1. Political Spectrum
Where do you fit?

2. Conservative Moderately Conservative Liberal Reactionary Moderately
Radical
Liberal
21-32
33-47
48-60
Democrat
Republican
Independents
Socialist Communist
Libertarian
Fascist

3. RIGHT WING Reactionaries: * FAR right
* wish to return to society of the pre-Civil War period
* believe the Christian white male should be supreme
* limit federal government’s power
* promote the use of violence
EX: KKK, Neo-Nazi skinheads, militia groups
RIGHT WING

4. Conservative:
* People who hold conservative ideals favor keeping things the way they are, conservatives are usually hesitant or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism
*preserve the status quo
* decrease government involvement in economy
* increase government involvement in society
* lock up and execute more criminals
* want more power in the states
* limit role of federal government
EX: Christian Coalition, veterans groups, Republican Party

5. IN THE MIDDLE
Moderate
* Moderates may share viewpoints with both liberals and conservatives
* vote according to the issue
* sometime split ticket voters
* ”fence post sitters”
* most of Americans
* U.S. Presidents aim their ideologies for the middle

6. LEFT WING
Liberals:
*encourage change: Liberals believe that the government should be actively involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation’s citizens. Liberals usually call for peaceful, gradual change within the existing political system.
* increase government involvement in economy
* Decrease government involvement in society
* anti-death penalty, anti-gun ownership
* promote powerful federal government
* support minority rights
EX: Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood

7. Radical: * desire no government involvement in society
* extreme left: radicals call for wide-sweeping rapid change in the basic structure of the political, social, or economic system
* desire no government involvement in society
* desire heavy government involvement in economy
* may be violent
* believe that everything on Earth is equal
EX: hippies, Greenpeace, PETA

8. Other positions Populists: Libertarians:
*conservative on social but liberal on economics
* more regulation of the economy and more police protection
Libertarians:
* liberal on social but conservative on economics
* fewer taxes and free speech
Other positions

9. Government Involvement More Some Less
Radicals
Liberals
Moderates
Conservatives
Reactionaries
Government Involvement
More
Some
Less
Speed of Changes in government
Rapid
Gradual
Slow to no Change
No Change
Rapid return to the past
Political Parties
Democrats
Republicans

10. Radicals - Liberals
Moderates
Conservatives - Reactionary
Taxes
High taxes for high level of government services. State control over economy.
Mixture of both sides depending on
Low taxes or large tax cuts. Reduction in government services and regulation.
Education
Government subsidizes public education through college level.
individual conviction
Government turns control to local agencies. Vouchers OK.

11. Radicals - Liberals
Moderates
Conservatives - Reactionary
Defense
Reduce government spending on military. Interventionist foreign policy.
and political expediency
Increase spending on military readiness. Reduce
U.S. involvement in world conflicts.
Environment
Regulate business to protect natural resources. Steer away from nuclear, coal, oil
Support exploration of federal land for new energy sources. Reduce government regulation

12. Which Party Am I??

13. I am a Hispanic female voter from California
Democrat

14. I believe that government regulations hinder free market capitalism and job growth.
Republican

15. I believe in a moratorium on deporting - or offering a pathway to citizenship to - certain undocumented immigrants. e.g. those with no criminal record, who have lived in the U.S. for 5+ years.
Democrat

16. I believe in a universal healthcare; strong support of government involvement in healthcare,
Democrat

17. I am pro life and against regulations on guns.
Republican

18. I am in favor of the death penalty, strong border control, and fewer taxes on the middle class
Republican