The Logic of American Politics The Politics of “Choice”

Politics Equals “Choice” Politics is how people try to manage conflict [choices]. A good example is the politics of the forest. Endangered species-spotted owl and coho salmon The environment v. forest/loggers Global warming and hurricanes Who Manages “Choices”? American history and Federalism Is the environment a federal issue or a state issue? The Kyoto Agreement-an example of a dilemma

Definitions to Know Politics The process through which individuals and groups reach agreement on a course of common, or collective, action-even if they continue to disagree on the goals that action is intended to achieve Government Institutions created by a constitution and charged with making and enforcing collective agreements. Forms of the institution can be a monarchy, a representative democracy, a democracy [rare], a theocracy, or a dictatorship Constitution The set of rules prescribing the political process these institutions must follow to reach and enforce collective agreements. It creates positions of authority. It can be formal or informal, written or unwritten.

Choices Require Collective Action The Problems of Collective Action Coordination Simplest barrier to overcome Members of the group must decide: what they want; and, what they are prepared to contribute to the goal; and, how they will coordinate their effort with others. Prisoner’s Dilemma Free-rider problem The Tragedy of the Commons

Examples of the free-rider problem Voting Public Broadcasting The Draft Taxes

Examples-The Tragedy of the Commons Animals grazing on public lands Cod fishing off of New England The Midwest and wheat growing The National Park Service

The Costs of Collective Action The dollar cost of creating the project Overhead costs Transaction costs

The Decision Making Process of Collective Action Majority Rule The Rule of Plurality Direct Democracy [pure democracy] Delegation of power [authority] Representative Government

The General Goal of Collective Action Provision of Public Goods Private Goods = Items people buy and consume themselves in a marketplace that supplies these goods according to the demand on them [capitalism]. Public Goods fall into four categories Health concerns Safety [both nationally and internationally] Order [both social and moral] Public “Betterment” Public “Bads” = Externalities