Political Culture Political Tolerance & Mistrust of the Government

Value Changes during the 1930s ► Although the Preamble to the Constitution states that “promotion of the General Welfare” is a major purpose of government, the meaning of that value was transformed during the 1930s

Value Changes during the 1930s ► Great Depression brought about the near-collapse of capitalism ► FDR’s New Deal affirmed government’s responsibility for the welfare of its people

Value Changes during the 1930s ► In FDR’s 1944 inaugural address, he outlined a “Second Bill of Rights” ► Reflected FDR’s firm commitment to “economic security and independence”

FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights” ► Asserted everyone has a right to: ► Useful job ► Food ► Clothing ► Decent home ► Adequate medical care ► Good education

FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights” FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights” ► These beliefs played a major role in the creation of the civil rights & welfare legislation of the 1960s & as recently as the early 1990s

FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights” ► Clinton referred to FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights” when he said: “Health care is a basic right all should have”

Value Changes ► The defeat of Clinton’s health care plan indicates that Americans don’t always agree on the meaning of this value

Value Changes ► The government’s responsibility for the general welfare became a major issue of the 2000 election campaign

2000 Presidential Election ► Candidates George W. Bush & Al Gore debated the merits of a government-sponsored prescription plan for the elderly

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► American value ► Easily misunderstood

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► Democracy depends on citizens being reasonably tolerant of the opinions & actions of others

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► Most Americans believe themselves to be fairly tolerant ► Studies shows that political tolerance is much more complex a value than it appears on the surface

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► Key findings: ► (1) Overwhelming majority of Americans agree with freedom of speech, religion, & the right to petition—at least in the abstract

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► (2) People are not as politically tolerant as they proclaim themselves to be ► (3) Americans are willing to allow many people with whom they disagree to do a great deal politically

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► (4) Americans have become more tolerant over the last few decades ► (5) Most people dislike one or another group strongly enough to deny it certain political rights— although people are not always inclined to act on their beliefs

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► As a general rule, people are willing to deny rights to people on the opposite end of the political spectrum

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► Liberals are most likely to deny rights to right-wing groups (neo- Nazis) ► Conservatives are most likely to deny rights to groups they may disapprove of (gays, atheists)

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► Americans remain more tolerant of unpopular ideas, individuals, and groups in the abstract than in reality

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► Personal liberties & constitutional freedoms endure: ► Americans often do not act on their beliefs

POLITICAL TOLERANCE ► Cannot agree on which group, individual, or idea should be suppressed ► Permit the courts to enforce constitutional protections

Mistrust of the Government ► Values of the political culture are not immune to change ► Trust that Americans have in their government has varied considerably

Mistrust of the Government ► Although the trust reflected in the 1950s & early 1960s may have been artificially high, trust in government & its officials has declined significantly since the mid 1960s

Mistrust of the Government ► Many scholars blame the Vietnam War & Watergate for the initial, dramatic drops ► Trend is persistent into the early 21 st century (Americans in record number express their disgust with politics & politicians)

Political Efficacy ► Accompanying the mistrust of government has been a drop in external political efficacy ► Belief of an individual that government will respond to his/her personal needs or beliefs

Mistrust of the Government ► Americans are now much more likely to say that public officials care little about what the people think or want

Mistrust of the Government ► Americans seem to have come to the conclusion that government is too big & pervasive to be sensitive to individual citizens

Mistrust of the Government ► However—international studies show that: ► Americans feel significantly higher levels of political efficacy than do citizens of many European countries

Political Efficacy ► Americans are less likely to vote than most Europeans ► Americans are more likely to engage in other forms of political participation: ► (1) Sign petitions ► (2) Work to solve community problems ► (3) Regularly discuss politics