Political Culture Def: set of widely shared political beliefs and values Values/Beliefs about Political System – Liberty – Equality-oppurtunity/due process/equal protection – Individualism (limits on this?) – Democracy/Pop. Consent – Civic Duty – Justice – Nationalism/Idealism If ideals shared, why so much conflict?

Alexis de Tocqueville ( ) Democracy in America – commentary on American political culture and why we are the way we are: 1. No feudal aristocracy: feudal aristocracy in France blocked ambition. 2. Rule of Law: gov’t rules are applied equally and fairly, not on the whim of a ruler. 3. Few legal restrictions: open market competition with little gov’t involvement fosters growth and ambition. 4. Vast territories: opportunity for people to acquire land and make a living. 5. Opportunity: to make money, own land, do better. 6. A nation of small farmers: the idea alone seems to bind people together.

Sources of Political Culture Experience with British: mistrust authority/power Political Parties/Linkage Institutions Religious Diversity Family Values Class Inherent conflict – Personal freedom v. control – Majority v. minority rights

Economic Equality in America and Europe

Where Do You Stand? War in Afghanistan National Security Rights of Terror Suspects Nuclear Weapons Immigration Gun Control Debt Campaign Finance Policy Towards Iran/N. Korea The Death Penalty Gay Marriage Global Warming Abortion Healthcare Affirmative Action Welfare Syria Tax Policy English = Nat’l Language

Public Opinion Where Do You Stand on the Issues?

Political Socialization – Process thru which a person acquires their knowledge, feelings, & evaluations of the pol. World (political values)…continual process Public Opinion = End result of this process

Influences on Political Socialization Family – Most influential earlier in life Media – News: internet; 24 hr. news cycle – Social Media – Narrowcasting

School/Education – National values – Liberalizing effect of college – Higher levels of participation Peers & Social Groups Growing influence around High School

Region

Political Events – Major events shift thinking- i.e.- New Deal; 9/11

Religion – Catholics/Jews—Liberal – Protestant/Evangelicals —Conservative Occupation – White Collar/business= consrv. – Professors/Lawyers—Liberal – Blue Collar- liberal – Oil Industry/Construction--Conservative

Impact of Demographics Age – Youth: More liberal; Least likely to vote – Elderly: Highest pol. Participation; Conserv. Gender – Gender Gap: Women more liberal – Men more conservative Income Level – Wealthier—more conservative

Race – Whites – Republican – African-Americans- Democrat – Latino- Democrat – Asian- Democrat Single vs. Married – Not a huge difference – Singles more likely to vote Democrat – Married couples more likely to vote Republican

Education- College education influences individuals to be more liberal on social and economic issues than they were before college. The longer students stay in college, the more prestigious the institution they attend, the more liberal they become. (HOWEVER: moderate voters tend to become more consevative as they become more economically prosperous (more school, usually=more prosperity)

Psychological Influences Political Efficacy- the amount of impact citizens feel they have on a political affairs.

What’s Meant by Liberal & Conservative Ideology: – Coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, & role of government – Measure in terms of frequency of self-identification – Gives meaning to pol. events/policies/personalities

Mainstream Ideologies** Liberal and Conservative. Basic Disagreement is over the Role of Government – 1. How much power should the government have over the economy? Liberal: Positive action in the economy Conservative: Positive action to support capitalism – 2. What should the government promote? Liberal: Economic Security, equal opportunity, social liberty Conservative: Economic Liberty, morality and social order.

What is Meant by Liberal & Conservative Left…Liberals – Pol. & Social Reform – Govt. Reg. of Economy – Support equality for women, minorities, poor – Nat’l Healthcare – Abortion Rights – Loose Constructionist – Judicial Activism Right…Conservative – Expansion U.S. military power – Less Govt. Reg. of Econ. – Free-Market Econ. – School Prayer – Strict Constructionist – Judicial Restraint Elites & Activists (Ideologues) : More Consistent Ideologies More informed Intensity of beliefs Dealignment Trend of more Americans moving to center on pol. spectrum

What is Public Opinion? Def: Attitudes about institutions., leaders, issues, & events Specific groups thoughts about a certain policy issue or event at a given point in time Unstable Many Americans Uninformed Subject to many influences…What influences public opinion? Uses – Measure popularity/success of policy – Define issues & guide decisions

What influences public opinion? Groups? History of trying to infl. pub. opinion – Ex. Federalist Papers

Measuring Public Opinion How are Ideology, Socialization, & Public Opinion related? How is public opinion measured? – Polls – Elections – Interest Groups – Media Coverage

What are polls? What are polls used for? – Measure of public opinion – Track/monitor short term developments; influence strategy Key Elements to Scientific Polling – Picking a sample…is it representative? Random Sampling – What is an effective sample size? – Contact: When/How?...phone/face to face Exit Polls – Phrasing Questions…avoid bias – Questions must provide an option – Findings influenced by the process – Pens & Polls: Nicaragua’s 1 st Dem. Election – Analyze & Report Data – Margin of Error

Political Polls Tracking Polls: – Monitor short term developments and impact strategies (daily) – Small samples Exit Polls – Election Day… – What’s a common criticism of Exit Polls? Polls: A tool for democracy? – Provide way for public to express its opinions – Enables politicians to implement public preferences on key issues

Criticisms of Polls Polls transform leaders into followers Distort Election Process – Bandwagon Effect; Exit Polls Bandwagon Effect: polls can influence people to support a candidate simply because they see others doing so – Media & Polls Influences Elections/how public perceives an issue Iowa Straw Poll

Sampling Error/Quality of Sample Sample’s knowledge of topic – Can’t measure intangibles (sample’s intensity/ stability of beliefs) Power of wording: Frank Luntz: The G.O.P. Whisperer Colbert Interviews Frank Luntz

Power of Words…Frank Luntz Language Error: “Estate Tax” Adjustment: “Death Tax” Language Error: “Relaxed Air Quality Standards” Adjustment: “Clear Skies Initiative” Language Error: “Smaller Government” Adjustment: “More Effective & Efficient Govt.” Language Error: “Control the growth of Social Security & Medicare” Adjustment: “Save & Strengthen Entitlements”

Media and Public Opinion How does the media play a role in public opinion? – Agenda Setting (Gatekeeper) – Bias – Source of Pol. Info – Differences between media Criticisms of media – Oversimplify complex issues – Reduce major stories to sound-bites – Focus on the sensational & trivial – Constant polling leads to… Polls: Telling America What to Think

Pew Research Polls: Partisan Politics, Distrust in Government…What gives?

Polling Simulation gman_media_1/2008_raised/Player/sim.youar eapollingconsultant.html

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