PUBLIC OPINION

WHAT IS IT? PURE LIBERAL- Economic liberal/social liberal –Econ- redistribute wealth, regulate business –Social- rights of the individual over rights of group About 17% of population- young, college educated, Jewish, eastern

Liberals seek equality through government intervention.

PURE CONSERVATIVE Economic and Social conservative –Econ- free market, low taxes, keep what you earn –Social- rights of the group over rights of individual, keep order, legislate anti-social behavior ( gays, drugs etc) About 28% of population white, older,midwest no college

The rights of the group, protect the innocent group at the expense of the criminal individual. Bush did it passionately.

EXTREMISTS!!!!!!!! EXTREME LIBERAL- RADICAL Liberal agenda, use whatever means possible Daniel Barrigan ( Catonsville Nine member) Greenpeace

EXTREME CONSERVATIVE- REACTIONARY Conservative agenda by any means necessary Abortion doctor killers

LIBERTARIAN Economic conservative, social liberal Pure ideology- liberty dominates Econ- free market, power to individual Social- free from gov’t intervention, drugs, abortion, gun rights etc Young, college educated, western %??? 23-59% who knows?

Here is one measure

Laissez faire, dummy!!!!

POPULIST- Economic liberal, social conservative Governemnt intervention in both Econ- redistribute income social- control behavior 24%?? Southern, poor, uneducated, religious, Protestant- vote GOP

Match the quote “I am willing, by any means to bring an end to the injustices my people suffer”- Malcom X “Government is best that governs least”- Walter Lippman “Let welfare be a private concern. Let it be promoted by individuals”- Barry Goldwater “We have rejected the notion that the fortunes of the nation should be in the hands of the few”- Truman

HOW THE HECK DO YOU BECOME ONE? FAMILY- Young become what parents are. This influence is diminishing twice. As you age and generationally. RELIGION- –Protestant – conservative –Catholic- church is conservative but people often vote liberal- socially conscious –Jewish- strong liberals

Catholics mirror election results th in last 6 where Catholics picked winner

Religious beliefs

GENDER Men vote conservative, women liberal Presidential Candidates 2004 George W. Bush (R) W 48% M 55% John Kerry (D) W 51% M 41% 2000 George W. Bush (R) W 43% M 53% Al Gore (D) W 54% M 42%

MEN & WOMEN ARE JUST DIFFERENT

EDUCATION More education = more liberal –College introduces liberal thought, professors are liberal, college process is analytical –2006 election TOTAL Democrats Republican No College Degree (55%) 53%45% College Graduate (45%)53%46%

RACE -White- conservative -Black- social conservatives, economic liberals- vote democrats -Hispanics- Liberal except Fla Cubans -Asian Americans- vote liberal -Hispanics and Asians are the two fastest growing populations in US

So who’s in trouble?

REGION –East = most liberal, most educated –South= most conservative, least educated, 64%Protestants, 45% “born again”- populists –West- ant-government (libertarian)

2004 election red= dem blue=GOP

SOME EXAMPLES The results don’t always measure what the political scientists say but: dang they are close But why aren’t they always right, you ask…

CLEAVAGES We are many different things so an easy identification of an ideology is difficult I am a black southern male with a PhD. What is my ideology?

Word association Support status quo Prayer in schools No gay rights Oppose choice Death penalty Strong military Promote progress Trust government Social services Pro choice Income equality Arms control

DOES PUBLIC OPINION MATTER? NOPE! –Many differing opinions, no mandate –Government pays attention only to elites –Public ignorance creates a “sandy foundation” –Polls are skewed by wording of question –Public opinion unstable- ex. Pres approval ratings