1. Ideology is not
Black and white * *

2. Instead it falls on a continuum . .
LEFT
MIDDLE
RIGHT *

3. Ideology Discussion Questions
What factors influence our ideology?
What are the effects of ideology?
What role does ideology play in politics?
Family, education, experience, etc.
Hostility, misunderstanding, etc.
Voting choices, policies we support, etc.

4. Political Ideology One’s basic beliefs about the government and political issues.

5. Political Ideology falls along a continuum...
Liberal
Left Wing
Democrat
Conservative
Right Wing
Republican
Moderate
Center
D/R-Member of Party or Political Party
L/R WIng refer to stances
Liberal v Conservative-views *

6. Political Ideology GOALS (SAME): End Result.
. Freedom, Chance for prosperity, As few people suffering as possible, Healthy children, Crime-free streets, etc.
DIRECTION (DIFFERENT): The path to achieve this goal….this is where ideologies come in...

7. Political Ideology: Liberal
Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to help solve people’s problems.
More government involvement
Open to new ideas or ways of behaving that are not traditional or widely accepted

8. Political Ideology: Conservative
Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.
Less government involvement
Favor traditional values, less accepting of changes or new ideas

9. Liberal v. Conservative Stances
Labor Unions Taxes Social Programs (Welfare) Immigration Abortion Religion & Government Censorship of the Arts Crime Same Sex Marriage Environment Education Healthcare Death Penalty Gun Control Affirmative Action
DIRECTIONS...
Make a chart:
Issue Liberal Conservative
Research and record the liberal and conservative perspective for each issue.
You may work together...these are notes.

10. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives LABOR UNIONS
Favor Labor Unions
Fight for workers rights: Social security, medicare, etc.
Conservative
Against Labor Unions
Workers shouldnt be forced to join them
Give more power than necessary to workers
Affirmative Action-hiring and race. People shoudl be hired based on ability not race

11. Political Ideology: Liberals vs
Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives: Taxes and Social Spending
Liberals
Increase
Used to support social programs in the states like
Welfare
Medicaid and Medicare
Homeless shelters
Free clinics
Shelters for battered women
Soup kitchens
Conservatives
Decrease
Social programs should be supported through charities taxes
“Trickle Down Economics”
Trickle Down-Tax breaks for upperclass will benefit economy as a whole especially lower class

12. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Abortion
Pro – Choice (For)
A fetus is not a human life
Conservative
Pro – Life (Against)
Human life begins at conception

13. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Defense Spending
Decrease
Use more for social spending
Conservative
Increase or maintain

14. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Death Penalty
Against it (Anti)
Would like to see it banned by the national government
Inhumane
Conservatives
For it (Pro)
“Eye for an eye”

15. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Same Sex Marriage
Believe it should be legal
Not a moral issue, but an equality issue and it is protected by the Constitution
Conservatives
Believe it should not be legal
Support a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage
Is a moral issue tied to religion

16. Political Ideology: Liberals vs
Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Attitude Towards Criminals
Liberals
Want rights of accused protected first and foremost
Interested in finding out “why” person committed crime
Conservatives
Want rights of victims protected first and foremost
Not concerned with “why” person committed crime

17. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Minimum Wage
Would like to see it increased
Believe national government should set it to protect workers
Conservatives
Against a minimum wage- would like to see it end
Believe it is too much regulation on business

18. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Social Security
Believe it should be left in the hands of the federal government
Conservatives
Believe it should be privatized

19. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Health Care
Should be 100% provided by the national government
Conservatives
Should continue to be de- regulated and left in the hands of independent, competing health care providers

20. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Immigration
Illegal immigrants do the jobs Americans don’t want to do
Open to discussing options for the millions of undocumented immigrants already in the U.S.
Conservatives
Support legal immigration but not illegal immigration
We need stricter immigration laws

21. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Environment
Global Warming caused by increased production of carbon dioxide
Industrial growth harms the environment
Conservatives
Less focus on the environment
Favor industrial growth

22. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Gun Control
More regulations on guns needed.
Conservatives
Second Amendment gives us the right to keep and bear arms

23. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Education
Increase funding for public schools
Raise teacher wages and reduce class size
Conservatives
Parents who pay the taxes that fund the schools should get to choose where and how to educate their children- School vouchers

24. Political Ideology: Liberals vs. Conservatives Religion
Want to keep clear and strict separation of church and state
No religion in government policy
Conservatives
Would like to implement more religion into government policy
Views largely based on religion