1. Chapter 4 Political Culture and Ideology
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2. Political Culture: widely shared beliefs and values (natural rights, liberty, equality/equal opportunity, individualism, respect for the common person, justice, patriotism..)
Ideology: a consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government. Examples: liberalism, conservatism, socialism, libertarianism
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3. Respect for the Common Person Justice and the Rule of Law
Shared Values
Equality
Liberty
Individualism
Respect for the Common Person
Democratic Consensus
Justice and the Rule of Law
Patriotism
Optimism and Idealism
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4. Agree or Disagree ?
According to Samuel Huntington, Mexicans are not assimilating into the American Political Culture/core American values…
Let’s talk local: WBCA
Another group that is being chastised by Huntington are the Muslims.
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5. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
“…the process through which and individual acquires [their] particular political orientation”
The Process of Political Socialization
The Family
Time & emotional commitment
Political leanings of children often mirror their parent’s leanings

6. Where We Learn the American Political Culture
Family
Schools
Number of times a week American families say that they eat together
Schools teach an idealized view of the nation’s slogans and symbols
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7. How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
The Process of Political Socialization
The Mass Media
Generation gap in TV news viewing
School / Education
Used by government to socialize the young into the culture and they have better jobs and a more positive view of government
Political Learning Over a Lifetime

8. Where We Learn the American Political Culture
Peers and Community
Research shows that in heterogeneous communities, political participation tends to be higher, with more contested and competitive elections, and with more political debate than in homogeneous communities
Religion
Those raised in religious households tend to be socialized to contribute to society and to get involved in their communities
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9. Where We Learn the American Political Culture
Media
More than two-thirds of Americans report that they receive “all or most” of their news from television
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10. Bias CNN (liberal) MSNBC (liberal) FOX (conservative)
PBS (7:00 p.m.) Jim Lehrer NewsHour
Newspapers (liberal): New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Houston Chronicle
Newspapers (conservative): Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, New York Post…
Watchdogs: 60 Minutes; Open Secrets; Common Cause;
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11. Political and Economic Change
The Industrial Transformation
Robber Barons/child labor/monopolies
The Great Depression/Why?
Unrestrained/unregulated capitalism
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12. Hoover (Rep.)/Blue vs. Smith (Dem./Red) 1928
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13. FDR/Dem/Red vs. Hoover/Rep/Blue 1932
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14. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
Political Ideology:
A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose.
Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives?
Views change over time
Currently about 42% conservative, 25% liberal, 34% moderate

15. Liberalism and Conservatism
A belief in free markets, limited government, and individual self-reliance in economic affairs, combined with a belief in the value of tradition, law, and morality in social affairs
Liberalism
A belief in a strong government to provide economic security and protection for civil rights, combined with a freedom from government intervention in social conduct
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16. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
Liberals:
Less military spending
Opposed to prayer in schools
Favor affirmative action
Tax the rich more
Solve the problems that cause crime
Conservatives:
More military spending
Support prayer in schools
Oppose affirmative action
Keep taxes low
Should stop “coddling criminals”
From Table 6.3

17. Differences in Political Ideology
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18. Socialism
An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange
Bernard Sanders, a self-described Socialist, is a Congressman from Vermont
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19. Michael Badnarik, Libertarian candidate for president in 2004
Libertarianism
An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on a sharply limited government, promoting a free market economy, a noninterventionist foreign policy, and an absence of regulation in the moral and social spheres
Michael Badnarik, Libertarian candidate for president in 2004
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20. Ralph Nader ran for president as a Green Party candidate in 2000
Environmentalism
An ideology that is dominated by concerns for the environment but also promotes grassroots democracy, social justice, equal opportunity, nonviolence, respect for diversity, and feminism
Ralph Nader ran for president as a Green Party candidate in 2000
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21. Liberalism
Senator Ted Kennedy (D.-Mass) has been a champion of liberal programs and legislation for many years
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22. Ideology Curve
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23. 2008 (Red/Dem vs. Blue/Rep.)
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24. How Americans Participate in Politics
Protest as Participation
Protest: A form of political participation designed to achieve policy changes through dramatic and unconventional tactics.
Civil disobedience: A form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.

25. Liberalism and Conservatism
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29. Camp Casey
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34. Political Ideology and the American People
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35. Ideology and Tolerance
Whereas liberals are highly concerned about the rights of due process, Conservatives tend to take a hard line about the rights of the accused
“It’s been hell! The breakfast bagels aren’t toasted, I can’t sleep with a nightlight, there’s no “dry hair” formula shampoo in the showers, and the guard won’t get close enough for me to stab him with a spoon!”
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