supported the change of revolution and wanted to end feudalism forever by any means necessary. Those seated in the center did not have strong views on the revolution.

Now that we can describe and organize citizen viewpoints, we need to examine where they come from… How much of a role does genetics determine what we believe? Are our genes the main factor in what we believe? Do our experiences determine what we believe? Is our personal history the greatest factor in what we believe? Or is something else entirely? Some other component that calls the shots? YOU DECIDE!